Other Apostles' Letters

These writers all desired to warn their brothers to remain faithful to Christ, live holy and righteous lives and to have nothing to do with false teachers, some of whom even deny that Christ came in the flesh.

Studies from other New Testament Letters: 1 Hebrews – Superior to Angels 2 Hebrews - Change in Priesthood 3 Hebrews – Drawing Near to God 4 James – Love Produces Works 5 1 Peter – Live Holy Lives 6 2 Peter – Scoffing False Teachers 7 1 John – Righteousness and Godly Love 8 2 John – Love Brothers Avoid Antichrist 9 3 John – Showing Hospitality 10 Jude – Apostasy

Superior to Angels

Setting: As the name implies, it was written to Jewish (or Hebrew) Christians encouraging them not to return to the Old Covenant put into effect through Moses. But, to remain faithful to the New Covenant put into effect by Christ through the shedding of His physical blood, that is his death, as the ultimate atoning sacrifice for man's sin.

Text: Hebrews 1 – 4:13

Key Point: Concentrate your thoughts on Jesus our Savior and High Priest whom we confess, through whom everything was made, who is crowned with glory and honor and who is not ashamed to call us brothers.

Change in Priesthood

Setting: As the name implies, it was written to Jewish (or Hebrew) Christians encouraging them not to return to the Old Covenant put into effect through Moses. But, to remain faithful to the New Covenant put into effect by Christ through the shedding of His physical blood, that is his death, as the ultimate sacrifice for man's sin.

Text: Hebrews 4:14 - 10:18

Key Point: On oath God proclaimed Christ to be a priest after the order of Melchizedek. This change in priesthood clearly shows a change of law or covenant. Under the New Covenant the High Priest (Christ) is able to save all who come to God through Christ.

Word Study:

5:12 – Elementary truths – foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 6:6 – Fall away – same as apostatize or fall from grace 6:6 – Apostatize – to renounce and abandon one’s religious faith 7:17 – Order of Melchizedek - Nothing appears to be known of the beginning or ending of his life. We know he pronounced a blessing on Abraham and Abraham paid tithes to him therefore he was considered by Abraham to be greater. His name is king of peace and king of righteousness. 7:25 – Come to God – To come to God in Christ’s name to approach him for pardon and salvation

BibleWay Publishing Related Study

First Principles

Related References:

Laying on of Hands (Appendix 3)

Drawing Near to God

Setting: The book appears to have been written in Italy. As the name implies, it was written to Jewish (or Hebrew) Christians encouraging them not to return to the Old Covenant put into effect through Moses. But, to remain faithful to the New Covenant put into effect by Christ through the shedding of His physical blood, that is his death, as the ultimate sacrifice for man's sin.

Text: Hebrews 10:19 - 13

Key Point: By the blood of Jesus those obedient to His message, gospel, can draw near to God in the Most Holy Place as their bodies have been made pure having been washed or immersed in water into His death, representing the blood of Christ. But remember God disciplines those He loves so be obedient and endure hardships for being a son of God.

Love Produces Works

Setting: It would appear this was written from Jerusalem as it is directed to the twelve scattered tribes among the nations and is addressed to Hebrew Christians

since James refers to them as "my brothers." He gives instructions on how to live the faithful life.

Text: James

Key Point: God chose the poor in spirit to be rich in the faith but they are justified by what they do, not just by faith, and to be acceptable to God one must assist those in need for without action one’s faith is dead.

Word Study:

1:26 – Religion – denotes the outward expression of worship

Live Holy Lives

Setting: Written to those Paul had converted on his missionary journeys. Peter encourages them to remain strong, be holy and faithful and to live justly and righteously even while suffering as a Christian.

Text: 1 Peter

Key Point: Abstain from sinful desires while living in such a way that those outside Christ will glorify God. To live such a life, one must prepare his mind for action.

