Hebrews
(19) Hebrews
Author:
Unknown (nominated candidates are: Paul, Luke, Apollos, Barnabas,
Priscilla or Phillip) - Most evidence points to Paul (see section at
the end on evidence of Paul's authorship).
Date
Written: Sometime before 70 AD, possibly 60 AD
Theme:
Christ is superior to the Old Covenant in every way, and even more,
is the fulfillment of that covenant. The righteous shall live by
faith, for it is by faith that we are justified and made holy.
Key
People: Men and Women of faith from the Old Testament
Interesting
Facts: This is the only book of the New Testament whose author is
uncertain, although the majority of the evidence points to Paul. If
this was written by Paul, and was originally included at the end of
Galatians (as it is in some old manuscripts), it was written from Rome.
General Letters
(20) James
Author: James
Date
Written: 49 AD
heme:
James takes on the hypocrisy of those who claim they believe, but
feel no obligation to actually live a Christian lifestyle. James
emphasizes that real faith is being a doer of the word, and not a
hearer only. He finishes with encouragement to refrain from sin, and
to trust God.
Key
People: No particular people mentioned
Interesting
Facts: Mostly likely written from Jerusalem. This James was a
younger brother of Jesus, and grew up in the same house at the same
time as Jesus. He came to believe his older brother was the Messiah,
God in the flesh. A tomb was recently found in Israel with the
inscription, "James, the son of Joseph, the brother of
Jesus." If the inscription is authentic, the "James"
who wrote this letter is buried there.
(21) 1 Peter
Author:
Simon Peter
Date
Written: between 63 AD
Theme:
Letter of encouragement for all Christians who were suffering under
persecution. Emphasizes that believers should imitate Christ in all
aspect of their lives (the original WWJD). Expect persecution, be
thankful for the privilege of suffering for Christ, and trust God at
all times.
Key
People: Peter, Silas, Mark
Interesting
Facts: Peter, Silas, and Mark were all in Rome together at the time
Peter wrote this letter. Paul had recently been set free from prison,
and was on another missionary journey at this time.
(22) 2 Peter
Author:
Simon Peter
Date
Written: 66 AD
Theme:
While 1 Peter warns about external threats, 2 Peter warns about
internal ones. In particular, he warns about complacency and gives
very strong warnings about false teachers. He finishes by encouraging
us to study the scriptures.
Key
People: Peter, Paul
Interesting
Facts: Written from Rome. It is noteworthy that in this letter Peter
includes Paul's letters when speaking about scripture (3:15-16), and
admits they are sometimes hard to understand. Peter says that his
time is very short, and he was correct. This letter was written
shortly before he was executed by crucifixion. Saying he was not
worthy to be crucified in the same manner as his Lord, Peter
requested to be crucified upside down. His request was granted.
(23) 1 John
Author: John
Date
Written: Around 90 AD
Theme:
Encouragement to love others, live holy lives, follow the
instructions of Jesus, and avoid false teaching.
Key
People: John, Jesus
Interesting
Facts: Written from Ephesus. John firmly believed that morality was
black and white, good and evil, God and Satan. He saw no middle
ground, no gray area, and it comes across clearly in both his gospel
and this letter.
(24) 2 John
Author: John
Date
Written: Around 90 AD
Theme: A
strong warning about false teachers and deceivers.
Key
People: John, the chosen lady, her children
Interesting
Facts: Written from Ephesus shortly after 1 John, this is a personal
letter to "the chosen lady."
(25) 3 John
Author: John
Date
Written: Around 90 AD
Theme:
Strong encouragement for those who live lives of hospitality,
generosity, and kindness to others, as well as a rebuke for those who
place themselves and their own ambition above others.
Key
People: John, Gaius, Diotrephus, Demetrius
Interesting
Facts: This is a personal letter to Gaius, who had gained a
reputation for his hospitality and generosity toward traveling
evangelists and teachers. We discover here that John had written
another letter to the church that no longer exists.
(26) Jude
Author: Jude
Date
Written: About 65 AD
Theme: To
warn believers to be ever vigilant against sin and false teaching,
and to continue to build up their own faith through prayer and loving others.
Key
People: Jude, James, Jesus
Interesting
Facts: The location from which this was written is unknown. Like
James, Jude was a younger brother of Jesus. Two of Jesus' four
brothers (James, Joses, Simon, and Judas [Jude]; Matthew 13:55; Mark
6:3), and his mother are recorded believing in, and becoming
followers of Jesus. We know He also had sisters (Matthew 13:56; Mark
6:3; we don't know how many, other than that he had more than one),
but none of them are ever recorded as believing in their big brother.
Revelation
(End times)
(27) Revelation
Author: John
Date
Written: 95 AD
Theme: An
extended prophetic vision of the future of Israel, humanity and the
earth, culminating in the defeat of Satan, eradication of sin, and
establishment of the kingdom of God on earth for all eternity. The
visions in this book are intentionally built upon the visions in the
Old Testament book of Daniel, without a clear understanding of that,
grasping the meaning of Revelation is impossible.
Key
People: John, Jesus, false prophet, antichrist (illustrated symbolically)
Interesting
Facts: The Greek title for this book literally means, "to
reveal," or "to take the cover off." John wrote this
book from Patmos, where he was being held as a prisoner because
Caesar's attempt to kill him by boiling him in oil failed, and the
emperor, fearing John was protected by "the gods," exiled
him to Patmos where it was ordered that no harm could come to him.
John was given every comfort (including a personal scribe), and had
daily visits from Christians seeking the wisdom, fellowship and
teaching of one of the last living eye-witness to Jesus' ministry,
and only living member of the original twelve disciples.
=========================
Some
Evidence that Paul wrote Hebrews
In the
oldest manuscripts, Hebrews is connected as a post-script to
Galatians (included at the end of Galatians) with the sub-title,
"to the Hebrews." This would explain why Paul says that his
letter to the Galatians is a "large letter" (Galatians
6:11), when many of his letters were much larger.
Both
Galatians and Hebrews mentions that the author will be coming soon.
Paul's
authorship was not disputed for the first 500 years of Christianity.
From 70 -
700 AD, over 100 early church writers (in both Greek and Latin) claim
that Hebrews was written by Paul.
Paul's
letters are the only ones to mention Timothy (Hebrews 13:23), and
Paul always calls him a brother when speaking to others about Timothy.
Eusebius
says that Paul wrote the letter in Aramaic and left his name off of
it so that it would be more likely to be received by Jews who hated
him, and did not want to hear anything he had to say. He says that
Luke translated it into Greek. This would explain why the Greek so
closely resembles Luke's, while the arguments so closely resemble Paul's.
Paul is
the only letter writer in the New Testament who requested prayer for
himself (Hebrews 13:18)
Paul is
the only letter writer who wrote from prison and expected to be
released soon (Hebrews 13:19)
Many of
the arguments and phrases are similar to Paul's. A quick Sampling
(there are many more than this):
Hebrews
5:12 - 1 Corinthians 3:2
Hebrews
8:1 - Ephesians 1:20
Hebrews
8:6; 9:15; 12:24 - Galatians 3:19-20; 1 Timothy 2:5
Hebrews
10:1 - Colossians 2:17
Hebrews
12:3 - Galatians 6:9
Hebrews
12:14 - Romans 12:18
Hebrews
13:1-5 - Ephesians 5:2-5
Hebrews
13:9 - Ephesians 4:14
Hebrews
13:16 - Philippians 4:18
Hebrews
13:20-21 - Romans 15:33; 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:11; Philippians 4:9
OT-1 2 3
NT-1 2 3
