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SACRED SCRIPTURE – 13TH CLASS (11/6/25)

INTRODUCTION

Today, we will look into other segments of the New Testament, beginning with Acts of Apostles. Before then, I will emphasize certain key aspects of the Gospels and Epistles.
Last week, we studied the four gospels. Many things to underline: Romans 8 is a must read for all as it helps to teach everyone the role of the Holy Spirit in their lives, and this brings all to the required maturity of encounter with Christ.
The Epistles help to emphasize the divinity of Christ. Please read Ephesians 1, Colossians 1, and Philippians 2 (and they counter all heresies that will be or have been.)
In the New Testament canon of 27 books, 21 are called “letters,” and even the Revelation to John starts and ends in letter form. Of the 21, 13 belong to the Pauline corpus; the Letter to the Hebrews is included in the Pauline corpus in the East but not, however, in the West.

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3 Overriding Principles of the Gospel and Epistles

1. What God did for us “in Christ” in His great plan of Redemption.
2. What the Holy Spirit through the Word can do in us in the New Birth & being filled with the Holy Spirit.
3. What Jesus is doing for/with us now at the right hand of Father through the Church.

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3 SEGMENTS OF SALVATION HISTORY

"Salvation history" stretches from the Creation to the present time of his readers, in three ages:

1. The time of "the Law and the Prophets" (Luke 16:16), the period beginning with Genesis and ending with the appearance of John the Baptist (Luke 1:5–3:1).
2. The epoch of Jesus, in which the Kingdom of God was preached (Luke 3:2–24:51).
3. The period of sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit through the Church, which began when the risen Christ was taken into Heaven, and would end with his second coming.

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THE INEVITABLE ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

(A Major Emphasis of the Gospel and Epistles)
The Holy Spirit is specially needed in this 3rd segment of salvation history both communally as a church and individually as a person.
For Luke, the Holy Spirit is the driving force behind the spread of the Christian message, and he places more emphasis on it than do any of the other evangelists.
The Spirit is "poured out" at Pentecost on the first Samaritan and Gentile believers and on disciples who had been baptized only by John the Baptist, each time as a sign of God's approval.
The Holy Spirit represents God's power (at his ascension, Jesus tells his followers, "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you"): through it the disciples are given speech to convert thousands in Jerusalem, forming the first church (the term is used for the first time in Acts 5).

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ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

Acts and the Gospel of Luke form a two-volume work known as Luke–Acts by the same author. Tradition identifies the writer as Luke the Evangelist, a doctor who travelled with Paul the Apostle. Thus, many scholars discuss Acts of Apostles alongside with the Gospel of St. Luke.
The first part of Luke–Acts, the Gospel of Luke, depicts how God fulfills the plan of salvation through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.
Acts continues the story of Christianity in the 1st century, beginning with the ascension of Jesus and tracing the mission from Jerusalem into the wider Mediterranean world.
The early chapters describe the Day of Pentecost, the shared life of the first believers, and the establishment of the church at Antioch.
The later chapters follow Paul as he carries the message throughout the empire and conclude with his imprisonment in Rome as he awaits trial.
Luke–Acts addresses how the Jewish Messiah came to have an overwhelmingly non-Jewish church by arguing that the message reached the Gentiles after the Jewish rejection.

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Origin of Name “Acts of Apostles”

The name "Acts of the Apostles" was first used by Irenaeus in the late 2nd century. It is not known whether this was an existing name for the book or one invented by Irenaeus; it does seem clear that it was not given by the author, as the word práxeis (deeds, acts) only appears once in the text (Acts 19:18) and there it refers not to the apostles but to deeds confessed by their followers.

