Module 4 · Reading Each Genre · Week 14

The Letters — Reading Someone Else’s Mail

Most of the New Testament consists of letters written to specific churches dealing with specific problems. Reading them well means remembering that you are reading someone else's mail.

~20 min watch + read Video + podcast companion PDF handout included Taught by Andrew Ramirez Completed

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Section 01

Key Terms

Epistle — A letter — in the New Testament, these are letters written by apostles to specific churches or individuals.

Occasional — Written for a specific occasion or situation — most New Testament letters were prompted by a specific problem or question.

Universal Principle — The timeless truth embedded in a letter's specific instructions — the principle that applies to all Christians.

Section 02

Key Concepts

01Specific

Letters were written to specific people about specific problems.

Paul wasn't writing a systematic theology. He was answering a church in crisis. Know the crisis, know the letter.

02Reconstruct

Reconstruct the situation before applying the text.

Who wrote? To whom? Why now? Good introductions — or a good study Bible — will tell you.

03Principle

Find the universal principle behind the specific instruction.

Head coverings in Corinth had a cultural meaning. The principle — honor and order in worship — still applies.

Section 03

Scripture Focus

Anchor passages for this lesson.

1 Corinthians 11:2–16Philemon 1–25Galatians 1:6–9Romans 1:1–17

Section 04

By the End, You Will…

Explain why understanding the original situation (who wrote it, to whom, and why) is essential for interpreting a New Testament letter correctly.

Trace the logical flow of an epistle — following the author's argument from beginning to end instead of reading isolated verses.

Distinguish between culturally specific instructions and universal principles when applying epistles to modern life.

Section 05

Take It With You

Lesson Handout (PDF)

Key terms, concepts, and review prompts for offline study

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