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LETTER WRITING

Our family has discovered that personal letter writing is a tremendous source of encouragement to one another. Even with the modern telecommunication of email, cell phones, video calls, etc. we find letters to be extremely instrumental in encouraging, exhorting, rebuking, and loving both saints and sinners. Whether we use electronic mail that can zoom in seconds across the Pacific Ocean or whether we choose to rely upon the governments of nations and their mailing systems, we delight in receiving and sending emails, texts, and even hand-written letters to relatives, friends and yes, even strangers.

King Solomon also had a similar delight in writing words of truth, but he gives us a strong warning about the overuse of them. With the increase of "Christian historical romantic" novels which allows sexual innuendo and the introduction of "Christian political" novels which center on intrigue, bribery and violence, we see Solomon's wise warnings about words in any form to be very relevant to our culture and generation.

Ecclesiastes 12:10
10. The Preacher sought to find delightful words and to write words of truth correctly.
11. The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of {these} collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd.
12. But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion {to books} is wearying to the body.
13. The conclusion, when all has been heard, {is:} fear God and keep His commandments, because this {applies to} every person.
14. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.

The early apostles had no choice but to use letter writing as their main way of exhorting and correcting demonic deceptions that began to pervert the true gospel quite early (Acts 15). Sometimes the apostles were in prison and could not visit those whom God had placed upon their hearts. Distance, time and expense of travel, and other commitments may have been some other reasons why they had to use letters to communicate. Only the rich could afford carrier pigeons (ancient Persia) or fast runners (King David). The apostolic letters were most often carried by hand-picked, trusted believers whose hearts and wills were as tuned to the Lord's concern for His people as the early apostles.

Those letters or epistles were accepted centuries ago as the inspired Divine word of God, and thus they now comprise most of the New Testament.

I Corinthians 14:37
37. If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord's commandment.

These apostolic letters transcend the culture and traditions of men and nations, and the words contained within them are the very power of God.

Hebrews 4:12
12. For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

The following verses explain why the apostles wrote what they did. May you be encouraged by the Holy Spirit to see letter-writing as an important tool in sharing the gospel that needs restored in our generation of electronic transmission. May personal letter-writing become more than just a pen-pal activity or an online post; may it become an important part of being the Lord's bond-slave He uses for His glory. The following Biblical research reveals the reasons for effective written communication.

PAUL

TO REMIND

Romans 15:15
15. But I have written very boldly to you on some points, so as to remind you again, because of the grace that was given me from God,
16. to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, that {my} offering of the Gentiles might become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

TO IMPART ENDURING UNDERSTANDING

II Corinthians 1:13
13. For we write nothing else to you than what you read and understand, and I hope you will understand until the end;

TO IMPART LOVE THROUGH CORRECTION

II Corinthians 2:4
4. For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you.

TO BUILD

II Corinthians 13:10
10. For this reason I am writing these things while absent, in order that when present I may not use severity, in accordance with the authority which the Lord gave me, for building up and not for tearing down.

TO PROTECT

Philippians 3:1
1. Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things {again} is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.

TO TEACH GODLY BEHAVIOR

I Timothy 3:14
14. I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long;
15. but in case I am delayed, {I write} so that you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.

TO ENCOURAGE OBEDIENCE

Philemon 1:21
21. Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what I say.

THE WRITER OF HEBREWS

TO EXHORT

Hebrews 13:22
22. But I urge you, brethren, bear with this word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly.

PETER

TO EXPLAIN TRUE GRACE

TO EXHORT TO STAND FIRM IN GRACE

I Peter 5:12
12. Through Silvanus, our faithful brother (for so I regard {him}), I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it!

TO REMIND

II Peter 3:1
1. This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder,
2. that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior {spoken} by your apostles.

JOHN

TO EXPERIENCE FELLOWSHIP

I John 1:3
3. what 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.

TO EXPRESS JOY

I John 1:4
4. And these things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.

TO AVOID SIN

I John 2:1
1. My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;
2. and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for {those of} the whole world.

