IN THIS STUDY we’re moving away from the stories of things happening and how they happen, all of which are great and exciting things, into a different kind of excitement! The excitement of theology, or knowing about God. This part of the New Testament is now a commentary on what the apostles have done to help others come to know God for themselves.
THESE LETTERS, or epistles, are simply that, letters. They talk about theology, the theology of the Old Testament and its relationship to the New Testament, the relationship of Jesus Christ or the on-going story of Israel and more. Each of the letters contain two significant elements. They’ll have a theological section and what some people call a practical section. We don’t use that distinction, because that would imply that theology’s not practical! So, what we have is a theological part and an ethical (or moral) part. Like the Apostle Paul, we hope to ignite your Christian belief to be apparent in how you behave as a Christian. The world comes to encounter God as the fruit of His Spirit is evident in our faith, a faith that expresses itself through love.
