©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Chapter 19 General Letters on Faith and Behavior: Hebrews, the Catholic Epistles, and the Teaching (Didache) of the Twelve Apostles

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Key Topics/Themes General epistles portray God’s revelation through Jesus as final and complete Hebrews: Jesus as eternal High Priest is our mediator with God Believers now to adhere to high standard of conduct

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Introduction Addressed to Christians in general and not individual congregations The seven catholic (universal) epistles –James –1 and 2 Peter –1, 2, and 3 John –Jude

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Authors and Dates Attributed to prominent Jerusalem apostles Most were last books into New Testament canon

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education The Book of Hebrews Skillful weaving together of Jewish and Greek philosophical concepts Interprets Jesus and Hebrew Bible using Platonic philosophy Jesus as heavenly High Priest interceding for humans Authorship and date

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Contents of Hebrews Christ’s superiority to all other beings (1:5-4:16) Christ—a priest like Melchizedek (5:1- 10:39) Exhortation to remain faithful (11:1- 13:16)

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education James Addressed to “Twelve Tribes” of the Dispersion James the brother of Jesus as the ostensible author Affinities with wisdom literature of Hebrew Bible Form and organization Recipients and date

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Contents of James Trials and temptations (1:2-27) Respect for the poor (2:1-13) Faith lives only through good works (2:14-26) Controlling the tongue (3:1-12) Warnings against exploitation of poor (4:1-5:6)

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education 1 Peter Authorship and date Purpose and organization The privileges and values of a Christian calling (1:3-2:10) The obligations and responsibilities of Christian life (2:11-4:11) The ethical meaning of suffering as a Christian (4:12-5:11)

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Jude A tract denouncing unnamed heretics Advocates defense of doctrinal orthodoxy Authorship and date Style and content Apocalyptic judgment

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education 2 Peter Authorship and date Organization and purpose Reason for the delay of the Parousia (ch. 3)

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Letters from the Johannine Community Reveal community devoted to Beloved Disciple and torn by internal dissension Opponents: proto-Gnostics who denied real humanity of Jesus Author writes to affirm that Jesus Christ had real fleshly existence

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Johannine Community (cont’d.) Authorship and date –1 John anonymous –2, 3 John authored by “the Elder,” an anonymous church leader in the Johannine community

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education 1 John Presence of opponents in author’s community as evidence that the “last hour” has arrived Author emphasizes presence of Holy Spirit (Paraclete) in the community Advocates ability to distinguish “spirit of truth” from “spirit of error” Two tests for membership in the community

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education 2 and 3 John 2 John –Addressed to a house church –Warns of anti-Christ figures who deny physical humanity of Jesus 3 John –A private letter to “Gaius” –Requests that Gaius extend hospitality to emissaries from the author’s congregation

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education The Didache (Teaching of the Twelve Apostles) Valuable source for knowledge about forms of worship in early church May have been written in Antioch of Syria Contents –The “Two Ways” of living life –Instructions regarding church rituals and practices

©McGraw-Hill Higher Education Summary An anthology of miscellaneous Christian writings Documents attributed to various leaders in Jerusalem church Interests –Defense of church order –Defense of various theological positions –Defense of traditional eschatology