NT Exegetical assignment #2 - Claire Coffey
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Feb 20, 2024
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Name Claire Coffey
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Amount of time spent on this step: 1.5 hours
Exegetical Step 2: GENRE ANALYSIS | Philippians
Genre Analysis Instructions:
Read: Grasping God’s Word
3rd. ed. Ch. 14,
1.
List the characteristics
and
the form
of New Testament letters,
-
The letters found in the New Testament are typically lengthier than those that were written in ancient times. -
These letters fall somewhere in the middle of the spectrum between the very formal and very informal styles of ancient letters. -
They serve as authoritative substitutes in the absence of a biblical figure, and the authors of these letters identify themselves as apostles of Jesus Christ -
The NT letters are considered "occasional or situational" in that they were written specifically to address a particular problem or current situation faced by the author and the intended readers. -
The writing and dissemination of these letters were a meticulous process, with most being composed by a secretary, and the author only adding the final few lines. -
Moreover, the intention behind writing these letters was for them to be read aloud to Christian congregations. Form:
-
The structure of New Testament letters follows the standard form of letters in the ancient world, consisting of an introduction, body, and conclusion. -
The introduction includes the identification of the author, audience, a greeting, and sometimes an introductory prayer. -
The body makes up the majority of the letter and is where the writer addresses the situation or problem facing the church. There is no specific format to the body of a NT letter, and it can include instructions, persuasion, rebuking actions, exhortation, and more. -
In the conclusion, there are several elements that can be found, such as the author's travel plans, closing prayers or prayer requests, final instructions and exhortations,
autographs, and a grace benediction. While these elements are typically present in the conclusion of a NT letter, they do not need to follow any specific order. 2.
Write a paragraph (minimum 75 words) explaining how these factors affect your understanding of Philippians and specifically 2:12-16. For example, how does knowing about the characteristics
and structure/form
of NT letters help you know what to expect from Philippians? Also, now that you know the structure
of NT letters, what part of the structure do you think Phil. 2:12-16 occurs?
-
Having an understanding of the characteristics and structure of the New Testament letters has helped me to comprehend Philippians more deeply as it clarifies the motivations of the letter's author, Paul. I was surprised to learn that these letters were meant to be read repeatedly to specific congregations. When Paul was composing Philippians, he anticipated that it would be read aloud to multiple congregations throughout the city. This leads me to believe that Paul was addressing the entire city rather than a specific group of residents, and that his message was intended to serve as instructions for the entire community. Based on my knowledge of the format of NT letters, I understand that Philippians 2:12-16 would be considered part of the letter's body as it provides specific directives and encouragement to the Philippi church regarding their condition. 3.
Include In-text citation & Works Cited section according to MLA formatting
Duvall, J. Scott, and J. Daniel Hays.
Grasping God's Word : A Hands-On Approach to Reading, Interpreting, and Applying the Bible
, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, 2012.
ProQuest Ebook Central
, https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/lifepacific/detail.action?docID=5702652.
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