Word Study:

1:22 – Purified – to make clean, sanctify, purify 3:1

• Submission – to yield to one's advice: 3:6 – Obey - Listen or hearken to; (not the same word translated submit) 3:19
• Prison – Preached to them while alive who are now dead. 4:3 – Debauchery – wantonness, licentiousness, lasciviousness, unbridled lust, outrageousness, shamelessness. 4:4 – Dissipation – intemperate living - especially excessive drinking 4:9 – Offer hospitality – take care of needs of others especially fellow Christians 4:10 – Gift – extraordinary powers, distinguishing certain Christians and enabling them to serve the Body of Christ, His Church, the reception of which is due to the power of divine grace operating in their souls by the Holy Spirit.

Scoffing False Teachers

Setting: Since Peter mentions Paul's letters to them, he is apparently writing to those Paul had converted on his missionary journeys, perhaps even the same people he wrote to previously. Peter encourages them to remain strong, be holy and faithful, to live righteously even while suffering as a Christian and warning them about false teachers.

Text: 2 Peter

Key Point: Peter and other apostles were eyewitnesses of Christ receiving honor from God stating that Jesus was the Son of God. But others for love of money will exploit you with made up stories. Therefore, make sure you do not fall from your election by adding to your faith goodness … love.

Word Study:

1:4 Divine nature – God’s nature is love, truth and righteousness (holiness) 1:19 Morning star – apparently Jesus as the light shinning in darkness 2:4 Hell – (Greek tartaros), the name of a subterranean region, doleful and dark, regarded by the ancient Greeks as the abode of the wicked dead, where they suffer punishment for their evil deeds. Not the same as Hades the abode of souls of the dead, 2:17 Blackest darkness – The absence of light or out of the presence of God with light being righteousness thus in total wickedness

Righteousness and Godly Love

Setting: Apparently written to Christians everywhere to encourage them to live righteously and in unity esteeming others above self.

Text: 1 John

Key Point: God is righteous and love which is the message from the beginning. Whoever loves as Christ loved is born of God therefore, he cannot hate his brother.

Word Study:

1:5 Light – purity, truth, knowledge, prosperity, and happiness 2:1 Children – a term used by teachers referring to one of their disciples 2:9 Hate – detest, not esteeming 2:15 World – material things, lust, pride, power and prestige 2:18 Antichrist – one who denies that Jesus is the Christ who came in the flesh and willingly gave his life’s blood as sacrifice for our sins.

Related References:

Denying the Holy Spirit (Appendix 1) Sin Unto Death (Appendix 2)

Love Brothers Avoid Antichrist

Setting: John an elder and apostle writes to Christians to encourage them to remain faithful.

Text: 2 John

Key Point: Christ came to earth in the flesh. When we obey Him, we show our love but deceivers and those who deny Christ came to earth are to be avoided.

Showing Hospitality

Setting: Written to a Christian named Gaius

Text: 3 John

Key Point: Be faithful, be humble, provide for the needs of others especially those who go out to teach Gospel to others

Apostasy

Setting: Written to warn Christians about leaders who are self– serving and interested only in themselves rather than God and the Body of Christ.

Text: Jude

Key Point: A warning about apostasy by church leaders, shepherds, who look out only for themselves, "What's in it for me?"

Word Study:

:4 – Immorality – unbridled lust, excess, licentiousness, lasciviousness, wantonness, outrageousness, shamelessness, insolence, filthy words, indecent physical movements, unchaste handling of males and females, :8 – Pollute their own bodies – to defile, pollute, contaminate, soil by sin :12 – Love feast – feasts expressing and fostering mutual love which used to be held by Christians before the celebration of the Lord's supper, and at which the poorer Christians mingled with the wealthier and partook in common with the rest of food provided at the expense of the wealthy: (from Thayer's Greek Lexicon, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 2000 by Biblesoft) :18 – Last times – there are differences of opinion as to the meaning of “last times” Adam Clarke states it is the end of the political state of the Jews while Albert Barnes considers it to be the time of the Christian age, the first being the Patriarchal followed by the Mosaic age ending with the Christian age.