Foundations (Year Two)

“Encountering the New Testament”

Session #8. Encountering

THE LETTERS OF PETER & JUDE.

The NT Writings

Letters of Paul:Galatians (48/49 CE)1 & 2 Thessalonians (51-

52)1 & 2 Corinthians (53-57)Romans (56-57)Prison letters (61-62):

(Colossians, Ephesians, Philemon & Philippians)

Pastoral letters (64-66): (1, 2 Timothy & Titus)

Written earlier:Letter of James

(40’s/50’s)

Written later:Letters of Peter (64-66)Mark (68-70 )Matthew (70-80)Luke-Acts (70-80)Hebrews (50’s/60’s?)Letter of Jude (50’s ?)Writings of John:

Gospel, Letters & Revelation (90-96)

The General Letters

1. Hebrews2. James3. 1 Peter4. 2 Peter5. 1 John6. 2 John7. 3 John8. Jude

General = “catholic”

Addressed to Christians in general, rather than to individuals or specific churches

…& not Pauline.

1 PETER

Grace through Grace through sufferingsuffering

Authorship“Peter” (Disciple of Jesus/ Pillar of the Church - Gal. 2:9)

[Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas" (which, when translated, is Peter – a rock). John 1:42]

“an apostle of Jesus Christ”“my second letter” (2 Peter 3:1)“by Silvanus” (Lat.)/ Silas (Gk.) the scribe

(5:13)from “Babylon” (5:13 cf. Revelation 17-18)“my son Mark” (5:13)

AuthorshipObjections to Peter as the author

Linguistic How could a Galilean fisherman use such good

Greek as a second language? Use of the Septuagint (LXX) Use of Silas as a scribe (5:12)

Historical What persecution does all this reflect?

Other pseudonymous writings attributed to Peter: Gospel of Peter, Preaching of Peter, Acts of Peter

& Apocalypse of Peter.

The case for Petrine Authorship

Internal claims

Identifies himself as Peter the Apostle (1:1) Words & experiences of Christ woven into

writings- Eyewitness of Jesus’ life & ministry (2:23; 5:1)- Familiar with Jesus’ teachings (2:12/Matthew 5:16; 2:21/Matthew 10:38; 3:14, 4:13-14/Matthew 5:10-12)

Similarity to Peter’s speeches in Acts Peter’s connection with Mark (5:13)

The case for Petrine Authorship

External claims

Papias claims that Peter’s interpreter was Mark 2 Pet. 3:1 speaks of a previous letter Clement (95 CE) Irenaeus (180 CE) and Origen

(185-253 CE) allude to the letter. Following this, it is not questioned until recently.

“Peter blows on the twin trumpets of his own epistles” (Origen)

Date of 1 Peter

Generally before 64/ 65, since Peter died shortly thereafter

The letter is written during a time of persecution (2:12, 20; 3:16,17; 4:4,16) Various persecutions are possible

Initial Jewish persecution (Acts 4:17; 5:28,40; 9:16)

Nero (starting 64) Domitian (starting 95) Trajan (starting 110)

Origin & Destination of 1 Peter

“She who is in Babylon greets you” Babylon on the Euphrates Rome (as in Rev. 14:8; 16:19; 17:5; 18:2,10,21) Jerusalem (Rev. 11:8)

“To the strangers…in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia” (v.1) Similar to James 1:1 People in this area are mostly non-Jews Geographical areas/ Roman Provinces in

Northern Asia Minor (on circular trade route?) Message sent with Silas around churches?

