The Living Word (Lesson 15)

Understanding the Epistles


The final genre we will examine in our study is that of the New Testament epistle. The letters of the New Testament are some of the easiest portions of scripture to see the Christological significance of. The authors of these letters labored to interpret other portions of the bible, showing how everything recorded was about the person and work of Christ. They endeavored to lay out very clearly and logically the significance of what Christ accomplished in his time on earth; what he is accomplishing right now, at the right hand of the Father, sitting on the throne of David and interceding for us; and what effects his once-for-all sacrifice and ongoing ministry have in the lives of believers of this era. But the doctrinal richness of this section of our bibles carries with it a very solemn responsibility on our part as interpreters. Because of the vast significance of the epistles and the solemn, life-giving truths they contain, it is vital that we do not let a lack of attention to every tiny detail of what is recorded lead us astray in the doctrinal matters that are given to us. Peter indicates that there are things in Paul’s letters which are difficult to understand 2 Pt. 3:15,16. But because of eternal weight of what he has to say, it is imperative that we give all diligence to understanding even the most difficult things correctly. With the great riches of the epistles comes a great responsibility for the readers. In order to aid us in this joyful and solemn responsibility, I have noted two characteristics of the epistles, and from these characteristics I have derived four principles to keep in mind as we study.

Characteristics of the Epistles

  1. The epistles contain the clearest and fullest expression of the truths of redemptive history ever recorded for us.

    One thing we have noted many times in our study is the progressive nature of God’s revelation to us of the person and work of the promised Christ. Just as a mustard seed growing and blossoming until it becomes a great tree, so God’s plan of redemption began as a tiny seed in Genesis 3:15, and continually grew in clarity throughout the law, the histories, the psalms, and the prophets of the Old Testament. The reached an unprecedented height in the gospels, where we see the long-awaited Christ actually fulfilling all the promises. But in the epistles, we see yet another step taken, when God, in straightforward language unburdened by the customary types and symbols, declared the full, eternal significance of what Christ had accomplished. There was never a time before the apostles wrote that we had such a clear, plain expression of the riches of God’s redemptive plan, and the true nature of the kingdom of Christ.

  2. The original audience of the epistles have more in common with us than any previous audience of biblical writings.

    We as believers of today have a very real connection with God’s people in the Old Testament. Paul tells us that those who believe are the true seed of Abraham Gal. 3:7,29. Today, Jews and Gentiles without distinction are accepted into the family of God’s people as the true Israel, the heirs of all the promises given to Israel in the past Eph. 2:11-22; 3:6; Gal. 6:16; Rm. 2:28,29; 11:24-26. However, there has been a major change in the nature of God’s people from the Old Testament to the New. In the Old Testament, believers approached God through typical sacrifices; today we approach only on the basis of the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ. Old Testament Israel approached God through a mediating human priest; we approach God through the priesthood of Christ. Old Testament Israel looked to a human king. We look to Christ, our eternal king, reigning on the throne of David. This confident access to God’s very presence through Christ alone, without any Old Testament shadows, first became a reality with the original audience of the epistles. Nothing of the nature of our relationship to God as believers in his precious Son has changed in two thousand years. The status of our relationship with him is precisely the same as it was among the first Christians, but largely different from the status of God’s people in previous times. These two truths should shape our approach to the epistles in several ways.

Principles for Studying the Epistles

  1. Give special attention to historical, grammatical, contextual hermeneutics

    Because of the systematic, logical unfolding of redemptive truths in the epistles, it is especially important that we pay careful attention to all the particulars of historical, grammatical, contextual hermeneutics. If we miss one logical connection, or misunderstand the meaning of one word in the epistles, that small mistake could lead us to great errors, and cause us to misinterpret entire passages. If we misunderstand a word in a historical narrative, most often we can still get the point of the passage. In the epistles, this is not always the case. In the epistles it is vital that we be detail-oriented, and not overlook one word or one logical connection.

  2. Let the epistles interpret other scriptural genres

    Since the epistles are the clearest expression of the doctrinal truths previously given only in types and shadows, it is fitting that we allow the clear truths of the epistles to explain the meaning of the symbolic language and veiled references of so much of the previously written scriptures. The New Testament is full of Old Testament quotations and interpretations. We should never hesitate to let the divinely-inspired writings of the New Testament authors interpret for us the significance of Old Testament passages. Furthermore, we should never understand any Old Testament type or symbol in any manner not consistent with the clearly expressed doctrine of the New Testament.

  3. Labor to understand the timeless principles being taught in connection with specific problems

    The New Testament authors addressed many specific problems of their day, such as gnostic heresies which denied that Christ had literally come in the flesh, and Judaizing heresies which demanded submission to Old Testament types for salvation. While it is helpful to be aware of these specific problems, we should also note that Paul and the other writers did not stop with merely denouncing specific heresies. That brought out the root of the problem, and delineated eternal principles that would apply to it. For instance, when Paul was speaking against Judaizers among the churches of Galatia, he did not merely say that submission to the Old Testament law as a way of salvation was heresy (although he did say that). He went further than that, and said that attempting to complete God’s work of grace through any labor of the flesh was heresy Gal. 3:1-5. It is vital that we see the full weight of the principles Paul gives to us. We may never contend with the specific heresy of the Judaizers. But we do contend with heresies that come from the same root problem. It is important for us to see the timeless principles contained in the epistles, and not only the specific situations being addressed.

  4. Endeavor to see the circumstances in our own lives that are similar to circumstances in the lives of the original audience of the epistles

    In order to make legitimate applications of the epistles to our own lives, we must be able to see when we have the same root problems as first century Christians had. We must see in our own lives the struggles with pride, dependence on works of the flesh, indifference to sexual sins within the church, minimizing of the weight of gossiping and backbiting, and so on. The early church struggled with all of these things, just as we do. And the New Testament epistles strongly condemn these sins, and show us the only answer to our problems — the all-sufficient grace of Christ, and the righteousness which he applies to us through faith alone.

Conclusion

The epistles contain some of the greatest doctrinal riches in all the bible. But with those great truths comes a solemn responsibility for us to be diligent and careful in our study. However, we should not let this responsibility paralyze us, but remember instead that we have the Holy Spirit teaching us all things. As we pray for his enlightenment and give all diligence to careful accuracy in our studies, we will be richly rewarded with a fuller knowledge of our precious Savior Jesus Christ, and a deeper understanding of the wisdom that leads us to salvation. Eternal praise be to the Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

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