TO AFFIRM FORGIVENESS

TO AFFIRM SONSHIP

TO AFFIRM VICTORY

I John 2:12
12. I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake.
13. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father.
14. I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

TO AFFIRM TRUTH

I John 2:21
21. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth.

TO EXPOSE DECEPTIVE TACTICS OF MEN

I John 2:26
26. These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you.

TO AFFIRM ETERNAL LIFE

I John 5:13
13. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life.

JUDE

TO SHARE SALVATION

TO STAND FIRM FOR THE FAITH

Jude 1:3
3. Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

Because of the richness of the apostlic letters and the need to be reminded of the power and glory of our salvation, our family has looked into the salutations and greetings that the early apostles used in their letters. Even though the Biblical style of letter writing varies from that used in the English language, we have found that it can be adapted to our culture and electronic media. The following compilation of verses from the epistles have been ordered so it may be easier for you to insert the word of God into your own personal letters, emails, and online postings. May the Lord use personal letter writing to further His kingdom on earth.

SALUTATIONS

FOR THOSE WHO NEED GRACE, PEACE, MERCY, LOVE

Revelation 1:4
4. Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne;
5. and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first-born of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us, and released us from our sins by His blood,
6. and He has made us {to be} a kingdom, priests to His God and Father; to Him {be} the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Jude 1:2
2. May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you.

Romans 1:7
7. to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called {as} saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I Timothy 1:2
2. to Timothy, {my} true child in {the} faith: Grace, mercy {and} peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Titus 1:4
4. to Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

I Peter 1:2
2. according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in fullest measure.
3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4. to {obtain} an inheritance {which is} imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
5. who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Revelation 1:4
4. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne,
5. and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood
6. and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

FOR THOSE WHO NEED REMINDED THAT WE ARE NOT "OF THIS WORLD"

Galatians 1:3
3. Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ,
4. who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us out of this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
5. to whom {be} the glory forevermore. Amen.

II Peter 1:2
2. Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;
3. seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
4. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of {the} divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

FOR THOSE WHOSE LOVE FOR THE SAINTS IS CLEARLY EVIDENT

Colossians 1:2
2. to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ {who are} at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
3. We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
4. since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints;
5. because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel,
6. which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as {it has been doing} in you also since the day you heard {of it} and understood the grace of God in truth;

I Thessalonians 1:1
1. Paul and Silvanus and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.
2. We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention {of you} in our prayers;
3. constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father,
4. knowing, brethren beloved by God, {His} choice of you;

II Thessalonians 1:2
2. Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3. We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is {only} fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows {ever} greater;

Philemon 1:3
3. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4. I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,
5. because I hear of your love, and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints;
6. {and I pray} that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ's sake.

FOR THOSE WHO NEED TO BE REMINDED OF GOD'S PERFECT PLAN OF SALVATION

Ephesians 1:2
2. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3. Blessed {be} the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly {places} in Christ,
4. just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love
5. He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,
6. to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

FOR THOSE WHO BRING JOY IN PRAYER FOR THE LORD'S WORK

Philippians 1:2
2. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3. I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,
4. always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all,
5. in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now.
6. {For I am} confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

II Thessalonians 1:11
11. To this end also we pray for you always that our God may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power;
12. in order that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

FOR THOSE FOR WHOM YOU PRAY AND LONG TO SEE

II Timothy 1:2
2. to Timothy, my beloved son: Grace, mercy {and} peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3. I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day,
4. longing to see you, even as I recall your tears, so that I may be filled with joy.

I Thessalonians 2:17
17. But we, brethren, having been bereft of you for a short while-- in person, not in spirit-- were all the more eager with great desire to see your face.
18. For we wanted to come to you-- I, Paul, more than once-- and {yet} Satan thwarted us.

FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN A TRIAL

James 1:2
2. Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
3. knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
4. And let endurance have {its} perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

FOR THOSE WITH WHOM YOU SHARE FELLOWSHIP AND JOY

I John 1:3
3. what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, that you also may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.
4. And these things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.

