Purpose Statements Flashcards
Matthew
To demonstrate that Jesus Christ is Israel’s Messiah and king in whom OT prophecies and expectations find their fulfillment. Yet this good news is not just for the Jews; it is also for Gentiles (all nations)
Mark
To set forth Jesus as the Son of God who suffers for our salvation and calls us to true discipleship.
Luke
To help Theophilus and other Gentile converts to be certain in their hearts and minds about the ultimate significance of Jesus Christ.
Acts
To trace the birth and growth of the church from Jerusalem to “the ends of the earth” through Christ’s Spirit-filled witnesses.
John
To persuade readers to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, so that they might have eternal life through Him.
Romans
To give a full account of the gospel; to appeal for help for his missionary trip to Spain; To address problems between Christian Jews and Gentiles; To help his readers glorify God
1 Corinthians
To confront divisions and disorders in the church.
2 Corinthians
To encourage the repentant majority and instruct them about the collection; To confront the rebellious minority following the false apostles.
Galatians
To call his readers back to the true gospel; justification by faith in Christ apart from the law.
Ephesians
To instruct Christians concerning the privileges and responsibilities for those who are a part of the church.
Philippians
To thank the believers for their gift and warn them about dangers from false teachers without and disunity from within.
Colossians
To refute and warn believers against the false teaching that was threatening the church by emphasizing the supremacy of Christ.
1 Thessalonians
To refute false accusations against Paul and to encourage and instruct persecuted believers- especially in view of the rapture.
2 Thessalonians
To correct false teaching regarding the “day of the Lord”; To instruct readers to take disciplinary action against those who refused to work
1 Timothy
To instruct Timothy to confront and oppose false teachers in Ephesus; To give instructions regarding church conduct and order.
2 Timothy
To exhort Timothy to carry on the ministry of the gospel after Paul’s death.
Titus
To instruct Paul’s companion to set in order what was still needed in the Cretan churches and to have him refute false teachers and train new elders to do the same.
Philemon
To urge a slave owner to forgive Onesimus and receive him back as a brother in Christ.
Hebrews
To help the readers persevere in the Christian faith by showing the superiority and finality of Christ and warning of the terrible consequences of turning away from Him.
James
To exhort believers to live out their faith; to have a faith that manifests itself in works.
1 Peter
To encourage believers to stand fast while they endure suffering in this present evil age.
2 Peter
To warn believers to be on guard against false teachers by growing into spiritual maturity in Christ.
1 John
To refute and expose false teachers by explaining the marks of true Christianity, thereby providing grounds for assurance of eternal life.
2 John
To warn the local church not to receive false teachers into their fellowship.
3 John
To encourage Gaius to continue to support Christian missionaries and to condemn the self-centered troublemaker Diotrephes.
Jude
To exhort his readers to contend for the faith and warn them of the dangerous doctrines and sinful lifestyles of the false teachers.
Revelation
To encourage believers by revealing the glorified Christ in His ultimate judgement and victory over all His enemies and the establishment of His eternal kingdom.
