New Testament Letters: Historical Context

Summary

This video explores how to read the New Testament letters by considering their historical, cultural, and situational contexts. It explains how the letters, written by apostles to early Christian communities, fit into the larger biblical storyline, address specific issues in those communities, and challenge Roman social norms. The discussion emphasizes the letters' countercultural nature, promoting unity, love, and equality. By understanding these letters in their original context, modern readers can gain wisdom on how the teachings of Jesus can transform contemporary culture as well.

Takeaways

• ✉️ The New Testament includes 21 letters written by apostles to communities of Jesus' followers across the Roman Empire.
• 📜 These letters are a form of prose discourse, written to help spread the message of Jesus and his Kingdom.
• 🕰️ To understand the letters, readers need to consider their historical context, including the overarching storyline of the Bible.
• 🌍 The storyline begins with God creating humanity to rule creation, but humanity chooses its own way, leading to suffering. Jesus came to fulfill God's promise to restore this vision.
• 👑 The apostles, like Paul, saw their mission as proclaiming Jesus as the true King, even in a Roman Empire where allegiance was expected to Caesar.
• 🏛️ The Roman Empire was a hierarchical society with power concentrated among elites, while many lived in poverty and under oppression.
• 🤝 In contrast to Roman society, the Christian communities promoted equality and love, breaking social barriers of status, gender, and wealth.
• 📬 The situational context of each letter is key to understanding its purpose. For example, Paul's letter to the Romans addresses divisions between Jewish and non-Jewish Christians over food laws and sacred days.
• ⚖️ Paul sought to unite Christians by emphasizing their shared faith in Jesus, despite their differences in culture, theology, and social status.
• 💡 These letters, though written for different times and places, offer wisdom on how the message of Jesus can challenge and transform cultures today.

Q & A

What are the letters near the end of the Bible, and who wrote them?

The letters near the end of the Bible are written by apostles, appointed by Jesus to spread the good news about His Kingdom, to communities of His followers throughout the ancient Roman empire.

Why is it important to understand the historical context when reading the New Testament letters?

Understanding the historical context is crucial because these letters were written to specific communities with particular cultural, social, and theological issues, which the apostles addressed. This helps readers grasp the intended message and its relevance.

How do the New Testament letters fit into the larger storyline of the Bible?

The letters continue the biblical story, which begins with God creating humanity to partner with Him in ruling creation. After humanity's fall, God promises through Abraham that blessing will spread to all nations. Jesus fulfills this promise through His life, death, and resurrection, and the apostles see themselves as heralds of His Kingdom.

What challenges did the apostles face when spreading the message of Jesus in the Roman Empire?

The apostles faced challenges like cultural, social, and political opposition. For example, in Rome, allegiance was supposed to be given to Caesar, so declaring Jesus as the true King was a bold statement that could be seen as a threat to Roman power and order.

What was the social hierarchy like in the Roman Empire, and how did it differ from the Christian community?

The Roman Empire had a strict social hierarchy where men from wealthy and important families had advantages, while women, slaves, children, and the poor were seen as inferior. In contrast, the Christian community promoted love and equal dignity for everyone, regardless of status.

Why were the New Testament letters considered countercultural?

The letters were countercultural because they broke down social barriers. The apostles emphasized that God's love was given to everyone, regardless of their status, which was radical in a society that valued hierarchy and social division.

What specific issue does Paul address in his letter to the Roman Christians?

In his letter to the Roman Christians, Paul addresses divisions in the church caused by disagreements over Jewish food laws and sacred days, as well as tensions between Jewish and non-Jewish followers of Jesus.

How were social status and cultural differences creating conflict in the Roman church?

Some Christians of higher social status were treating Jewish Christians with contempt, while Jewish Christians were condemning non-Jews as second-rate followers. These conflicts were rooted in cultural and theological differences.

What was Paul's main message to the divided Roman church?

Paul's main message was that despite their cultural, theological, and social differences, Roman Christians are unified by their faith in Jesus, who is the real center of their church.

How can the wisdom from the New Testament letters be applied to modern culture?

By observing how the apostles challenged and transformed their first-century culture with the message of Jesus, modern readers can gain insights into how the same message can challenge and transform today's cultural and societal norms.