Epistles

By David Maas
{THE N.T. LETTERS}

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{THESSALONIANS}
  1. To The Assembly - {PDF Copy} - (The Thessalonians received the gospel in tribulation but remained faithful in anticipation of the arrival of Jesus)
  2. Crown of Boasting - {PDF Copy} - (If the Thessalonians continue to emulate the apostolic example, they will receive the crown of glory at the arrival of Jesus)
  3. Blameless in Holiness - {PDF Copy} - (Paul prays for the Thessalonians to be found holy and blameless on the day when Jesus arrives in glory)
  4. The Dead in Christ - {PDF Copy} - (Paul reassures the Thessalonians regarding the participation of dead saints in the arrival of Jesus from heaven)
  5. Sorrow Not - {PDF Copy} - (Foundational to the hope of the church is the bodily resurrection of believers that will take place when Jesus arrives from heaven)
  6. Times, Signs and Seasons - {PDF Copy} - (Paul does not detail the times and seasons since the Thessalonians understand that the Lord will come like a thief in the night – 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11)
  7. Sons of Light - {PDF Copy} - (The Day of the Lord will mean salvation to the “sons of light” who remain ever vigilant and prepared for it)
  8. Sanctified Wholly - {PDF Copy} - (Considering the future arrival of Jesus, Paul summoned believers to become sanctified completely by that day)
  9. The Just Judgment of God - {PDF Copy} - (The arrival of Jesus will mean vindication and rest for the righteous, but everlasting loss for the wicked - 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10)
  10. False Alarms - {PDF Copy} - (Disinformation about the day of the Lord caused alarm in the congregation at Thessalonica – 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2)
  11. The Day of the Lord - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus will arrive and gather his people on the day of the Lord, and in the New Testament, this event becomes the Day of Christ)
  12. Two Missing Events - {PDF Copy} - (Two events must occur before the Day of the Lord comes, the Apostasy and the unveiling of the Man of Lawlessness)
  13. The Coming Apostasy - {PDF Copy} - (Paul warned the Thessalonians of a future apostasy and linked it to the unveiling of the Man of Lawlessness, the Son of Destruction)
  14. The Son of Destruction - {PDF Copy} - (Many saints will apostatize when the Lawless One, the Son of Destruction, seats himself in the sanctuary of God)
  15. Seated in the Sanctuary - {PDF Copy} - (The Man of Lawlessness will be unveiled when he seats himself in the House of God - 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)
  16. The Sanctuary of God - {PDF Copy} - (In his letters, the Apostle Paul consistently applied Temple language to the church of Jesus Christ)
  17. Until Revealed - {PDF Copy} - (The mystery of lawlessness is at work preparing the way for the unveiling of the Lawlessness One – 2 Thessalonians 2:5-7)
  18. The Mystery of Lawlessness - {PDF Copy} - (The Mystery of Lawlessness is preparing the way for the unveiling of the Lawless One who will cause many believers to apostatize)
  19. Lying Signs and Wonders - {PDF Copy} - (The Lawless One will use lying signs and wonders to deceive saints into abandoning the faith)
  20. The Lawless One Destroyed - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus will destroy the works of the Lawless One and paralyze him at his glorious arrival on the Day of the Lord)
  21. Stand Fast - {PDF Copy} - (Believers prepare for the Apostasy and the coming Man of Lawlessness by standing firm in the apostolic tradition)
  22. His Arrival - {PDF Copy} - (The arrival of Jesus will mean the resurrection of the dead, the commencement of the New Creation, and the final judgment)

{GALATIANS}
  1. Conflict in Galatia - {PDF Copy} - (The key issue in Galatia was whether Gentiles must be circumcised and keep some, at least, of the deeds required by the Torah)
  2. Rescued from this Evil Age - {PDF Copy} - (Paul anchors all that God has done in the past death, resurrection, and exaltation of Jesus of Nazareth, inaugurating the messianic age – Galatians 1:1-5)
  3. Even An Angel - {PDF Copy} - (Paul warned the Galatians not to heed any Gospel that deviated from the one preached by him - even if it came from an angel)
  4. The Spirit of Life - {PDF Copy} - (It is the Spirit of God that imparts life, especially the everlasting life in Jesus of which the gift of the Spirit is the foretaste and guarantee)
  5. Having Begun in the Spirit - {PDF Copy} - (The receipt of the Spirit while in an uncircumcised state is irrefutable proof that Gentiles are accepted by God AS GENTILES)
  6. Heirs in Jesus - {PDF Copy} - (Returning to the custodianship of the Law would mean rebuilding the wall of separation between Jews and Gentiles)
  7. This Evil Age - {PDF Copy} - (The death of Jesus inaugurated the messianic age with consequent changes in the status of the Law and God’s people)
  8. Rudiments of the Old Era - {PDF Copy} - (The Messianic Age dawned in Jesus, and calendrical rituals and other Levitical regulations belong to the old order)

