Because these seven letters provide a unique window into early Christian theology and practice, they should ideally be read together. Known as the “pillars” of the community in Jerusalem, James, Peter, and John offer the church a collection of letters that serves as a complementary, non-Pauline apostolic witness. The great Christian virtues of faith, hope, and love recur throughout these letters and form a thematic unity within the collection. These letters sought to address the challenges encountered by the whole church: refuting false teachings, strengthening believers in the ethical practice of the faith, and upholding their strength in the face of oppression from others.