To Lob the Right Questions

Titus 1.1-4

1Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,

 2in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago,

 3but at the proper time manifested, even His word, in the proclamation with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior,

 4To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

I. Compare with other intros

• Other personal letters (of Paul)
• Church letters (of Paul)
• Letters from other Biblical authors

               Hebrews

1God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. 3And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

                    Attribution – none 

                    Address – none 

                    Greeting – none

                    No formal epistolary introductory elements, merely sets up doctrinal foundation for the letter

               James

1James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.

                    Attribution – James (bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ)

                    Address – to the Diaspora (Jews abroad)

                    Greeting – greetings

               I Peter

1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen 2according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.

                    Attribution – Peter (an apostle of Jesus Christ)

                    Address – Christians abroad (who are chosen)

                    Greeting – grace and peace

               II Peter

1Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: 2Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;

                    Attribution – Peter (a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ)

                    Address – those who have received faith

                    Greeting – grace and peace…in the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord

               I John

1What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life–2and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us–3what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.

                    Attribution – we (text does not claim Johannine authorship, only the style links it to his Gospel)

                    Address – ‘you’  (Ephesians?)

                    Greeting – none

                    More of an doctrinal foundation, but at the end mentions the epistolary nature of the work

               II John

1The elder to the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not only I, but also all who know the truth, 2for the sake of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever: 3Grace, mercy and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

                    Attribution – the elder (presumed John the apostle)

                    Address – the chosen lady and her children (congregation – bride of Christ? – and later generations)

                    Greeting – Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ

               III John

1The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth.

                    Attribution – the elder

                    Address – Gaius (unknown)

                    Greeting – none 

               Jude

1Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ: 2May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you.

                    Attribution – Jude (a bond-servant of Jesus Christ)

                    Address – those who are the called (chosen)

                    Greeting – mercy, peace, and love

               General Observations

                    Similar constructs with several personal letters

                         bond-servant (2)

                         apostle of Jesus Christ (2)

                         grace and peace (3)

                         from God/Jesus Christ (1)

                    Concept of ‘those chosen’ (2)

                    Less consistent in form than Paul’s

• Letters from extra-Biblical authors