The recipients

Elect (of God)

Chosen…

acc. to foreknowledge of God the father

through the sanctifying work of the Spirit

for obedience to Jesus Christ & sprinkling by his blood

Exiles (in the world)

Strangers…

…throughout:

PontusGalatiaCappadociaAsiaBithynia

PETER, AN APOSTLE OF JESUS CHRIST, TO THOSE WHO RESIDE

AS ALIENS, SCATTERED THROUGHOUT PONTUS, GALATIA,

CAPPADOCIA, ASIA, AND BITHYNIA, WHO ARE CHOSEN (1

PETER 1:1)

Pontus

Galatia

CappadociaAsia

Bithynia

The theme & setting

Grace in sufferingsalt in an open wound suffering

x16light shining in a dark place grace x10

Jn. 16:33 "In this world you will suffer…"2 Tim. 3:12 "anyone who wants to live a godly

life in Christ will suffer…"1 Pet. 4:12 "don't be surprised…as if

something strange were happening"Jas. 1:2 "consider it joy when you face trials…"

The blessing

Grace

(charis - NT)

favourblessingstrength

Peace

(shalom - OT)

right-relationshipwell-beingwholeness

““be yours…in be yours…in abundance”abundance”

1 PETER 1:13 - 2:121 PETER 1:13 - 2:12

Call to Holy

Living

Call to Submissive

Living

Call to Suffering

1 Peter 2:13 1 Peter 2:13 - 3:8- 3:8

1 Peter 3:8 – 1 Peter 3:8 – 4:194:19

1 Peter 1:3 -1 Peter 1:3 -1212

Opening Opening greeting & greeting & blessingblessing

1 Peter 5:12-1 Peter 5:12-1414

Closing Closing greeting & greeting & blessingblessing

Final words to Final words to leaders & leaders & membersmembers1 Peter 5:1-1 Peter 5:1-

1111

Our salvation – what God has done

PRAISE be (to this God)

In his great mercy

He has regenerated us (lit. caused us to be born)

into a living hope (thru the resurrection of Jesus

Christ)into an inheritance

(that can never perish, spoil or fade)(kept in heaven for you)

Benefits & blessings of salvation

A refined faith in Christ (vv.6-7)

A personal knowledge of Christ (vv. 8-9)

A privileged taste of the present grace & future glory of Christ (vv. 10-12)

Our salvation

NOW

Into a living hopeShielded by God’s

power, through faithThough now you may

have to suffer grief through trials for a time

You are filled with joy

NOT YET

Into an inheritanceReady to be revealed

in the last timeYour faith will result

in praise, glory & honour to God

You do not see him

You are receiving the goal of your faith = You are receiving the goal of your faith = the salvation of your souls the salvation of your souls

Our salvation – how we should respond

“Therefore…(1:13; 2:1; 4:1)”

Embrace a life of holiness (1:13-2:12)

Embrace a life of submission (2:13-3:8)

Embrace a life of suffering (3:8-5:11)

#1. Embrace a life of holiness (1:13-2:12)

Setting our priorities (on the call of God) 1:13-16

“Be holy (all of you) because I am holy”

Living as strangers (in relationship with God) 1:17-

2:3

Redeemed by the blood of Christ

Regenerated through the word of God

Building on the foundation (of the Son of God) 2:4-8

Loving one another (as the people of God) 2:9-12

“Love one another truly, madly, deeply” (1:22; 4:8)

The biblical image of the “stone”

“The ROCK of Israel” (Gen. 49:24; 2 Sam. 23:3; Is. 30:29)“The LORD is my ROCK” (see handout)“The sacred stone of Baal” (2 Kings 10:26-27)“The cornerstone” (Psalm 118:22/ Isaiah 28:16)“The rock, not cut by human hands” Dan. 2:34-35, 42-45

“The wise man built his house on a rock” (Matt. 7/Luke 6)“You are Peter…on this rock I will build my Church”

(Matt. 16:18)“Jesus is the stone the builders rejected” (Matt. 21:42-44;

Acts 4:10-12; Romans 9:30-33; 1 Peter 2:4-8)

#2. Embrace a life of submission (2:13-3:8)

Submission to every authority (2:13-17)as unto God

Submission to your masters (18-25)following the example of Christ

Submission as husbands & wives (3:1-7)cf. Eph. 5:21-33/ Col. 2:18-19

“Live in harmony with one another” (3:8)

