zion summer elective 2011

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n dEGeneral Epistles

A S t u d y i n t h e

Faithful to the Enda study in the General Epistles of the New Testament

zion churchsummer elective 2011

But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and

praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God,

waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.

Jude 20-21

faithful to the end • ii

The title for this elective has been shamelessly lifted from a book (see citation below) of the same name that is an introduction to the last books in Scripture, Hebrews to Revelation. While the elective is not a recapitulation of the book (the class material will not overlap or even often include the book’s material), the title captures well the theology of these final books of canon in their driving concern that God’s people cross the finish line, surviving and thriving until “that day.” We commend it to you as complementary material for this course. An excerpt:

“Each of these biblical letters in some fashion contains a strong theme of being faithful and persevering in the faith. For example, the writer of Hebrews urges his readers to persevere in faithfulness and not to go back into Judaism and the Old Testament religious system. James the Lord’s brother exhorts his letter’s recipients to rejoice in trials for their faith and endure them until the Lord returns. In 1 Peter the apostle encourages his readers to stand firm in the faith despite being persecuted as temporary residents in a foreign land. Similarly in 2 Peter he encourages his recipients to keep living virtuous, godly lives despite false teachers in their midst who are denying the return of Christ and living immorally. Offsetting the impact of false teachers who have influenced the church, the apostle John provides assurance of salvation for professing believers who meet the criteria of being persistently faithful in obedience, loving their fellow Christians, and believing that Christ has indeed come in the flesh. Second John and 3 John encourage their readers to be faithful in not sustaining the ministry of false teachers and in showing hospitality to traveling Christian preachers, respectively. Jude urges his readers to contend earnestly for the faith against heretics. Lastly, in each of the seven letters to the churches of Asia in the book of Revelation, Jesus promises some special blessing to “those who overcome,” that is, genuine believers who cannot be shaken from continued allegiance and faithfulness to Christ.”

Terry Wilder, J. Daryl Charles, Kendell Easley, Faithful to the End: An Introduction to Hebrews through Revelation, (Nashvillle: B&H, 2007), vii-viii.

Faithful to the End

faithful to the end • iii

elective scheduleWeek 1 June 6 These Epistles GenerallyWeek 2 June 13 James: Word inDeedWeek 3 June 20 1-2 Peter: Living StonesWeek 4 June 27 1-3 John: By This We KnowWeek 5 July 4 Jude: The End ComethWeek 6 July 11 It Is Done!: Into Revelation

Faithful to the End • Zion Church • June 5 / 1

These Epistles Generallycanon, composition, themes

A Trail Less TraveledWhy is this a trail less traveled?

Why shouldn’t this be a trail less traveled?

Our Street Address: The GE in Canon(there will be some sketching to do here. oh boy! authorized doodling!)

Faithful to the End • Zion Church • June 5 / 2

Our Neighborhood: The GE in CompositionWhat are some barriers to Hebrews in the Pauline Epistles?

What are some reasons to include Hebrews in the Pauline Epistles?

Our Message: The GE in Theology

“My tentative suggestion regarding the canonical intentionality of Hebrews is that it is the canonical coordinate between the Pauline corpus on the one hand, and the non-Pauline corpus on the other. By 'canonical coordinate', I mean that Hebrews, because of its affinities with both the Pauline and non-Pauline collections, effectively brings the two into a profitable canonical conversation.” Robert Wall, The New Testament as Canon: A Reader in Canonical Criticism, (JSNT 76; Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1992), 178, emphasis his.

With James, the GE may then be generally letters about __________ through ________, _____, and ________ by living faith unto the goal: __________

___________ will be the norm_______ will often be the example_______ will be what is practiced__________ will be the hope that keeps you climbing

Our Incarnation: The GE at Zion

Faithful to the End • Zion Church • June 5 / 3

Preparing for JamesReading

1. read James this week, preferably in one sitting2. read James again this week, preferably in a second translation3. while reading, write down answers to the questions below

Study Questions1. Structure: James may appear to have no structure, but perhaps

it’s just organized differently. What do you see that helps connect the different passages/chapters into a whole?

2. Message: What is James about (overall)? What are a couple of main themes in the letter? (hint: the first chapter is an introduction; you will find important clues there)

3. Passage: Pay particular attention to 2.1-13.What is the problem in the community?

Why is this a problem (i.e. why does James say it is not okay)?

What is the solution or antidote for the problem?

4.Incarnation: How do we and you need to live James?