List of Epistolary Divisions
in the General Epistles
with Test Responsibilities
For an explanation of each element with listing of test responsibilities see
GUIDELINES FOR STUDYING EPISTOLARY DOCUMENTS
last revised: 12/1/01


 
Hebrews James 1-2 Peter 1,2,3 John Jude


Hebrews and James
Letter Element: Hebrews James
Praescriptio 1:1-3 (in form of a Prologue) 1:1
    Superscriptio
     
    1:1a
    Adscriptio
     
    1:1b
    Salutatio
     
    1:1c
Proem ----------- ---------- 
    Expansion elements
     
     
Body 1:4-13:17 1:2-5:20
    Divisions (chaps)
    1.4-4.13, Jesus the Son of God
      1.4-2.18 Superior to angels
      3.1-4.13 Superior to Moses
    4.14-10.18, Jesus the great high priest
      4.14-7.28 Superior to the priesthood of Aaron
      8.1-10.18 Superior ministry through the new covenant
    10.19-13.17 Call to obedience
      10.19-39 Draw near to God
      11.1-40 Walk in the way of faith
      12.1-13 Persevere in the example of Jesus
      12.14-29 Live righteously
      13.1-17 Miscellaneous admonitions
    1.2-12 Trials
    1.13-18 Temptation
    1.19-27 Worship
    2.1-13 Faith and worship
    2.14-26 Faith and service
    3.1-12 Tongues
    3.1-18 Wisdom
    4.1-10 Worldliness
    4.11-12 Criticism
    4.13-17 Leaving God out
    5.1-6 Abusive wealth
    5.7-11 Patient suffering
    5.12 Oaths
    5.13-18 Praying
    5.19-20 Reclaiming the fallen
    Designated texts
     
    2.14-26 
Conclusio 13:18-25
13.18-19 Prayer request
13.20-21 Doxology
13.22 Appeal to listen to words of letter
13.23 Confirmation of Timothy
13.24 Greetings
13.25 Benedictio
-----------

Johannine Epistles
Letter Element: 1 John 2 John 3 John
Praescriptio 1:1-4 (in form of Prologue) vv. 1-3 v. 1
    Superscriptio
     
    v.1a
    ---
    Adscriptio
     
    vv. 1b-2
    v. 1
    Salutatio
     
    v. 3
    ---
Proem -------- v. 4 vv. 2-4
    Expansion elements
     
    v. 4b
    vv. 3b-4
Body 1:5-5:12 vv. 5-11 vv. 5-12
    Divisions (chaps)
    1:5-2:6 Godly living
    2:7-17 Brotherly love
    2:18-27 The Incarnate Christ
    2:28-3:10 Righteousness
    3:11-18 Brotherly love
    3:19-24 Confidence before God
    4:1-6 Testing the spirits
    4:7-21 Brotherly love
    5:1-12 Overcoming the world 
    vv. 5-7 To the church
    vv. 8-11 To the members
    vv. 5-7 To Gaius
    vv. 8-10 To the church
    vv. 11-12 To Gaius
    Designated texts
    2:7-17; 3:11-18; 4:7-21
    vv. 5-11
    vv. 5-12
Conclusio 5:13-21
5:13-15 Confidence
5:16-17 Sinning
5:18-20 Reclaiming the fallen
5:21 Avoiding idols
vv. 12-13
v. 12 Travel plans
v. 13 Greetings
vv. 13-15
v. 13-14 Travel plans
v. 15a Peace
v. 15b Greetings

Petrine Epistles and Jude
Letter Element: 1 Peter 2 Peter Jude
Praescriptio 1:1-2 1:1-2 vv. 1-2
    Superscriptio
    1:1a
    1:1a
    v. 1a
    Adscriptio
    1:1b-2a
    1:1b
    v. 1b
    Salutatio
    1:2b
    1:2
    v. 2
Proem 1:3-12 --------- -------- 
    Expansion elements
    1:3b-12
     
     
Body 1:13-5:11 1:3-3:13 vv. 3-23
    Divisions (chaps)
    1:13-2:10 Holy living
      1:13-25 Ideals
      2:1-10 Privileges
    2:11-3:12 Obligations
      2:11-17 Civic
      2:18-3:7 Haustafeln
      3:8-12 Social
    3:13-5:11 Persecution
      3:13-4:11 Encouragement
      4:12-19 Explanation
      5:1-11 Proper conduct
    1:3-21 True knowledge
      1:3-11 Knowledge & obedience
      1:12-21 Trusthworthiness of this knowledge
    2:1-22 False teachers
      2:1-3 Their coming
      2:4-10a Their future
      2:10b-22 Their immoral ways and teachings
    3:1-18a The Lord's return
      3:1-2 A reminder
      3:3-10 Certainty of his coming
      3:11-18a Call to holiness
    vv. 3-4 Writing the letter
    vv. 5-7 Divine judgment
    vv. 8-9 False teachers' attitude
    vv. 10-11 False teachers' actions
    vv. 12-15 False teachers' character (1)
    vv. 16-18 False teachers' character (2)
    vv. 19-23 Resisting false teachers
    Designated texts
    4:12-19
    2:1-22
    vv. 3-23
Conclusio 5:12-14
5:12 Sender verification
5:13-14a Greetings
5:14b Benedictio
3:18b
3:18b Doxology
vv. 24-25
vv. 24-25 Doxology

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