Hermeneutics 101 - The Epistles

[Rocky Wiley]

There is much more to Hermeneutics than just these two questions. But to understand anything at all we must know this from the start.

1. Who is the writer?

2. Who is the recipient?


ROMANS

1. Rom 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

2. Rom 1:7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 CORINTHIANS

1Co 1:1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,

1Co 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

GALATIANS

Gal 1:1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)

Gal 1:2 And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia

It is almost always that easy to find the writer and the recipient.


So, one can see that in the Epistles, we find to whom the letter is sent to, either for their instructions or praise. It is the same as when we start a letter to a friend. Dear Friend, not Dear Whoever,

The importance is not that we can not learn from it, but that anything specific in it is not to us.

The same is true for the Book of

REVELATION

Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

Rev 1:4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

One cannot express enough that to properly intrepret the bible we must know to whom it has been written. If that isn’t done, we will miss the message completely. So one might ask, what good is it to us? That depends upon how important TRUTH is to us.

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

 

[afaithfulone4u]

Isn't there just one Christ, one Word by which we must become familiar to love, honor and obey?
So your last line in 2 Ti 3:17 says it all.
The body of Christ is made up of many individuals and their level of spiritual growth is different according to their willingness and desire of heart to seek God's truth as their way of life. And only the STRONGEST Seed shall survive.
Yet all that is written is for the TRUE people of God who will be made mature in Christ, his total image, in the end.
Just as in the Book of Esther which is an allegory for the new covenant church, the KING is selecting a people for Himself as children of the new Jerusalem and there was a decree that went out to all the nations to seach for the most worthiest. They will be groomed and given beauty treatments{WASHED IN THE WORD} until the time that God closes the Door, meaning takes His Word away as in time no more.
All men WILL live again, some in the lake of torment and fire who rejected the Christ, some will be the saved nations(did receive salvation but were not found Worthy of him), and the elect will inherit the Bride heavenly Jerusalem as the sons of God with Christ made into the image of the Firstborn.

So when it speaks to a certain people, it is because that is what THEY are lacking in their walk.
Blessings

 

[Rocky Wiley]

Isn't there just one Christ, one Word by which we must become familiar to love, honor and obey?
So your last line in 2 Ti 3:17 says it all.
The body of Christ is made up of many individuals and their level of spiritual growth is different according to their willingness and desire of heart to seek God's truth as their way of life. And only the STRONGEST Seed shall survive.
Yet all that is written is for the TRUE people of God who will be made mature in Christ, his total image, in the end.
Just as in the Book of Esther which is an allegory for the new covenant church, the KING is selecting a people for Himself as children of the new Jerusalem and there was a decree that went out to all the nations to seach for the most worthiest. They will be groomed and given beauty treatments{WASHED IN THE WORD} until the time that God closes the Door, meaning takes His Word away as in time no more.
All men WILL live again, some in the lake of torment and fire who rejected the Christ, some will be the saved nations(did receive salvation but were not found Worthy of him), and the elect will inherit the Bride heavenly Jerusalem as the sons of God with Christ made into the image of the Firstborn.

So when it speaks to a certain people, it is because that is what THEY are lacking in their walk.
Blessings

Hi afaithfulone,

The bible is for (to get the benefit of it) all Christians. But to understand the bible we must determine to (toward a point, person, place of thing} whom the writer or speaker is addesssing.

In the Epistles, there were specific things going on that pertained to those to whom it was written. If it also pertains to us, it is coincidental, but helpful.

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Appreciate your points.