All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
The Lord expanded His church through the writing of the New Testament.
Saul, whose name was changed to Paul, wrote at least 13 books of the New Testament:
Romans is Paul’s Magnum Opus on the Christian faith. (The Gospel according to Grace.)
1 & 2 Corinthians are letters Paul wrote to Christ’s church which Paul planted in the Greek city of Corinth. The letters are largely corrective because the church in Corinth had such spiritual problems.
Galatians is a letter to a number of Christ’s churches in the region of Galatia (modern Turkey). It is a corrective letter reminding Christians that salvation and the Christian life is based on grace, not on human effort.
Ephesians is a letter to another of Christ’s churches which Paul planted in the city of Ephesus (He remained there for three years--longer than anywhere else). It outlines Christianity in two parts: Chapters 1-3: God’s grace. Chapters 4-6: the Christian’s response to grace is righteous living.
Philippians is a letter to Christ’s church which Paul planted in Philippi. Though Paul wrote from prison (at the same time as Ephesians and Colossians) the letter is an encouragement to be joyful in all circumstances because of the grace of God in Christ.
Colossians is a letter to Christ’s church in the city of Colossae. Paul never went there. It was planted by a person from Ephesus who was converted under Paul’s ministry. The letter corrects a slide away from the gospel into philosophy (Gnosticism) by extolling Jesus above all things and calling believers to live to glorify Him.
1 & 2 Thessalonians are two short letters written to Christ’s church which Paul planted in Thessalonica. These were brand new believers, and they needed guidance to grow in grace and to avoid errors that were already creeping in. Both of these are also corrective.
1 & 2 Timothy are letters written to Paul’s younger protégé, Timothy, who continued as pastor of Christ’s church which Paul planted in Ephesus.
Titus is a letter to another of Paul’s protégés, Titus, who continued to pastor Christ’s church which Paul planted on the island of Crete. It provides essential instruction about how Christ’s churches are to be ordered.
Philemon is the only personal letter of Paul’s in the New Testament. It is an exhortation to a slave holder to accept a former slave who ran away, and while away, was converted. Paul’s message is that the grace we have received in Christ is to be the grace we give to others.
There are other letters not written by Paul, called General Epistles:
Hebrews is a letter written primarily to Jewish believers reminding them that everything about Jesus and Christianity is “better” than what they had in the Jewish religion. (Some speculate that Paul also wrote Hebrews, but we do not know that.)
James was written by Jesus’ half brother, an early leader in Christ’s Church in Jerusalem. It is an exhortation on the Christian life, including warnings about errors.
1 & 2 Peter were written by the Apostle Peter. 1 Peter is about handling suffering in the Christian life. 2 Peter as about remaining steadfast in the faith, especially in the face of false prophets, while waiting for the Lord’s Second Coming.
1, 2, & 3 John were written by the Apostle John (the only one of the twelve who didn’t die a martyr’s death). 1 John is about love (God’s for His people, and ours for each other). 2 John is about remaining steadfast to the truth. 3 John contains a commendation of Gaius (a faithful servant of Christ) and a condemnation of Diotrephes (a false teacher who sought to undermine apostolic authority.)
Jude was written by another of Jesus’ half brothers. It is a strong exhortation to be discerning, to contend for the faith, and to remain in the love of God.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ was written by the Apostle John and contains a series of visions intended to encourage and support Christians facing persecution. The overarching theme of the Revelation is that Christ will triumph, just as He told the disciples in Matthew 16:18 that He would. The Revelation concludes with the Second Coming of Christ and the establishment of His eternal Kingdom in the New Heavens and the New Earth.
While many New Testament letters are expressly corrective, virtually all contain correction. What does that tell us? Christians err. Christ’s churches err. Correction is needed. God provides it—not only then, but ever since by recording and preserving these letters. The New Testament is instructive and encouraging, but because we need it, it is also corrective.
Next time, the four gospels
