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
Key Concepts
- Letters were written to specific people about specific problems
- You are reading someone else's mail — reconstruct the situation
- Find the universal principle behind the specific instruction
Scripture Focus
1 Corinthians 11:2-16
Philemon 1-25
Galatians 1:6-9
Romans 1:1-17
Learning Objectives
- 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
Resources
Download the companion handout for this lesson to review key terms and concepts offline.
Download Lesson Handout (PDF)