Justification by faith
Salvation is God’s gift in Christ, received by faith and not earned by works.
Canon division
Epistles
Letters that explain and apply the gospel to the church.
Overview
The twenty-one letters of the New Testament were written by apostles: chiefly Paul, along with Peter, John, James, Jude, and the author of Hebrews, to young churches and individual believers scattered across the Roman world.
Paul’s thirteen letters range from the sweeping theology of Romans to personal notes like Philemon, teaching what Christ has accomplished and how the church should live in light of it. The remaining letters (Hebrews, James, 1-2 Peter, 1-3 John, and Jude) round out the picture: Christ as our great high priest, faith proved by works, hope under suffering, love within the family of God, and the call to contend for the truth.
Together the Epistles take the finished work of Christ and press it into every corner of life: belief and behavior, worship and work, the church and the home.
Key themes
Life in Christ
The gospel reshapes how believers think, love, work, and worship.
The church
Letters to congregations form God’s people into one body under one Lord.
Sound doctrine
The apostles guard the truth of the gospel against error and drift.
Books in this section
The 21 books of this division, in order. The 21 with a full study on this site are linked.
RomansThe gospel explained: righteousness by faith.1 CorinthiansCorrecting a divided, gifted, immature church.2 CorinthiansPaul's defense of his ministry and joy in weakness.GalatiansFreedom in Christ against a works-based gospel.EphesiansThe church, united and alive in Christ.PhilippiansJoy in Christ in every circumstance.ColossiansThe supremacy and sufficiency of Christ.1 ThessaloniansEncouragement and the hope of Christ's return.2 ThessaloniansStanding firm until the day of the Lord.1 TimothyOrder and leadership in the church.2 TimothyPaul's last words: guard the gospel.TitusSound doctrine and godly living.PhilemonA plea for a runaway slave, now a brother in Christ.HebrewsChrist is better: the superior and final high priest.JamesFaith that works itself out in real life.1 PeterHope and holiness in the face of suffering.2 PeterGuarding the truth against false teachers.1 JohnAssurance: how to know you have eternal life.2 JohnWalking in truth and love.3 JohnHospitality and faithfulness in the church.JudeContend for the faith once delivered to the saints.