Bible 600

Hebrews

Hebrews and General Epistles

the 19th book of the New Testament

No one knows for sure, but it is generally believed that Paul was the writer of
Hebrews.
The readers of Hebrews were a specific group of believing Jews.
The purpose of Hebrewsto prevent the Jewish believers from going back
to Judaism by proving to them that Judaism had come to an end in Christ.
Message/theme of Hebrewsthe superiority of the Christian faith over
Judaism.
*The word better is used 13 times in Hebrews.
Content of HebrewsChrist is better than the prophets & angels; better than
Moses & Joshua;
Better than Aaron & the OT priests; The New Covenant is better than
the Old Covenant.
Faith

to believe or trust someone without question;

It involves believing or trusting in that which is unseen but will be
realized in the future.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not
seen. (Hebrews 11:1)
There are more than 300 references to faith (faithful, faithfulness) in the NT.
What does faith accomplish?
There are at least three purposes for faith:
1. In order to receive salvation
2. Faith & trust help you obey & keep Gods word & commandments.
3. It allows others to see God in you through your actions.
*The more faith you have, the more you will want to serve.
Serving=Action
*Faith without works (action) is dead.
*A true faith in the Lord is revealed in doing for others; showing Christs
love through action.
(Matthew 28:1920)

General Epistles
general epistles.

James, Peter, John & Jude wrote 7 NT books that are called the
Epistles=letters

James
Historical OccasionChristian Jews outside of Palestine had suffered
persecution by the Romans.
Purposeto comfort those Christian Jews in their trials, to warn them about
their sins & to teach them Christian principles.
Content
ThemeFaith without works is dead. We are saved by faith to
work/perform deeds.
We show that we have faith by our works. There is a difference
in just saying
you are a Christian & acting like one. People should be able to
tell by the way
you live your life.
James taught that one whose faith is alive will show faith by:
1. Being a doer of the Word
2. Working
3. Controlling the tongue
4. Turning from the world
5. Praying
First Peter
Historical OccasionJewish Christians were being tested by persecution
outside the church.
Peter wrote to give his readers hope in Christ.
Content
Purpose1) to exhort (urge, advise, warn) or to encourage and
2) to testify
to the great truths of foreknowledge, sanctification
(making holy), regeneration, resurrection, salvation, & the
2nd Coming of Christ.

General Exhortations (Warnings) to:

1. Holiness
2. Brotherly love
3. Spiritual growth
Specific Exhortations to:
1. Strangers
2. Citizens
3. Servants
4. Wives
5. Husbands
6. Christians
7. Elders
Second Peter
Historical Occasionto provide hope to believers who were suffering
persecution from inside
the church; to warn believers against false teachers inside the church;
teachers who
denied Christ.
Content

exhorted (urged) believers to grow spiritually

Themeliving knowledge
Peter taught
church:
1.
2.
3.
4.
First John

four truths to prepare believers against false teachers within the

Divine provision for a holy life
Divine inspiration of the Holy Word
False teachers within the church
The promise of Christs coming

has a message particularly helpful for Christian assurance & growth

Historical OccasionJesus was the Son of God in human flesh, a truth that
some teachers in the
church were denying.
Purpose

emphasize the deity of Jesus

1) Fullness of joy
2) Victory over sin
3) Assurance of salvation

Content-1. God is Light.

2. God is Love.
3. God is Life.

God is light; in Him is no darkness at all. God is holy in character &

righteous in
conduct.
ThemeFellowship with the Father
Fellowship is maintained by:
1. Walking in the light
2. Practicing righteousness
3. Experiencing His love
4. Expressing our love

Fellowship maintained with Him results in:

1. Victory over the world
2. Assurance of salvation
(Second and Third John

, the two shortest books in the Bible)

Second John
A local church may have met regularly in the home of the elect or chosen
lady. John wrote
to warn her against receiving false teachers into her house.
Themethe truth, preparing to live in the presence of false teachings by
living in the Word.
Third John
John warned against Diotrephes, who had refused to receive the messengers
John had sent.
Theme continued from Second John.
Jude
Historical Occasionthe false teachers that Peter warned about had already
come
Content
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Greetings
Purpose
False teachers
Faithful believers
Benediction