Introduction

Genre, when studing the Scriptures, is an often ignored piece of the contextual puzzle. In today’s culture, we are (mostly) adept at distinguishing between what is satire, poetry, news, opinion, etc. We are able (hopefully!) to discern a work’s genre intutitvely as we read, sometimes changing out perception of the genre as more information is gathered along the way. However, when 2,000 years separates the text from the reader, genre may not be so easily identifiable. This post offers some hermeneutical considerations for a New Testament reader in the 21st century.

Ramification vs. Application

While the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) do contain ethical teaching, their primary purpose is Christological revelation, not moral instruction. They are designed to answer “Who is this Jesus?” and present the ramifications of his identity and work. Luke tells us that his Gospel is written “that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught” (Luke 1:4). John states, “but these things are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31). In short, the Gospels seek to produce a work of justification–opening our eyes to who Jesus is and what he has done.

The Epistles, by contrast, answer “What does it mean to live in light of who Jesus is?” and are filled with applications for the church. The Epistles are the “wisdom literature” of the New Testament. It is here that the focus shifts generally from justification to sanctification (though neither are absent from Gospels or Epistles). Thus, with the knowledge of the Gospels, how is one now to live?

It must be clearly stated up front: the Gospels are not written at the expense of instruction, however the primary concern is identification. Thus, we may find more ramifications in the Gospels than applications, though they are by no means mutually exclusive. A ramification is something that has implications, follows from the truth, is indirect, analytical, and answers the question “What does this imply?” An application has practical outworkings, tells us what to do with the truth, is direct and concrete, pastoral, and answers the question “How should we respond?” As one can see, ramifications and applications overlap, but are, at the same time, distinct. Just as justicifation is distict from sanctification, they cannot exist without the other. Thus, the Gospels are justification-focused, with significant ramifications. The Epistles are sanctification-focused, with significant applications. To summarize the argument in a phrase: the Gospels major in ramification, the Epistles major in application.

1. The Gospels: Ramifications of the Christ Event

Genre Orientation:

The Gospels function in the tradition of Greco-Roman bios—not as moral manuals, but as identity-defining narratives. They reveal Jesus’ nature through action, fulfillment of prophecy, confrontation, and ultimately his passion and resurrection.

Key Ramifications:

• Christological: Jesus is the Son of God, Messiah, fulfillment of Israel’s hopes.
  • Ramification: The kingdom of God has come (Mark 1:15).
• Cosmic: His resurrection signals the in-breaking of the new creation.
  • Ramification: Death is defeated (John 11:25–26).
• Political: Jesus is Lord, not Caesar.
  • Ramification: Allegiance to Jesus may cost everything (Matt. 10:34–39).
• Covenantal: Jesus reconstitutes Israel around himself.
  • Ramification: The people of God are defined by relation to him, not to Abraham (Matt. 12:48–50).

The Gospels confront the reader not primarily with a command but with a claim—that Jesus is who he says he is. This reality is what elicits faith: do you believe this claim?

2. The Epistles: Application of the Christ Event

Genre Orientation:

Epistles are occasional writings—pastoral, theological, and didactic—written to communities already convinced that Jesus is Lord. Their function is to encourage, clarify, explain and apply what it means to live in light of the Gospel.

Key Applications:

• Ethical: “Put off the old self… put on the new” (Eph. 4:22–24).
• Ecclesial: “Bear one another’s burdens” (Gal. 6:2); unity in Christ (Phil. 2).
• Missional: “Be ambassadors for Christ” (2 Cor. 5:20).
• Doctrinal-Pastoral: “If Christ is raised… your labor is not in vain” (1 Cor. 15:58).

The Epistles turn the theological ramifications revealed in the Gospels into practical applications for community life, ethics, worship, and mission.

3. Theological Implication: Genre Shapes Interpretation

By maintaining this distinction:

• We protect the Gospels from being moralized into “how-to” manuals that reduce Jesus to a mere example–this is one of the signifcant errors of theolgical liberalism.
• We honor the Epistles’ function as Spirit-inspired apostolic instruction for believers learning to embody the new reality inaugurated in Christ.
• We orient readers properly: the Gospels are revelatory and confrontational; the Epistles are formative and instructive.

Conclusion:

The Gospels primarily give us the ramifications of Christ’s person and work—they reveal who he is and what that means for the world. The Epistles provide the applications of that reality—they teach us how to live in a world where Jesus is Lord. Both genres are essential, both genres overlap into the other’s sphere, but confusing their purposes can lead to shallow moralism on one hand, legalism on the other, or disconnected theology altogether.