VI. The Interpretive Task:

The Epistles

The Nature of an Epistle

1. Name of writer (I Cor. 1:1)2. Name of recipient (I Cor. 1:2)3. Greeting (I Cor. 1:3)4. Blessing/Thanksgiving/well

wish (I Cor. 1:4-9)5. Body (I Cor. 1:10-16:18)6. Final greeting or farewell

(I Cor. 16:19-24)

Generally, a letter was personal addressing specific person or group

An epistle is more of a treatise, more general and less specific in terms of the audience.

New Testament Epistles Have Several Things in

Common

• They are occasional.

• specific issues and circumstances addressed in them may seem far off

and quaint.

• None of the epistles are “systematic theology.”

1. Remember Our Rules of

Thumb1. The only valid interpretation is the one the author intended for the reader to make. There is only one meaning to a text (with some rare exceptions). We do not start with “what the text means to me,” but with the what the author intended to convey. Applications may vary, but meaning is firm.2. Look for connecting phrases such as “thus,” “therefore,” “so then,” “for,” etc. This will give guidance in the author’s flow of thought.3. Ignore chapter and verse divisions (eg. I Cor. 11:1, Phil 4:1)4. Note changes in person and vocabulary (Ps. 91 - vs. 1-2, “I;” vs. 3-13, “you;” vs. 14-16, God speaks).5. Note recurring words and phrases in paragraphs, books, etc.6. Look for the big picture (Lk. 1:1-2, Acts 1:1-2, Gal. 1:6)7. Different forms of literature (parables, law, history, etc.) have differing rules of interpretation. Regardless of the literary form, however, remember the author was attempting to convey meaning.8. Try to avoid bringing your own cultural and ecclesiastical traditions to the text (I Cor. 13:10, II Peter 1:19-20, I Tim. 5:23).9. Be aware that at times applications may be culturally relevant, though the principle is universal (foot washing, the “holy kiss”).

2. One must try to reconstruct as much as possible the cultural,

historical, theological, etc. background of the epistle.

Where was/is Corinth?What was Laodicea like?

What seem to be the theological issues

in Colossae?

Now To Philemon…

a) Let’s start by blocking out the text in smaller chunks, or paragraphs, looking for connecting words and phrases, seeing if we can follow the author’s train of thought. If you like, make an outline giving a title for each section.

A Sample Outline:

I. Salutation (vs. 1-3)II. Commendation (vs. 4-7)III. Exhortation (vs. 8-14)IV. Meditation (vs. 15-16)

V. Exhortation (vs. 17-20)VI.Commendation (v. 21)VII. Anticipation (v. 22)VIII. Salutation (v. 23-25)

Another sample outline:

I. Salutation (vs. 1-3)II. Commendation (vs. 4-7)III. Exhortation (vs. 8-17)IV. Promise (vs. 18-19)V. Confidence (vs. 20-21)VI. Anticipation (v. 22)VII. Salutation (vs. 23-25)

b) Having blocked out the text, we can ask some

questions:

- What is the big picture? - What is the Key verse? - Why is Paul writing? - What is the meaning of the book? - What are some repeated words? - What is the subject matter? - What are the implications? - What is the significance?

Essentially in this step, we are asking “Who, what, when, where, and why?”

c) Having determined the overall meaning of

the letter, we can follow the

same basic procedure

through each section of the

book.

Don’t get discouraged! This exercise becomes natural with time and patience!

Don’t give up!