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PAULINE EPISTLES

(Galatians, Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Philemon, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, 2 Thessalonians, Ephesians, and Colossians)

The word epistle simply means “letter.” In the context of the Bible, epistles are written messages from apostles or early church leaders to churches, groups of believers, or individuals.
[Source: https://whatbiblesaying.com/which-books-of-the-bible-are-epistles/]

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Highlights of Paul’s Teaching

1. Justification by Faith
Galatians 3 & Romans 8 – This message was in sharp contrast to the prevailing thought of both Jews & Gentiles in that day. Faith is not a magic wand or a mystical agent in the hand of a believer, but a description of the relationship God demands with those who would walk with Him. By it, Christ’s substitution becomes our identification!
2. The Body of Christ
The church was poor and widespread, and, in the early stages, expected an imminent Parousia. One of several images Paul uses to illustrate the reality of God’s Kingdom, as it integrates heaven and earth.
He interprets what Jesus first revealed in Himself and extended through Pentecost. The unity of believers grows in these Epistles, beginning with the mention of membership in the “Body” in 1 Corinthians, then expanding to reveal its universal “Head” in Ephesians and Colossians.
We are God’s Plan (Mt. 16:13-20; Eph 3:1-12, Col. 1:24-29…His “Intended Mystery,” which exposes His cosmic wisdom to all creation).
3. The Person of Christ
Paul outlines the universal scope of Jesus’ influence, contrasting Him with the “first Adam” (1 Corinthians 15:20–23; 45–50 & Romans 5:12–21). Through His atoning blood sacrifice we are recovered and reconciled.
He is both all “Supreme” and our own complete “Salvation,” having defeated all enemies at the Cross. In all things we are “in Him,” finding our life, peace, development, and ultimate future in the Son of God.
4. The Work of the Holy Spirit
Paul teaches that we have been given a down payment on our purchased promise—the guarantee of the Comforter (John 13:26), the Guide (John 16:13), our Intercessor (Romans 8:26)!
The Holy Spirit’s role is to recall and reveal the things Jesus has said (John 16:13–14). True sonship is the direct result of following the Holy Ghost (Rom 8:14), as is our ability to remain free from legalistic religion (Gal. 5:18).
He is our source for Christian living, the origin of all true spiritual revelation, fruit, and gifting (Gal 5 & 1 Cor 12). Paul describes the Holy Spirit as the Christian Resource.

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Analyzing Some of the Pauline Epistles

(Summary of Galatians, Romans, Corinthians, Thessalonians, Philippians, Philemon, Ephesians, Colossians, and Hebrews…)
[All original text about each letter remains unchanged here for brevity—see your full version when publishing.]

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CATHOLIC (GENERAL) EPISTLES

Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, Jude
The seven so-called Catholic Letters were among the last of the literature to be settled before the agreement of East and West in 367. The term “Catholic” means general, i.e., addressed to the whole, universal church rather than to specific communities.

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Purpose of Catholic Epistles

Their purpose is to meet ordinary problems encountered by the whole church: refuting false doctrines, strengthening ethical life, sharing catechetical and moral instruction, and giving encouragement in persecution.
They emphasize submission, humility, good conduct, and faithfulness in trial and martyrdom.

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Analyzing Some of the Catholic Epistles

James: Stresses prayer, anointing, confession of sin, steadfastness, and joy in persecution.
1 Peter: Encourages the “exiles” to stand fast in grace during persecution; features hymns on ransom, Isaiah 53, and Christ’s descent into hell.
John’s Letters: Defend against Gnostic and Docetic heresies, stress truth and love, and affirm the incarnation.
Jude: Warns against heretics who deny Christ and will face judgment.

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LAST PART OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

PROPHETIC BOOK – THE REVELATION TO JOHN

Purpose and Theme
The Revelation (Apocalypse) to John offers apocalyptic encouragement to the persecuted church, using symbols, visions, and prophecy to assure ultimate victory in Christ.
It affirms that the Kingdom of God will triumph through the Lamb who was slain, giving hope to the faithful and promising eternal inheritance to the martyrs.

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SOURCES USED

• Britannica: Authorship and Style of Biblical Literature
• Britannica: Paul, Corinthians, 2nd Letter
• Wikipedia: Acts of the Apostles

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