The word 'epistle' means 'letter'. And in the Bible, the epistles always refer to the group of letters grouped together in the middle of the New Testament. Written by leaders of the early church, these letters contain valuable insight and principles for living as a believer and follower of Jesus Christ.In this guide, we learn about the General Epistles, which means these letters were written by a diverse collection of leaders in the early church. That's a total of eight letters and include the following: HebrewsOne of the unique circumstances surrounding the Book of Hebrews is that Bible scholars aren't precisely sure who wrote it. There are many different theories, but none can be proven. Possible authors include Paul, Apollos, Barnabus, and others. While the author may be unclear, the primary theme of this epistle is easily identifiable. It serves as a warning to Jewish Christians not to abandon the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith and not to re-embrace the practices and laws of the Old Testament. For this reason, one of the major focuses of this epistle is the superiority of Christ over all other beings.JamesOne of the primary leaders of the early church, James was also one of Jesus' brothers. Written to all people who considered themselves followers of Christ, James' epistle is a thoroughly practical guide to living the Christian life. One of the most important themes of this epistle is for Christians to reject hypocrisy and favoritism and instead to help those in need as an act of obedience to Christ.1 and 2 PeterPeter was also a primary leader in the early church, especially in Jerusalem. Like Paul, Peter wrote his epistles while under arrest as a prisoner in Rome. Therefore, it's no surprise that his words teach about the reality of suffering and persecution for followers of Jesus, but also the hope we possess for eternal life. Peter's second epistle also contains strong warnings against different false teachers who were attempting to lead the church astray.1, 2, and 3 JohnWritten around 90 A.D., the epistles from the apostle John are among the last books written in the New Testament. Because they were written after the fall of Jerusalem (70 A.D.) and the first waves of Roman persecution for Christians, these letters were intended as encouragement and guidance for Christians living in a hostile world. One of the major themes of John's writing is the reality of God's love and the truth that our experiences with God should push us to love one another.JudeJude was also one of Jesus' brothers and a leader in the early church. Once again, the main purpose of Jude's epistle was to warn Christians against false teachers who had infiltrated the church. Specifically, Jude wanted to correct the idea that Christians could enjoy immorality without worry because God would grant them grace and forgiveness afterward.As we do in all of our guides, we explain the scriptures in layman terms so that we all can understand. We also offer humor and cartoon illustrations to make it enjoyable to read.This guide is perfect for Bible study groups and individual studies.
