General Letters

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