5. Thesis: God’s providence differs from man’s expectations in that the deepest doctrines of Christianity are conveyed in the most experiential way possible: through epistles.
6. Definition: Epistles are ancient letters, but with a difference: a letter is personal, spontaneous and confidential, but an epistle is purposeful and intended for publication.
7.
8. The Literature of the Letters 1. His letters preserved for us in the Bible were occasional A. His own experience in knowing Christ B. Supernatural revelations he received C. Heresy he successively encountered
9. The Literature of the Letters 1. His letters preserved for us in the Bible were occasional 2. They were official
10. The Literature of the Letters 1. His letters preserved for us in the Bible were occasional 2. They were official 3. They were varied in form and style
11. The Literature of the Letters 4. They resulted from a complicated set of circumstances There are no lost letters There existed forged
12.
13.
14.
15. Evidence About the Author, Acts 9:15 1. He bore the name of Christ before the Gentiles—as contained in his epistles 2. Before kings—as recorded in his testimony in Acts 3. To the children of Israel—as found in the book of Hebrews
