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Reading Guide
1 Peter, 2 Peter, Jude
1 Peter
Author: Composed by the Apostle Peter; written down by Silvanus (1 Peter 5:12-13).
Date: Probably mid-60’s AD. Place: Written while in Rome (1 Peter 5:12-13).
Written to: Persecuted Christians in Asia Minor
Greeting (1:1-2) To whom is Peter writing and how does he describe them?
Song of praise to God (1:3-12) New hope, new identity, new family; suffering is a purifying fire that deepens faith.
A new family identity (1:13-2:10) The Old Testament points toward Gentiles becoming God’s people. Notice the symbols, the metaphors:
The blood of the lamb
Living stones in a spiritual house
A royal priesthood
A holy nation.
"You once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." (1 Peter 2:10; Hos 1:6, 9; 2:23)
Suffering as a witness to Jesus (2:11-4:11) Live lives of love, submission, and suffering, following the example of Jesus.
Suffering and future hope (4:12-5:9) Participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. Leaders, lead with love. Humble yourselves under God and resist evil with firm faithfulness.
Closing (5:10-14) Greetings from SIlvanus (Silus) and Mark, and “she who is in Babylon”.
2 Peter
Background: Peter senses that he is probably going to die soon (1:14). Tradition says Peter was executed by Nero. He is writing from Rome to the same churches as he wrote to in 1 Peter. This is his farewell message.
Chapter 1 A final challenge Following the example of Jesus, participate in the divine nature - seven traits culminating in love (vs.1-15). Peter addresses three objections made by false teachers. Objection 1: The apostles just made all this up. Peter says he didn’t make this up; he saw it with his own eyes (vs.16-18). What event is he describing? The prophets confirmed what Peter saw (vs.19-21).
Chapter 2 - Objection 2: False teachers deny Jesus and deny that there will be any final judgement for an evil lifestyle. Peter responds with three ancient examples of divine judgement: Rebellious angels (Genesis 6); The flood (Genesis 6-8); Sodom and Gamorrah (Genesis 19). Peter calls out these false teachers for their corrupt lifestyles of sex and greed.
Chapter 3 - Objection 3: “Where is this ‘coming' he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”
Peter’s response: God’s time is not our time, he is being patient with us.
Make no mistake, the Day of the Lord is coming.
Jude
Background: Written by Jude, one of Jesus’ half-brothers - James, Joses (Joseph), Judas (Judah, Jude), Simon (Mark 6:3, Matthew 13:55)
(Vs.1-4) Stand up for the faith because false teachers have come in using their “freedom” to live corrupt, immoral lives.
(Vs.5-19 Stay away from these immoral false teachers.
Jude offers two sets of examples from the Old Testament and other sources.
Rebellious people who received divine justice (vs.5-10)
Israel’s wilderness rebellion (Numbers 14)
Rebellious angels (Genesis 6, 1 Enoch)
Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19)
Michael the archangel and the devil disputing about the body of Moses (Testament of Moses)
What do the false teachers and these examples have in common?
Rebels against God’s authority
Sexual immorality
Reject God’s messengers.
Jude describes the false teachers: “But these men do not understand the things they slander, and they are being destroyed by the very things that, like irrational animals, they instinctively comprehend.” (v.10)
Rebels who went on to corrupt others (vs.11-13)
Cain (Genesis 4)
Balaam (Numbers 22-25
Korah (Numbers 16)
Jude describes the false teachers with images from the old testament.
Hidden reefs
Selfish shepherds
Clouds without water
Dead trees without fruit
Chaotic waves
Jude quotes from the apocryphal book of 1 Enoch, which is quoting from the Old Testament, to describe the judgment that will come upon these false teachers. (vs.14-16)
Then Jude reminds his readers that the apostles and Jesus predicted that false teachers would come. (vs.17-19)
Finally, Jude encourages his readers to stay faithful, stay pure, and defend the faith. (vs.20-23)
Closing prayer (vs.24-25)