How to read a letter

"Read a letter, I thought this course was about the Bible?" The New Testament epistles are, for the most part, letters written by an apostle to a church or individual. They are what we call "occasional documents" in that they were written at a particular time to particular people to meet specific needs in the community. It is a bit like playing "Jeopardy!" from our perspective in that the letter is the answer, and as we read it carefully, in order to understand it properly, we need to discern the question (s) that occasioned its writing. We are at a distinct disadvantage from the original readers: they understood their own historical situation, the relationship they had with the writer, and the challenges and struggles of the community. They also did not have the same cultural distance that we have with the writer. As 21st century readers we face some challenges in understanding the first century letters, but they are not insurmountable. We need to read the epistles as letters and ask questions about what is being said and what is being presupposed. We need to be students of the historical context and culture. Once we understand what the writer said to his readers (and why he said it) we can better ask what God is saying to us in these writings. As you read Romans this week, and Philemon for the final project, remember you are reading a letter, and see what windows of understanding that opens for you.