Nov.27th - 2013

JAMES- Author: James was a brother of Jesus that did not believe until after the resurrection. Became a leader during the Jerusalem council in Acts 15. (Was also in  charge at the Jerusalem council) Also one of the first people to die a martyrs death.- Date: Was written around 50 AD (possibly written around the same time as Galatians)- Audience: Written to the 12 tribes scattered among the nations, to the Church in general, who he considers to be the true Israel.- Theme: To be like Jesus, James skips the theology and goes straight into the practice or works. James and Paul often get put at odds, as James said that people are justified by works and not by faith alone, and Paul writes that man is saved by the grace of God through faith,which leads to doing work. Outline of James-Trials 1:1-18Distinct Contributions from James- Loosely connected sayings strung together, like Proverbs- A theological ethic...if this is what you believe than this is how you behave- True religion - 1:26-27 (widows and orphans) Favouritism in the church, - Trials and judgement- Faith and works...Very Key theme...obedience, "be DOERS of the word, not only hearers",the word of God is the source of all wisdom and direction- Pride and Humility: God always takes the side of the humble, and pride is devilish.- The tongue and wisdom (talks a lot about the tongue, your words.....and wisdom: ask God for wisdom, there are two types of wisdom- that from God, and all other wisdom that is worldly and demonic.)- Prayer: the most distinct passage in scripture on prayer "confess, pray, anoint with oil = healing" 1 PETER- Author: Peter the Apostle. There are a few debates, but it is generally accepted that Peter wrote this book.- Date: most likely at the end of Peter's life around 65 AD. A couple years before he was martyred (peter was a key apostle in the life of Christ and the start of the Church)- Audience: the gentiles, and the non-native people in the area. "the aliens in the land", those of the faith (in Asia Minor)- Theme: endurance in suffering for the faith1 Peter Contributions-  Holiness: (1 Peter 1:15-16) Faith is never a substitution for purity. (faith does not exempt you from Christ-like life, it creates it)- People of God: (1 Peter 2:9 is a direct reference to Ex 19...where the people of God have left Egypt at the feet of Sinai where God proclaims the covenant with them) Peter quotes Ex 19 purposely and calls the Church the people of God.- Suffering: (1 Peter 4:12-13), suffering is a participatory exercise with Christ, a refining of Christian character. Peter defines proper suffering as suffering for Christ..if you are suffering due to your sin or stupidity this is not the same.- Submission: this is the Christian response to wrong doing, and act of faith, if you defend yourself you revoke Gods defense.2 PETEROutline- Salutation- Ch1:1-2- Growth and Godliness (Ch 1, beginning of)- The Testimony of the Apostles and the Prophets (latter part of Chapter 1)- False Teachers (Chapter 2)- The Day of The Lord (Chapter 3) and is conclusion that goes through the same first four steps.Contributions- Spiritual Growth- Inspiration of Scripture (this is the anchor for determining false teachers)- False Teachers (recognize false teachers by their immorality, arrogance in spiritual warfare and strange end time ideas)- The Day of the Lord (be ready for the day of the Lord, as all will be destroyed)JUDE- Author is another brother of Jesus. Introduces himself as "a slave of Jesus and a brother of James."- Audience: to those who have been called, very generally to the Church.- Date: about the same time as 1 and 2nd Peter...basically parallel to those books as well.Contributions- Like 2 Peter on false teachers- The DOXOLOGY and BENEDICTION...is the most distinctive and well known aspect of Jude.Similarities Between 2 Peter and Jude- False Teachers (immorality, arrogance, end times) Actually uses the same examples as 2 Peter, even a lot of the wording is word for word- Pseudepigraphical References (2 Peter and Jude both refer to 1 Enoch in regards to the angels rebelling; and also to the Assumption of Moses...with Michael the archangel fighting over the body of MosesTHE LETTERS OF JOHN- Author: John the APOSTLE, not John the baptist. (also writes 1 and 2 John, the Gospel of John, etc)The only one of the twelve apostles that dies of old age, John was referred to as "the elder"- Date: 90-95 AD (one of the latter books....- Audience: 1st John not written to anyone specifically, 2nd John possibly written to the Church, 3rd to the Pastor...most likely of the 7 Churches around Ephesus.- Purpose: (1 John 5:13): Assurance of Faith; "so that you may know that you have eternal life"- Summary: (1 John 5:1-5) Three tests to know you have faith: 1) Love God and his children, 2) Obey the commandments, 3) Believe that Jesus is the Son of God.- Doctrinal Test - Believe - (Ch.4:1-3): Don't believe everything, test it. Do they believe that Jesus is the Son of God.- Moral Test - Obey - (Ch.2:3-6)- Social Test - Love - 4:7-8, 20-21

REVELATION- Author: John- Date:- Genre: style of writing is quite different from the rest of John's books....in the day it was written was considered "Apocalyptic" Greek which translates into Revelation in English.-----Everything in the book of Revelation is connected to previous scripture...nothing new, not a Revelation of things previously hidden.Notes on Apocalyptic Literature- Visions: talks a lot about the things that he "saw", visions, not things that he heard, etc. - Divine Interpreters: talks about angels that came to him- Symbolic language ie: four creatures and 24 elders falling down-point is not what the  creatures look like or are, but that there is Worship in Heaven from all of creation and all the people of God. (these are SYMBOLS...not literal)- Numbers are also symbols and representative of other things...(6 represents Man, 7 represents Jesus, Church, 12 is Gods people, 4 is the Ends of the Earth, 1000 is a number of greatness and wholeness etc, etc, etc,)- Chapter 1 is "the revelation of Jesus", 2 and 3 are the seven letters of Jesus that tie directly to that revelation.(there are seven parts to each of the seven letters)-  Dualism: whatever God offers the devil offers his alternative...ie: New Jerusalem - Babylon.......God puts his mark on the foreheads of his people - Devil does the same...God is worshipped - devil sets up a beast to be worshipped.- Written to those who are suffering to give them hope.Approaches to Interpretation of Revelation1) Preterist - it happened in John's day, not a fairy tale of things to come one day.2) Historicist - it happened through history. Ie: the first seal was from Jesus birth till the fall of Rome, etc. etc. It has all happened but Chapters 19-223) Futurist - It will happen in the end. (many set dates based on this...)4) Idealist - It happens all the time: symbolic of the battle of good and evil.Purpose of the Revelation of Jesus- To encourage Christians in the struggle. That Jesus is victorious in the end. To persevere, to rebuke, correct, and help.Key Features- Jesus Christ and His Cross: you will meet Jesus at every turn and see the Cross and the blood of Christ, the lamb who was slain. They defeated their enemy by the word of God, and their testimony.- The battle has already been won. (by and at the Cross)- Songs - scattered throughout. (there is turmoil, and then they sing and worship the glory of God) (Ch.4:8,5:12, 7:10 etc., etc.)- The Heart - Chapters 4-5. - The Victory of Christ - 12:7-8, 17:14-16, 19:11-15

New Page

New Page