The Bible Book

that they were written to churches

scattered over a wide geographical

range, or to all Christians wherever

they might be found. The Book of

Revelation, while not a letter in its

entirety, begins with seven brief

letters to churches in Asia Minor.

Its apocalyptic message describing

Christ as the Final Judge of the

wicked and vindicator of believers

was partly an encouragement to

those experiencing persecution.

Academic debates

Given their nature as letters, the

Epistles give readers access to one

side of a conversation. Readers can

“overhear” the authors speak to

congregations and individuals. The

situation being addressed, however,

must be inferred from the letters

themselves. This has led modern

scholars to speculate about the

nature of the societies in which the

recipients lived. One important area

of discussion focuses on opponents

called “false teachers,” which are

mentioned and/or rebutted several

times in the Epistles. The false

teachers included practices and

philosophies, such as Jewish

legalism and mysticism, popular

Greek philosophical and religious

ideas, speculation about angels and

spiritual powers, and ascetic and

ritual practices.

Fierce debate also rages about

the authorship of several Epistles.

Since the 2nd century CE, scholars

have speculated about the

authorship of Hebrews. An

early tradition attributed Hebrews

to Paul, but others credited Peter’s

companion Silvanus, the early

preacher Apollos, or one of Paul’s

companions—Barnabas, Priscilla,

or Luke. Some modern scholars

have also challenged authorship of

certain Pauline epistles (especially

Ephesians) and 1–2 Peter.

A new beginning

Taken together, the Book of Acts

and the New Testament Epistles

demonstrate that the resurrection

of the crucified Jesus was not the

end of God’s work in the world,

but a new beginning through the

Holy Spirit. The Epistles, while

written by men, are included in

the canon because they are seen as

divinely inspired. They unpack the

significance of the Gospel message

of faith in Christ, in the service of

“teaching, rebuking, correcting,

and training in righteousness,

so that the servant of God may

be equipped for every good work”

(2 Timothy 3:16–17). ■

ACTS, EPISTLES, AND REVELATION

EPHESIANS

2:1–10

JAMES

2:14 –26

REVELATION

21–22

REVELATION

1–20

Paul tells the Ephesians

that personal

salvation can only

happen through faith,

not good deeds.

James rejects passive

faith and praises active

faith that honors God

through good deeds.

After the Final

Judgment, John’s

vision shows heaven

and Earth renewed in

the New Jerusalem.

Paul asserts the

Trinity in a blessing

at the end of a letter

he writes to the

Corinthians.

Paul warns against

“false teachers” in his

letter to the Philippians

and urges belief in

the resurrection.

John of Patmos

receives a series

of dramatic and

terrifying visions

of the apocalypse.

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