#3. Embrace a life of suffering (3:8-4:19)

Remember our calling vv.8-12Called by God (“to this you were called”)Rewarded by God (Ps. 34:12-16a)

Be preparedDon’t be intimidated vv.13-14Acknowledge Christ (alone) as LORD v.15Know your faith vv.15-19Remember your baptism vv.20-22

Suffering – the example of Christ

Have the same attitude

4:1-11

Towards sin – hate it

Towards God – love him

Towards ourselves – deny

Towards others – serve

Have the same response4:12-19

Don’t be surprised Rejoice – you’re becoming

like him Receive the blessing/

Receive the discipline Commit yourself to God

** Just make sure it’s for the right reasons! (vv. 15-16)

Final words (5:1-11)

To the elders (older men) vv.1-4“Be shepherds…serve as overseers”

NOT BUT

because you must willinglyfor money as servantslording over as examples

“When the Chief Shepherd appears…(rewarded)”To the younger men v.5

“Clothe yourselves with humility”To the churches vv.6-11

“Submit to God…resist the devil” (cf. James 4:6-10)

OUR PRECIOUS FAITH

2 PETER

Relationship between 2 Peter & Jude

2 Peter 2-3 and Jude are very similar Confront the problem of false teachers Severe warnings Use of similar OT examples Last (disputed) books to be accepted as

scriptureOptions:

Both rely on a (lost) common source 2 Peter borrows from Jude Jude borrows from 2 Peter

This is most widely held, allowing Jude to be written anywhere from 65-80 CE, and Peter having greater authority as an apostle.

Who Were These False Teachers?

Denied the lordship of Jesus by the way they lived (2 Peter 2:1; Jude 4).

Defiled the love-feast (communion). Were immoral themselves and encouraged immorality

in others. Minimized the place of law in the Christian life and

emphasized freedom (2 Peter 2:10, 10ff, 18ff; Jude 4, 12).

Were plausible and crafty, fond of rhetoric, out for gain, and pandered to those from whom they hoped to gain some advantage (2 Peter 2:3, 12, 14, 15, 18; Jude 16).

Were arrogant and cynical of church leaders (2 Peter 2:1, 10, 11; Jude 8).

Posed as visionaries or prophets (2 Peter 2:1; Jude 8). Were self-willed, divisive, and confident of their own

superiority (2 Peter 2:2, 10, 18; Jude 19).

Outline (2 Peter)

“Our precious faith”

Introduction (1:1-2)Reminder #1: Privileges & responsibilities of

faith (1:3-11)Reminder #2: Source of the truth (1:12-21)Reminder #3: Warning against the false (2:1-

22)Reminder #4: The “Day of the Lord” (3:1-16)Conclusion (3:17-18)

2 Peter - Introduction

Greeting: “Simon Peter” “A servant and apostle” “My second letter” (3:1) An older man, about to die (cf. 1:13-15)

A righteous God/ A precious faith (cf. I 1:19; 2:4-7; II 1:4)

Grace & peace in abundance …through the knowledge of God (our father)

and Jesus our Lord

Privileges & Responsibilities (1:3-11)

God’s power has given us all we need for: Life (in all it’s fullness;

sacred/ secular) Godliness (to become like

God)God’s promises give us:

Escape from the corruption of this world

Share in God’s divine nature

Eph. 1:3 – every spiritual blessing

“Make every effort to…”

Add to your faith (v.5)

“Be all the more eager to…”

Ensure your faith (v.10)

Seven Cardinal Virtues

Faith1. Goodness2. Knowledge3. Self-control4. Perseverance5. Godliness6. Brotherly kindness7. Love

Appeal: Virtues to be added, to our faith (vv.5-7)

Warning: Consequence of adding - or not adding these virtues (vv.8-9)

The Consequences

Adding these virtues will prevent negatives: Being useless or unfruitful Spiritual blindness or myopia Neglecting our salvation

