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AN EPISTLE IS A WRITTEN MESSAGE. NEW TESTAMENT EPISTLES ARE CONSIDERED THOSE WRITINGS ADDRESSED TO A CHURCH (OR COLLECTION THEREOF) OR TO ONE OR MORE PEOPLE. THEY WERE WRITTEN TO TACKLE SPECIFIC NEEDS AND ISSUES, CONVEYING CHRISTIAN TRUTHS APPLICABLE TO DIFFERENT SITUATIONS. 21 OUT OF 27 NEW TESTAMENT BOOKS ARE CONSIDERED EPISTLES. THE ONLY WRITINGS NOT IN THIS SET ARE THE FOUR GOSPELS, ACTS AND REVELATION. PAUL'S EPISTLES ... PAUL'S EPISTLES CAN BE SUBDIVIDED INTO THREE SUBSETS. THE FIRST ARE THOSE BOOKS WRITTEN TO CHURCHES IN ROME, CORINTH, THE PROVINCE OF GALATIA, EPHESUS, PHILIPPI, COLOSSE AND THESSALONICA. THE SECOND IS MADE UP OF THE BOOK OF HEBREWS WHICH WAS WRITTEN FOR THE ENTIRE CHURCH. THE THIRD SET, ALSO CALLED PASTORAL EPISTLES, WERE WRITTEN TO INDIVIDUALS (1 AND 2 TIMOTHY, TITUS AND PHILEMON). A PERFECT SET ... THE GENERAL EPISTLES ARE A COLLECTION OF SEVEN NEW TESTAMENT BOOKS WRITTEN BY JAMES (1), PETER (2), JOHN (3) AND JUDE (1). THEY ARE REFERENCED AS "GENERAL" AS THEY ARE NOT ADDRESSED TO A PARTICULAR CHURCH OR PERSON BUT RATHER TO ALL CHRISTIANS (OR THOSE IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS). HIDDEN REFERENCES! ... ALTHOUGH ACTS IS NOT AN EPISTLE, IT DOES MENTION A FEW CRUCIAL LETTERS! THE FIRST IS THE ONE SAUL (LATER PAUL) RECEIVED GIVING HIM PERMISSION TO HUNT FOR CHRISTIANS (ACTS 9:1 - 2). THE SECOND IS THE EPISTLE CONVEYING THE JERUSALEM CONFERENCE'S DECISION CONCERNING CIRCUMCISION (15:23 - 30). THE THIRD IS AN EPISTLE TO FELIX IN CAESAREA CONCERNING THE APOSTLE PAUL'S ARREST (23:25 - 33). |
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