New Testament Letter Writing
In the letters to the churches, each one begins the letter with whom they are and who the letter is being written to. Salutations of Grace and Peace from God to the recipients of said letters follows.
Then the body of the letter reveals the heart of the letter-writer, depending on which church he is writing to. But not just any church is being written to; only the church which each had built, which not necessarily would have been a building, as believers in each area were being persecuted and killed for their faith in the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ.
These letters would have been smuggled into the hands of the believers, and received with great joy even if the body of the letter was, at times, calling or reminding the church who they are in Christ Jesus and what the church’s responsibility is towards not only each other, but those who have not yet believed.
The letters in The New Testament reveal to us how we are to behave as Christians, how to love each other like Christ loves us; how to speak, to walk, to pray.
Of the 27 Books in The New Testament, 22 are letters. Of those letters, nine are written to churches; 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus and Philemon are personal letters. These first 13 letters are all written by Paul. And while history does not say so, it is possible that Paul wrote The Book of Hebrews, as well. This Book is written to God’s chosen people: the Hebrew nation: Israel.
The Book of James is written “to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad”. The first Book of Peter is written “to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bythinia”. The second Book of Peter is written “to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ”.
While the first letter of John does not say to whom specifically it
is sent, the implications are that it was being sent to new believers: verse 3 “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that you also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with The Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.”
His second letter is written to “an elect lady and her children”; his third letter is “unto the wellbeloved Gaius”. Who these children are is not as important as the fact that The Holy Spirit laid these messages upon John’s heart to write to them.
Jude, James’ brother, writes “to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called”. Again, perhaps for the safety of the recipients, no names are given.
The Book of Revelation, written by John, is written to the seven churches which are in Asia (see verse 4). These churches are: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.
Each of these letters are personal letters; no ‘Dear Sir’, nor ‘To Whom It May Concern’ salutations are given. No generic messages: each is to the point and concise. Most letters contain a short definition of the writer, but all give glory to God at the onset of each salutation.
Grace and Peace are sent to the recipients. A call to bless God is given, also. But how does each of them sign off?
“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen” is how 16 letters end:
- Romans 16:24
- 1 Corinthians 16:23
- 2 Corinthians 13:24
- Galatians 6:18
- Ephesians 6:24
- Philippians 4:23
- Colossians 4:18
- 1 Thessalonians 5:28
- 2 Thessalonians 3:18
- 1 Timothy 6:21
- 2 Timothy 4:22
- Titus 3:15
- Philemon 25
- Hebrews 13:25
- 2 Peter 3:18
- Revelation 22:21
First Peter 5:14 and Third John send “Peace” to the readers. James, 1 and 2 John do not send greetings at the end. Nor does Jude, but Jude blesses God at the end of his letter.
Keeping all this in mind, how do we write letters? When was the last time we even wrote a letter to someone that wasn’t sent via email or posted on social media? Speaking for myself, January of this year was when I last wrote a personal letter. A love letter to my Dad on his birthday: he turned 81 this year.
Before that? Only short notes on Christmas cards. Writing has become difficult. Not for lack of focus, but because the arthritis and shakiness in my hands makes holding a pen or pencil very difficult to accomplish. Sometimes I have to use my left hand to hold my right hand still while I write; even if I am just writing my name.
I write with a keyboard. Everything I write goes on Google (where I blog) and Facebook (where I share). But, perhaps, it is high time I began to send out these submissions as letters. Or just plain write another letter to someone whom The Lord lays on my heart. For not everyone uses social media to connect with one another. And, one of these days, these forms of technology may not be available to the believer. The art of letter writing needs to make a comeback, that we may be able to encourage and support one another through repeated readings of said letters.
That being said, let us now end this letter with Grace and Peace through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God unto you, my brothers and sisters in Christ. Amen.
