Description

📖 How to Read the Bible | Session 12: New Testament Letters

Welcome to Session 12 of our How to Read the Bible series! In this episode, we’re diving into the New Testament Letters (or Epistles), a rich section of Scripture that includes 21 of the 27 books in the New Testament.

These letters, 13 from Paul and 8 general or "Jewish" epistles, were written to real people and churches in real situations. That means context is everything. These aren't just abstract theological essays; they are personal, practical, and deeply pastoral responses to problems, questions, and conflicts in the early church.

We begin this session with an exercise: reading a historical letter not from the Bible, Thomas Jefferson’s 1802 response to the Danbury Baptist Association. This helps us get into the mindset of reading letters as whole, situational documents. Just like Jefferson’s letter had a purpose, audience, and message, so do Paul’s and the other New Testament writers’.

📝 Teaching Highlights:

• The NT letters were written between the resurrection and the return of Christ, a key lens for understanding their message.
• Most are written in response to specific issues, what we call “occasional” or “situational” texts.
• We break down a typical epistle’s structure, introduction, body, and conclusion, to help you trace the logic and flow of each letter.
• Learn how to trace the argument of a letter from the big picture (forest) down to the details (trees) and back again.
• Watch out for logical connectors (“therefore,” “but,” “so”) and pronouns. They matter more than you think!
• Discover how to develop a working “big idea” of each letter by identifying the problem, proposed solution, and the theological motivations behind it.

We wrap up by reading Philemon, one of the shortest and most personal letters in the New Testament. We ask:

• Who wrote it and to whom?
• What’s the issue at hand?
• How does Paul propose to resolve it?
• What deep gospel truths are embedded in this brief letter?
• And what does it mean for us today?

🔔 Subscribe to stay up-to-date as we continue helping you read the Bible with greater clarity, depth, and confidence. And please rate and review the podcast to help us reach more people with thoughtful, biblical content!