Hope in the midst of suffering

Peter’s two letters offer different emphases, though both focus on the blessings that the death of Christ brings to a sinful world.

At the heart of Peter’s first letter is the message of Jesus as the suffering servant passage in Isa 52:13-53:12. Jesus was willing to suffer to accomplish the Father’s plan of salvation, and his costly obedience to God’s will is the example Christians are to follow whenever we encounter trials and sufferings in life. Thus, we have a new identity in Christ. Our lives are no longer defined by our circumstances. We are called to live by the values of the heavenly Father. Peter wants his readers to live as winsome witnesses to God’s redemptive work in all facets of life.

The purpose of Peter’s second letter is a powerful reminder that God does not intend to destroy the universe, but to expose and remove evil in order to recreate a new heaven and a new earth.

The letter of James is intensly practical and focus on getting Christian to consistenly live out the faith they proclaim. Writing as a pastor, the letter of James is a series of brief sermons or homilies, that James packages into one letter.

The Superiority of Jesus

The letter to the Hebrews is an impassionate plea that the readers, who were predominately Jewish converts, must not turn away from Christ and return to their former ways (i.e. Judaism or paganism). The author does so by arguing for the superiority of Jesus Christ, as God’s exalted Son, final revelation, eternal priest, and perfect sacrifice. 

In spite of intense persecution, these followers of Jesus should follow the great models of faith in the past and remain faithful to Jesus. Thus, one of the most important contributions of Hebrews is its balance of continuity and advance in relating the OT and NT to each other.

The Gospel Breaks Down Social Walls

The reader enters Paul’s letter to Philemon without being provided with the backstory. The traditional interpretation of the letter views it as Paul’s request for Philemon to welcome back Philemon’s slave Onesimus. Another interpretation suggests that Onesimus was not a fugitive but had committed some misdeed and sought out Paul to intercede for him with his master. One thing is clear: meeting Paul in prison resulted in Onesimus becoming a Christian. What is the meaning of the letter for us today? The inclusion of this incident in the New Testament canon reveals how the Christian faith breaks down what seems to be insurmountable social walls.

Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus are known as the “Pastoral Epistles” (PE). However, they are more than a simple manual of church practice. They are Paul’s attempts to address specific situations in the ministry contexts of Timothy and Titus. At the heart of these letters is Paul’s concern for “sound” doctrine (1 Tim 1:10; 6:3; 2 Tim 1:13; Titus 1:9). Paul uses the term “sound’ to refer to teaching rooted in the gospel that produces healthy or wholesome living. Thus, the unique contribution of the PE is applying theology to address issues related to church organization, leadership, relationships, and families within the household of God. Paul’s message is 
that every situation or issue must be addressed theologically.

Living in Hope of Jesus’ Return 
Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians shares similar concerns of the first letter. For example, Paul commends the church for enduring persecution (1:3-12). He also continues his focus on eschatology or the meaning of the “day of the Lord.” There are similarities in how both letters describe the day of the Lord—e.g., that day involves surprise and judgment for unbelievers but anticipation and vindication for believers. However, in 2 Thessalonians, Paul clarifies the topic and comforts the church, which was frightened by a false claim about the day of the Lord. Lastly, Paul instructs the church on how to deal with its idle members (3:1-15). 
 

Living in the Light of Christ’s Second Coming

The Apostle Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians in AD 50-51 during his 18-month ministry in Corinth. Except for the possibility of an early date for Galatians (AD 48), this letter represents one of Paul’s earliest canonical letters.
In response to Timothy’s reported concerns about the church, Paul wrote the letter to address several issues.

• First, Paul wrote to defend attacks on his personal integrity. Non-Christians accused Paul of impure and selfish motives with regard to his ministry.
• Secondly, Paul wrote to encourage believers, who were being persecuted for their faith in Christ (2:14, 3:1-5).
• Lastly, but most importantly, Paul wrote to comfort his readers about the fate of both deceased (4: 12-18) and living (5:1-11) beliers at Christ’s return.