Adding these virtues will promote positives: Spiritual sure-footedness Receiving a rich welcome into the everlasting kingdom Assurance of our salvation

A reminder of the truth (1:12-21)

Reminder of the message (12-15)

It was rooted in history (16-18)We saw himWe heard himWe were with him

It was inspired as prophecy (19)

It must be interpreted very carefully! (20-21)

““This is eternal life, that they This is eternal life, that they may know…Jesus Christ may know…Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”whom you have sent.”(Jn. 17:3)(Jn. 17:3)

A warning of the false (2:1-22)

How to recognize false teachers (1-3)

Remember the warnings of Jesus They are deceitful (denying the Lord/ secretly

introducing heresy) They will have large followings (lead others astray) They are “covetous” (exploit others with grand stories) God has already condemned them

Illustrations of False Teachers (2:4-12)

1. Angels who sinned (v.4)2. Noah & the flood (v.5)3. Sodom, Gomorrah & Lot (vv.6-9)4. Celestial beings (vv.10-12)

Other examples of false teachers: NT – Acts 13; 2 Thess. 2; 2 Cor. 10-11 OT – Deut. 13:1-18; 18:9-22; Ezekiel 34

Attributes of False Teachers (vv.12-22)

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” Matt. 7:15

Like beasts (v.12)Blasphemous (v.12)Morally corrupt (v.13)Adulterous & greedy (v.14)Follow “the way of Balaam” (vv.15-16, Numb. 22-24)Empty & shallow (v.17)Vain & boastful (v.18)Deceitful: promise liberty – enslave people (v.19) Apostates (vv.20-22)

Christ’s return/ Second coming?

Wholesome thinking (lit. sincere, cf. Phil. 1:10)KEY: “The Prophets…the Lord…the Apostles”

God has a plan (creation…salvation…judgment)God’s timing is unique (perspective & patience)The LORD will come (unexpectedly)Judgment is determined (destruction or

renewal?)Our ultimate hope: Redemption.

A transformed cosmos - “new heavens & new earth” & a resurrected body (1 Cor. 15; Rev. 21-22)

** Apart from this no one knows, so STOP speculating and START living!

Getting ready for Christ’s return

Live a holy & godly life (v.11)Looking forward to the day of God/

looking forward to a new earth – “speed its coming” (vv.12-13)

Be diligent in applying the truth (v.14)Be familiar with apostolic teaching (vv.15-

16)Be on your guard against error (v.17)Grow in grace & knowledge (v.18)

CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH

JUDE

Jude

The brother of Jesus? (Judas/ Jude)Matt. 13:55-56/ Mark 6:3 "Isn't this the carpenter's son?

Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren't all his sisters with us?"

The letter is written to: The “called ones” The “beloved ones” The “kept ones”

The purpose of the letter Our “common salvation” Contend for what is true Recognize what is false

Why Did Jude Write? (vv.3-4)

Original intention: “the salvation we share”Immediate necessity: “contend for the faith”

The false teachers :

v.4 “Certain men have crept in, unawares.“ v.4 “(they) change the grace of God…deny Jesus Christ as lord” v.8 “(they) pollute their own bodies” v.8 “(they) reject authority” vv.8-10 “(they) blaspheme/ slander what they don’t know” v.11 They follow bad (historical) examples (ie. Cain, Balaam &

Korah) v.12 “They are (corrupt) blemishes at your love-feasts” v.15 “(they) are ungodly…ungodly…ungodly…ungodly” v.16 “(they) grumble…complain…boast…flatter” v.19 “(they) are divisive, follow natural instincts…don’t have the

Spirit”

Who were the False Teachers?

Theologically in error“Believers” who had craftily perverted the apostolic

doctrine.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9)

Ethically immoral“Believers” who had taken up an extreme position in

opposition to the legalistic Judaizers.

“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” (Romans 6:1-2)

Jude – an outline1. INTRODUCTION — vv. 1-2

What constitutes a true believer?