{ROMANS}
  1. The Gospel of God - {PDF Copy} - (Paul introduces his message to the churches of Rome and begins his exposition of the Gospel by identifying Christ’s qualifications as Messiah)
  2. Paul's Gospel -{PDF Copy} - (In Romans, Paul presents his gospel from humanity's plight due to sin to the resurrection of the dead and the New Creation)
  3. Both Jews and Greeks - {PDF Copy} - (The equality of Jew and Gentile before God is a pivotal theme in Romans. Members of either group stand or fall before Him on the same basis)
  4. The Message of the Gospel - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus is summoning his disciples to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God in every inhabited corner of the Earth – Romans 3:22-30)
  5. Righteousness and Wrath - {PDF Copy} - (According to Paul, a day of wrath is coming when the wicked will pay the ultimate price for their disobedience to God – Romans 2:5)
  6. The Faithfulness of God - {PDF Copy} - (The righteousness of God refers to His faithfulness to His promises, and this is demonstrated in the salvation He has provided in Jesus)
  7. Wrath Revealed - {PDF Copy} - (Those who possess the truth in unrighteousness must face death, and afterward, the wrath of God on the ominous final day)
  8. Plight to Solution - {PDF Copy} - (In Romans, Paul argues from plight to solution as he presents his gospel to the churches of Rome, a message for both Jews and Greeks)
  9. The Works of the Law - {PDF Copy} - (In Paul’s letters, references to justification by “works” have a specific category of works in view – the works of the law)
  10. Disciples and the State - {PDF Copy} - (Paul instructs believers living in the Roman Empire not to resist the government since its existence and authority are arranged by God)
  11. The Spirit and Resurrection - (The Gift of the Spirit is the foretaste and guarantee of the bodily resurrection and of the coming New Creation) - {PDF Copy}
  12. Inheritance of Abraham - {PDF Copy} - (In Jesus, the original limited promise of territory to Abraham is transformed to encompass the entire creation)
  13. The Faith of Abraham - {PDF Copy} - (The faith of uncircumcised Abraham provides an example for Jewish and Gentile believers who live from the faith of Jesus – Romans 4:11-17)
  14. Coheirs with Jesus - {PDF Copy} - (The covenant with Abraham is fulfilled in Jesus, his seed and heir, including the promise of land – Romans 8:1-23)
  15. The Redemption of Our Body - {PDF Copy} - (Paul links the bodily resurrection of believers to the New Creation, and both events are part of the promised redemption – Romans 8:1-23)
  16. Food and Calendars - {PDF Copy} - (Paul argues for tolerance in the church on food regulations and the observation of holy days – The shadows now find their fulfillment in Jesus)

{CORINTH}
  1. The Ends of the Ages - {PDF Copy} - (In several ways, Paul coordinates the commencement of the last days with the Death and Resurrection of Jesus)
    2. The Day of Christ - {PDF Copy} - (The return of Jesus will be the “Day of the Lord” when the dead are raised, the wicked are judged, and death will cease)
  2. Ekklésia - The Assembly of God - {PDF Copy} - (The Christian use of the term church or ekklésia is derived from the assembly of Yahweh gathered for worship as described in the Hebrew Bible)
  3. Final Events - {PDF Copy} -(In explaining the future resurrection, Paul lists key events that will precede or coincide with the arrival of Jesus at the end of the age)
  4. Preaching Another Jesus - {PDF Copy} - (Is Jesus still the slain Lamb, or has he become the roaring Lion of Judah hellbent on exacting payback from his enemies and those of the church?)
  5. The Spiritual Man - {PDF Copy} - (The spiritually-minded man understands that the Gospel of Christ Crucified is God’s true power and wisdom - 1 Corinthians 2:14)