FOR THOSE WHO ARE WALKING IN TRUTH AND FELLOWSHIP

II John 1:3
3. Grace, mercy {and} peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
4. I was very glad to find {some} of your children walking in truth, just as we have received commandment {to do} from the Father.

I Corinthians 1:2
2. to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their {Lord} and ours:
3. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4. I thank my God always concerning you, for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus,
5. that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge,
6. even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you,
7. so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
8. who shall also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9. God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

FOR THOSE WHO NEED ENCOURAGED TO STAND FIRM IN THE FAITH

Jude 1:2
2. May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you.
3. Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

FOR THOSE WHO NEED CORRECTION AND REPENTANCE

II Corinthians 2:4
4. For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not that you should be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you.

II Corinthians 2:10
10. But whom you forgive anything, I {forgive} also; for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, {I did it} for your sakes in the presence of Christ,
11. in order that no advantage be taken of us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes.

COMPLIMENTARY CLOSINGS

GRACE TO YOU

Galatians 6:18
18. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.

Philippians 4:23
23. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Colossians 4:18
18. I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my imprisonment. Grace be with you.

I Thessalonians 5:28
28. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

II Thessalonians 3:18
18. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

II Timothy 4:22
22. The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.

Titus 3:15
15. All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in {the} faith. Grace be with you all.

Philemon 1:25
25. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Hebrews 13:25
25. Grace be with you all.

Revelation 22:21
21. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

PEACE

II Thessalonians 3:16
16. Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!

I Peter 5:14
14. Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to you all who are in Christ.

GRACE AND PEACE

I Corinthians 1:3
3. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

GRACE AND LOVE

II Corinthians 13:14
14. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

I Corinthians 16:23
23. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
24. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

JOY, PEACE, AND HOPE

Romans 15:13
13. Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

PEACE, LOVE AND GRACE

Ephesians 6:23
23. Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
24. Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with {a love} incorruptible.

GRACE, PEACE AND COMFORT IN AFFLICTION

II Corinthians 1:2
2. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3. Blessed {be} the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort;
4. who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

II Thessalonians 2:16
16. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace,
17. comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.

BE LIKE-MINDED

Romans 15:5
5. Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus;
6. that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

II Corinthians 13:11
11. Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

BE ALERT, STAND FIRM, STEADFAST

I Corinthians 16:13
13. Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
14. Let all that you do be done in love.

II Thessalonians 2:15
15. So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word {of mouth} or by letter from us.

II Thessalonians 3:5
5. And may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.

BE BLAMELESS

I Thessalonians 5:23
23. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.
25. Brethren, pray for us.

BE ON GUARD

I Timothy 6:20
20. O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly {and} empty chatter {and} the opposing arguments of what is falsely called "knowledge"--
21. which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith. Grace be with you.

II Peter 3:17
17. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest, being carried away by the error of unprincipled men, you fall from your own steadfastness,
18. but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him {be} the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

I Corinthians 16:21
21. The greeting is in my own hand-- Paul.
22. If anyone does not love the Lord, let him be accursed. Maranatha.
23. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
24. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

BE SEPARATE FROM THE WORLD

I John 5:18
18. We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him and the evil one does not touch him.
19. We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in {the power of} the evil one.
20. And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding, in order that we might know Him who is true, and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
21. Little children, guard yourselves from idols.

Jude 1:24
24. Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,
25. to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, {be} glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

ANY NEED

Philippians 4:19
19. And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
20. Now to our God and Father {be} the glory forever and ever. Amen.

I Thessalonians 5:23
23. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.
25. Brethren, pray for us.

EQUIPPING NEEDS

Hebrews 13:20
20. Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, {even} Jesus our Lord,
21. equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom {be} the glory forever and ever. Amen.

HEALTH NEEDS

III John 1:2
2. Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.
3. For I was very glad when brethren came and bore witness to your truth, {that is,} how you are walking in truth.

FOR THOSE YOU HOPE TO SEE FACE TO FACE

III John 1:14
14. but I hope to see you shortly, and we shall speak face to face. Peace {be} to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.

NO NEED TO WRITE

I Thessalonians 4:9
9. Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;
10. for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more,