Important Issues in the Non-Pauline Churches Essay Example

reality of God's promises and reassure that anyone can succeed with God by their side, regardless of what challenges they face (Romans 8:28). Additionally, the writer informs them about the new covenant as the old covenant has become outdated and is deteriorating (Hebrews 8).

Although the book of Hebrews and Paul's epistles have some language differences, their content is similar. This similarity can also be seen in the doctrine of Christ during his ministry and in the book of Revelation where Jesus speaks to the churches. The authorship of James is generally attributed to an unknown James, as scholars do not believe it was written by Jesus' brother (Bright, 2013).

The author emphasizes the importance of embracing a life filled with abundance and love rather than following empty religious traditions and actions (Bright, 2013). This perspective is evident in various writings, including chapter 3:18, where the author questions if faith without actions can truly save someone. Paul's letters to the Romans and Galatians further emphasize aligning one's faith with their actions and being liberated from the law to live a Christ-centered life. Finally, we consider the disputed authorship of Peter's writings.

The texts from Romans and Ephesians demonstrate a similarity to the letters written to Asia Minor (present-day Turkey), indicating their reliance on Paul's writings (Wallace, 2013). The saints in this region faced severe persecution from the Roman Empire, causing some doubt about whether Christianity truly held the "grace of God" (1 Peter 5:12). Peter effectively encourages the saints by discussing salvation and providing commandments to help them embrace and live out this salvation fully (1 Peter 1:3-12).

The concept of salvation in

Ephesians corresponds to Paul's statement, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8). Peter, in his second letter, also cautioned against false teachers, discussing their arrival (2 Peter 2: 1-3), judgment (2 Peter 2: 3-9), and behavior (2 Peter 2: 10-22) (Bible Study Tools, 2013).

To address the problem of false teachers, Peter advised the saints to stay loyal to the Word of God, which contained the genuine teachings of the scriptures. He encouraged them to reject those who distorted the scriptures (2 Peter 1, 3). Additionally, Peter shared news about a future new heaven and earth and emphasized that Christ's return was imminent (2 Peter 3:10-13). This is consistent with Paul's teachings in First and Second Timothy, where Paul warned Timothy about false teachers who would seek out instructors who catered to their own desires (2 Timothy 4:13).

John, the writer of the book, highlights the significance of reverting to the fundamental principles of faith. He accomplishes this with a caring and paternal approach, while simultaneously addressing the escalating issue of Gnosticism during the second century. Upon examining this book, it becomes evident that John was warning the believers about this doctrine, which recognizes Jesus as an esteemed teacher but rejects the veracity of his redemption.

John's letter shares similarities with Paul's letters to Titus and Corinth. In these letters, Paul mentions the presence of vain talkers and deceivers (Titus 1:10). In 2nd John, John warns about the danger posed by "many deceivers" who deny that Jesus came in the flesh. He labels them as part of the

antichrist (2 John 7). However, John addresses this issue by encouraging a lady and her children to remain committed to the truth, obey his commandments, and practice love - which is considered the greatest commandment (2 John 1-5).

In his address to the church in Rome, Paul emphasizes that Jesus Christ, our Lord, was born of David's lineage according to his human nature (Romans 1:3). This same deception is happening today as the devil tries to undermine people's faith by leading them into believing lies. Furthermore, John's third letter discusses Diotrephes who stopped showing hospitality to other preachers and even expelled them from the church (3 John 5-10). Because of this issue, John writes to Gaius urging him to reject evil and instead choose what is good.

The text states that those who do good are from God, while those who do evil have not seen God (3 John 11). It mentions that the writer loves Gaius and hopes for his prosperity and health, and commends him for walking in the truth (3 John 1-3). This letter has some similarities to Paul's writings because like Paul, the writer had to deal with troublesome individuals. Additionally, the text introduces Jude, who wrote his letter to address the issue of false teachers leading people astray and warns the believers against turning away from Christ (Got Questions Ministries, 2013).

In the book of Jude, the author addresses several important issues. He urges the saints to focus on the common salvation and remain steadfast in their faith (Jude 3). This book is short but impactful, and it shares some similarities with Ephesians in its discussions of

salvation. It also touches on the topic of faith, much like Romans does. In summary, this paper has examined the main issues present in the non-Pauline books, using various scriptures and resources to highlight these concerns. By comparing them to the problems found in the Pauline books, it becomes evident that many of these issues still exist within the church today.