General Epistles
The seven catholic (universal) epistles, addressed to the church at large rather than to a specific community: James, 1 + 2 Peter, 1 + 2 + 3 John, and Jude. ASV (1901).
Source context· Greco-Christian stream · Greco-Latin cultural age
- Stream
- Greco-Christian
- Cultural age
- Greco-Latin (4th post-Atlantean cultural age)
- Composed
- c. 80 CE
- 1James — James — faith without works is dead
Attributed to James the brother of the Lord. The famous teaching: faith without works is dead (2:17, 26) — the apparent counter-balance to Paul's justification by faith. The chapter on the taming of the tongue (ch 3); the warning against the rich (ch 5); the practice of anointing the sick (5:14).
2,540 words - 21 Peter — 1 Peter — a letter to suffering Gentile Christians
Addressed to Christians scattered across Asia Minor (1:1) facing social hostility for their faith. The doctrine of the new birth into a living hope; the royal priesthood, the holy nation (2:9); the passibilist Christology — Christ who suffered, the model for the church. Cast all your care upon him, for he cares for you (5:7).
2,664 words - 32 Peter — 2 Peter — against scoffers; the parousia delayed
Addresses the problem of the delayed parousia: Where is the promise of his coming? The famous answer: with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day (3:8); the day of the Lord will come unexpectedly as a thief, with the elements melting in fire.
1,683 words - 41 John — 1 John — God is light; God is love
Most likely from the Johannine school that produced the gospel. The two great formulas: God is light, and in him is no darkness at all (1:5) and God is love (4:8, 16). The polemic against the proto-docetic teaching that denied Jesus' true incarnation; the doctrine of abiding in Christ.
2,718 words - 52 John — 2 John — to the elect lady
Short letter from the elder to the elect lady and her children — likely a personification of a particular church. The double exhortation: walk in truth, love one another; and the warning against those who deny that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh — receive them not.
337 words - 63 John — 3 John — to Gaius; against Diotrephes
The shortest book in the NT. From the elder to Gaius, commending him for hospitality to travelling teachers; warning against Diotrephes 'who loves to be first' and refuses to receive the elder's missives. A glimpse of late first-century church politics.
339 words - 7Jude — Jude — against intruders; the contention over Moses' body
From Jude, brother of James (i.e., another brother of the Lord). Polemic against the certain men crept in unawares — false teachers using grace as a pretext for licence. Quotes the Assumption of Moses (the dispute over Moses' body between Michael and the devil) and the Book of Enoch (Enoch the seventh from Adam prophesying).
690 words
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