Course Group: General Epistles
The New Testament includes eight letters that were written to churches in multiple cities rather than to churches in a single city. Because they were written for a general audience, they are often called the "general epistles." The book of Revelation was also written for a fairly general audience, being addressed to seven churches in Asia Minor.
What can we learn about the general context of the early church that will help us understand these books? How did the different writers communicate to their original audiences? How similar or different is the modern world from the world of the first century? And what do these books have to say to us today?
Course Group Goals
- Introduce viewers to the perspectives and theology of James, Peter, John, Jude, and the anonymous author of Hebrews.
- Introduce and explain the genre of New Testament apocalyptic prophecy.
- Summarize the background, structure, content, original meaning and modern application of: Hebrews; James; 1 & 2 Peter; 1, 2 & 3 John; Jude; and Revelation.