A study of the church epistles: the author, the writer, and the works.

Abstract

In studying the literary aspects of the Bible, some of the least appreciated and most neglected works are the epistles written by the Apostle Paul. The Pauline epistles, particularly the Church Epistles, warrant further investigation With regard to style. The Bible is a tapestry of stylistic diversity. Inspiration is the golden thread which makes the work unique. Paul comments on the source behind the writing of the Scriptures, acknowledging God as author and himself as one of the writers. The author inspires the writer by means of revelation, and the writer then relates the message in his own inimitable style. Style, succinctly defined as lithe man himself, If is reflected in Paul's voice, his imagery, his syntax and his structure. ' The Apostle opens the first epistle with "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ" His voice as a "bond slave" echoes throughout the epistles. paul's varied imagery reveals a well-travelled and versatile individual. Paul's Semitic background is also reflected in the syntax. Furthermore, each epistle is structured and arranged for a particular audience. The extensive use of the epistle as a literary genre indicates that it is by no means a novel means of communication. The Apostle Paul, however, modifies the epistolary format in an innovative manner to suit his specific purposes. From the opening salutation through the final benediction, Paul modifies the introduction, body, and conclusion, leaving his original signature on each work. Because of paul's adaptation of a contemporary literary form, an analysis of the Church Epistles is certainly justified. Such an examination provides a wider understanding and greater appreciation of the major works of the New Testament. In examining the works as a whole, one notices striking parallels in the arrangement of the epistles as doctrinal, reproof, or correctional. Six of the seven epistles from Romans through Thessalonians can be divided into two groups of three: an initial doctrinal epistle followed by a reproof epistle which corrects the practical error because the initial doctrine was not adhered to and finally a correctional epistle written because the erroneous practices have become doctrine. The last epistle of the seven, while written first chronologically, is placed in the last position of the collection because of its message, the return of Christ, the culmination of the Church of Grace. Whether viewed collectively or individually, the Church Epistles provide a brilliant display of the literary style of one of the most influential writers of all time.