Interpreting Epistles

We continue our series on hermeneutics, the art and science of Biblical interpretation, with principles for interpreting New Testament epistles. Letter writing was common in first century Greco-Roman culture, and the Biblical epistles bear similarities and important differences to other letters of the time. It is important to see that the epistles carry the same authority as the "red letters" of the Bible. The epistles of Paul allowed Paul to project an "apostolic presence" to churches where he couldn't be in person. The letters of Paul show a characteristic organization, and it is important to keep the "law-gospel distinction" in mind as we read Paul's letters.