A letter has readers and a reason for being written. Knowing a little about both helps you follow its advice and arguments.
Look at the opening
Try the beginning of Philippians. Notice the names, the people addressed, and the tone of the greeting. What kind of relationship comes into view?
Follow the thought
Read a paragraph as a whole. Words such as “therefore,” “because,” and “but” help you see connections. If a sentence seems puzzling, read what comes before and after it.
Ask before you apply
- Who is writing, and who is receiving this?
- What concern is being addressed?
- What reasons does the writer give?
- Which details belong to that setting?
Understanding the original conversation gives you a better basis for considering what the passage might mean today.
Revelation: visions and a letter
Addressed to seven communities, Revelation brings prophecy and symbolic visions into the form of a letter. Meet its first readers, explore its images, and follow its hope of a world made new →
Explore the letters one by one
Meet each letter’s readers, follow its argument, and bring a few questions to the text. Browse all 21 New Testament letters →
Begin with Romans, or start with Philippians for a shorter first encounter.
Sources & further reading
A question in the margin is a good place to begin.