New Testament Survey - Module 4: The General Epistles

Hi everyone, and welcome to the fourth module of the New Testament Survey Course.

This module covers the General Epistles. These books cover a variety of issues addressed to a variety of situations in the early church. In these books, the various authors applied the significance of all that Jesus accomplished to the individual lives of Christians and to the corporate life and mission of their churches. They highlight the unique opportunities and challenges to fully living out discipleship in the midst of different situations.

Through this module, you will learn the background, organization, content, and themes of all of these New Testament books. But you will also be invited to explore the significance and application of all of these insights to your own personal life and ministry.

Module Objectives and Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this module, the student will:

  • Place the General Epistles into their historical context and a general chronology.
  • Explain the main message(s), organization, theme(s), and/or theology of each of the General Epistles.
  • Explain and apply the main contours of the Christian life in the midst of a supportive and healthy church as well as in the midst of a sometimes hostile culture.
  • Describe strategies, attitudes and actions by which both Christian leaders and average Christians can support and promote healthy doctrine and practice, while also resisting and avoiding false doctrine and false leaders.
  • Have a growing understanding of the nature of discipleship, sanctification, and the mission of the Christians church, as described in the General Epistles, and demonstrate a desire to grow in the experience of each of these.

Course Documents

In this section, you'll find links to important and supplemental documents for this module. Click the following links to open each document. The first group contains documents that explain and give instruction for all the course activities in this module. The second group is a set of blank lecture notes which you may use as a companion for the video lectures. And the last group contains overview and supplemental documents for some of the topics covered in this module.

Instruction Guides

Bible Summaries

Videos

In this section, you will find the video lectures for all the General Epistles. They are designed to be watched in order, but each video should make sense on its own. Click each thumbnail to open access to each video. There is also a link with each video if you prefer to watch on the YouTube interface or download just the audio to listen offline.

35: Introduction to the General Epistles
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36: Hebrews
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37: James
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38: First Peter
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38a: The Suffering Servants
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39: Second Peter
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40: First John
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40a: Light, Truth & Sin
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41: Second John
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42: Third John
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43: Jude
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44: General Epistles Review
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Reviews

In this section, you will find the review slides from the course lectures for module 4. This is a convenient way to view and review the summaries for each lecture. Click the Thumbnail picture to begin the slide show.

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Click the prev. and next buttons (bottom right of the slide) to move through the slides. You can also click on any thumbnail to go directly to that slide.

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Review Quiz

This section is a link to a separate page which contains a review quiz to test your understanding of the objective material for Module 4. By clicking the link, you will be taken to a series of questions, in random order. Answer each question and then push the Submit button to check your answers. Every question must be answered before you can submit the quiz. At the end, you will be shown your score for the entire quiz. The quiz will be different each time, so feel free to take it more than once. Click the Thumbnail picture to begin the quiz.

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Discussion/Reflection/Essay Questions

This section contains questions for further thought and discussion from Module 4. These questions can also be used as essay questions in a classroom setting exam. It is recommended that you take time to think through these issues in order to thoroughly grasp the significance and explore the application of the material you are learning. Click the Thumbnail to view the questions.

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The following questions are for your thoughtful consideration and discussion:

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Module Completed!

Congratulations, you have reached the end of the fourth module. I hope that you have found it rewarding and have noticed personal growth.

I encourage you to continue on the next module as soon as is convenient. The button below will take you to Module 5.