2. THE NEED TO CONTEND — APOSTATE TEACHERS — vv. 3-16 Their evil perversions: Three basic denials (faith, grace, Lord) vv. 3-

4 Their certain doom: Three historic examples vv. 5- 7 Their impious ways: Three historic examples vv. 8-11 Their utter depravity: Six terrible metaphors vv. 12-13 Their final destruction: Enoch's testimony vv. 14-16

3. THE WAY TO CONTEND — AVAILABLE RESOURCES — vv. 17-25

Recognize that apostasy has been foretold vv. 17-18 Analyze their actions, and fruit v. 19 Draw upon Divine resources vv. 20-21 Seek to reclaim, where possible vv. 22-23 Rest in the security of Christ vv. 24-25

The natural division occurs at v. 17 with the statement: "But, beloved ones". Having warned them of the dangerous influence of apostasy, Jude then instructs his readers how to counter it.

The marks of a true believer (vv.1-2)

They recognize the family of God“servant of Jesus…brother of…”

They respond to the work of God“called & loved by the Father, kept by/ in the Son”

They receive the gifts of God“mercy, peace & love…in abundance”

Three basic denials (vv.3-4)

The faith…“once for all delivered to the saints”

The grace (of God)…“changed…into a licence for immorality”

The Lord…“Jesus Christ, our only sovereign & Lord”

Three historical warnings (vv.5-7)

The Children of Israel (v.5)cf. Numbers 14; Heb. 3-4

The fallen angels (v.6)cf. Rev. 12:7-9; Luke 10:18; 2 Peter 2:4-5; Is. 14/ Ezek.

28

Sodom & Gomorrah (v.7)cf. Genesis 19; Deut. 29:23; Is. 1:9-10; 13:19; Jer.

23:14; 49:18; 50:40; Amos 4:11; Zeph. 2:9. Matt. 10:15; 2 Peter 2:6-7

Three historical examples (v.11)

“The way of Cain” The envious murderer

(cf. Gen. 4; Heb. 11:4; 1 John 3:12)

“Balaam’s error” The greedy diviner

(cf. Numbers 22-24; Deut. 23:3-6; Josh. 24:8-10; Neh. 13:1-2; Micah 6:5; 2 Pet. 2:14-16; Rev. 2:14)

“Korah’s rebellion” The disobedient rebel

(cf. Numbers 16; 26:9-11; 27:3)

We did it our way!

Illustrations of false teachers (vv.12-13)

1. “Hidden Blemishes”

2. “Selfish shepherds”

3. “Clouds without water”

4. “Trees without fruit”

5. “Raging waves of the sea”

6. “Wandering stars”

What Does Jude Quote?

The Book of Enoch: Presumed visions of the “Enoch” of Genesis 5 Focus on angels, demons, & spiritual battles Tells of spiritual conflicts that spill over into the

history of Israel from the beginning of time through the inter-Testamental period

The Assumption of Moses: Presumed to be the Final Testimony of Moses as

dictated to Joshua Warns of coming days when people will be led astray

by lying spirits & false teachers

The verdict

“See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.“ (Book of Enoch 1:9, disc. by James Bruce, 1773)

“The Lord rebuke you” (The Assumption/ Testament of Moses, disc. by Antonio Ceriani, 1861)

[Not found in text, yet approx one-third believed missing]

Contending for the faith (vv.17-25)

Recognize apostasy has been foretold vv. 17-18 (cf. Matt. 24:10-13; 2 Tim. 3:1)

Analyze their actions, and fruit v. 19(They are divisive – “soul men” vs “spiritual men”)

Draw upon divine resources vv. 20-21Build yourselves (in your faith), keep yourselves (in God’s love), wait (for the completion of eternal life)

Seek to reclaim, where possible vv. 22-23“Be merciful to doubters… save (those in peril)…”

Rest in the security of Christ vv. 24-25

The Doxology

“To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy - to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”