{PRISON LETTERS}
  1. Perfection in Resurrection - {PDF Copy} - (Paul expresses his goal of going on to perfection, a process that will culminate in our physical resurrection when Jesus arrives)
  2. Warfare in the Spirit - {PDF Copy} - (Disciples wage spiritual warfare through right conduct, acts of love, and proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ)
  3. The Suffering Servant - {PDF Copy} - (Disciples are summoned to adopt the same mind that Jesus had when he poured out his life unto death for the sake of others)
  4. One People - {PDF Copy} - (By his death, Jesus formed one covenant community - One New Man - based on faith in him, not ethnicity or nationality – Ephesians 2:11-22)
  5. The Mind of Christ - {PDF Copy} - (The submission of Jesus to an unjust death becomes the paradigm for the love and service to others that disciples are summoned to manifest)

{PASTORALS}
  1. He Abolished Death - {PDF Copy} - (Paul reminded Timothy of Christ’s resurrection since false teachers were denying the future resurrection of believers)

{JOHN}
  1. In the Assembly - {PDF Copy} - (John labels false teachers active in his congregations as antichrists. Their deceptive teachings confirm that the Last Days have commenced)
  2. The Spirit of Antichrist - {PDF Copy} - (The Antichrist Spirit works to destroy the church from within, especially through deception propagated by deceivers and false teachers – 1 John 2:18-22)

{HEBREWS}
  1. God Has Spoken! - {PDF Copy} - (God is speaking His definitive word in His Son. All previous words spoken by the prophets were preparatory, promissory, and partial)
  2. Upon These Last Days - {PDF Copy} - (The era of the Aaronic priesthood terminated with the arrival of the word of God spoken in His Son, the priest after the order of Melchizedek)
  3. His Supremacy - {PDF Copy} - (Through a series of comparisons, the letter to the Hebrews demonstrates the superiority of the Son over his predecessors)
  4. His Distinguished Name - {PDF Copy} - (Having achieved the purification of sins, Jesus inherited a more distinguished name than the angels – Son)
  5. Do Not Drift Away - {PDF Copy} - (A dire warning of the consequences of failing to heed the superior word spoken in the Son)
  6. Hold Fast to the Word - {PDF Copy} - (Followers of Jesus must cling continually to the word spoken in the Son lest they drift away from the salvation they have received from God)
  7. His Priestly Qualifications - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus qualified to become our high priest by participating fully in human suffering, weakness, and death)
    1. The Faithful High Priest - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus is well-equipped to be our faithful and sympathetic high priest, having participated fully in humanity’s plight)
    2. Once For All - {PDF Copy} - (The promise a New Covenant finds its fulfillment in the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus and the superior priesthood he now holds)
    3. The Son Surpasses Moses - {PDF Copy} - (The word of the Son is superior even to the word of Moses, the servant and Great Lawgiver in the house of Yahweh)
    4. Harden Not Your Hearts - {PDF Copy} - (Disciples of Jesus who fail to hold fast to their confession due to unbelief will not inherit the coming rest of God)
    5. Enter His Rest - {PDF Copy} - (Disciples who fail to hold fast their confession due to unbelief and disobedience will not inherit the coming rest of God)
    6. His Exaltation - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus is the Son whom God exalted after his suffering and death to be our merciful and faithful High Priest)
      1. Priest Forever - {PDF Copy} - (The priesthood of Jesus is superior because it rests on his endless resurrection life, the priest after the order of Melchizedek)
      2. A Change of Law - {PDF Copy} - (The new priesthood after the order of Melchizedek inaugurated by Jesus also means a change in the Law - Hebrews 7:12)
      3. His Incomparable Covenant - {PDF Copy} - (In his death, Jesus inaugurated the promised and vastly superior new covenant, rendering the old one obsolete)
      4. The Purification of Sins - {PDF Copy} - (Having achieved the purification of sins, Jesus sat down at the right hand of God where he now intercedes for his people as their faithful High Priest)
      5. From Shadow to Substance - {PDF Copy} - (The types and shadows of the old covenant find their substance in the Son of God, Jesus Christ, and his new covenant – Hebrews 8:1-5)
      6. Hold Fast Our Confession - {PDF Copy} - (Disciples must cling tightly to their confession and approach Jesus with boldness-of-speech, especially in times of great need – Hebrews 4:12-16)
      7. The Tent Pitched by God - {PDF Copy} - (Jesus intercedes without ceasing for his people in the true heavenly Tabernacle, one not made with human hands but pitched by God)

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