The General Epistles
2 Peter & Jude & 1,2,3 John
The New Covenant Explained
2 Peter
Peter’s Farewell Warning
Authorship
Peter - 2 Peter 1:1- Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,…
1:13-14, 16 -18
Cites Paul’s letters 3:15-16
Author in History
Peter is in prison before his death
Problem with such varied language from 1 Peter?
Similar message to I Peter - Same recipients?
Dating
67 AD – Just before his death - Soon after the first letter
Origin: Rome
Destination: Unstated
Presumed the same as 1 Peter
Second letter 3:1
Evidence
Some hesitation to accept because of:
- Lack of quotation in early writings
- Narrower circulation
- Brevity
- Pseudopigraphy using Peter’s name
- Difference in language & style
Questions
Seven New Testament books were recognized as part of the canon of scripture only after a certain amount of discussion: Hebrews, James, Jude, 2 Peter, 2 & 3 John and Revelation.
Ultimately, they were acknowledged to be Scripture because the evidence, both internal & external, showed their solid worth.
Readers & Occasion
1:1 - …To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:
Faith = same kind as ours - Acts 11:15 -17 – Gentiles
Suffering replaced by a worsening attack of heresy.
Intent & Purpose
Reminder - 1:12, 13; 3:1
By the reminder of the truth they can oppose heresy
Remember to stand on the truth against heresy
Key Verse
2 Peter 2:1 - But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.
Characteristics
Knowledge used 16x
The origin of prophecy - 1:20 – 21 (II Tim. 3:16)
Three worlds 3:5-13
- pre-flood
- post-flood
- new heaven & new earth
Contents
Salutation 1:1
The nature of true knowledge - 1:2-21
It’s a gift - 1:2-4
But we must work the gift - 1:5-11
Retention and *inculcation
are our assurance – 1:12-21
*inculcation = to impress upon the mind by repeated admonition
The peril of abandoning true knowledge - 2:1 – 22
Indulgence of heresy 2:2, 10, 13
Insights into Noah, Lot and Balaam
The hope of true knowledge - 3:1-18
Hope in the Lord’s coming
Vigilance until then
Highlights of 2 Peter
1:3-4 – Everything for life & godliness
1:5-8 – But wait! There’s more!
3:4 – Where is the promise of His coming?
3:9 – The Lord is not slow
3:10-11 – How should we then live?
3:17-18 – Grow!
Jude
Contend Earnestly
“epagōnizomai”
Overview of Jude
Author: Jude -1:1
- servant of Jesus Christ
- brother of James
- half-brother of Jesus
Not an Apostle v. 17
Traveled as an evangelist - I Cor. 9:5
Author in Scripture
Matt 13:55 & Mark 6:3 - …& His (Jesus’) brothers, James & Joseph & Simon & Judas
John 7:5 – For not even His brothers were believing in Him.
Acts 1:14 - along with the women, & Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
Author in History
Placement after John’s letters
Jude an itinerant
John’s letters about itinerancy
Jude deals with heresy
As does Revelation
Information
Date: 66-71 AD
Origin: Unknown
Destination:
No specific church
To a collection of churches v.1
Personally known to writer v. 3
Middle east churches
“Catholic” or general epistle
Evidence
Polycarp, Hermas, & Clement of Rome allude to it
In Muratorian Canon
Brevity and non-apostolic author
limited acceptance for a while among some churches
Origen, “Jude, who wrote a letter of a few lines, it is true, but filled with healthful words of heavenly grace, said in the preface, ‘Jude the servant of Jesus Christ and the brother of James.’”
Acceptance
Jude 4-18 & II Peter 2:1-3:4
Jude wrote in an emergency v. 3
Used Peter as a resource?
Jude expands II Peter
Same problem, more advanced for Jude
Material reworked into triplets
Peter diagnosis, Jude anti-dotes
II Tim. 3:1-8 similar and same time
Readers
Definite group Un-named
“our common salvation” v. 3
Usual mixed Jewish & Gentile congregations
Occasion
Antinomian, libertine itinerant preachers
Corrupting believers
Some had been swayed v. 22
Pervert divine grace v. 4
Intent
See Maps, 446
Expose
Set protocols for correction
Element of rescue vs. 23, 24
Purpose & Key verse
Purpose, “Warn of heresy”
Jude 1:3 - 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 handed down to the saints.
Characteristics
Style & Tone: terse, poetic vs. 24-25
Severe, “darkness has been reserved forever”
Compassionate, “Have mercy…”
Groups of threes: Jude, servant, brother; mercy, peace, love; etc
Quotes Apocrypha vs. 9 & 14
Contents
Salutation vs. 1-2
Announcement of emergency vs. 3-4
Appeal to precedent vs. 5-7
Arraignment of heretics vs. 8-16
Advice to believers vs. 17-23
Concluding benediction vs. 24-25
Highlights of Jude
1:3 – Contend earnestly for the faith
1:17-18 – Remember the words of the apostles
1:20-21 – Build yourselves up
1:22-23 – Have mercy
1:24-25 – He is able
1 John
Fellowship
Walking in the Light
I John overview
Author: John the Apostle
I John 1:1 no address
But an admission of eye witness
John In History
Acts 8:14 = last mention
To Ephesus around 70AD
Ministered itinerantly in Asia
Exiled to Patmos Rev. 1:9
Returns after the death of Domitian
John wrote just before or after Patmos
Date: 85 AD or later
Origin: Ephesus
Destination: Churches in Asia m - See Maps 451
Evidence
Polycarp quotes I Jn. 4:2-3
Irenaeus and Eusebius know it
Justin Martyr, “There was a certain man with us, whose name was John, one of the Apostles of Christ, who prophesied, by a revelation that was made to him, that those who believed in our Christ would dwell a thousand years in Jerusalem.”
Internal evidence
51 references to the 4th gospel - 1:6 & Jn. 3:21; 1:8 & Jn. 8:44
Pairs of opposites: love & hate or light & darkness
Both are anonymous but intimate
First hand knowledge, 1:1; 4:14
II & III John may have been cover letters
Readers
External pressure was off the believers in Asia
Believers begin to compromise with the world - 2:15-16
Conflicts between brothers
Advanced knowledge - 2:7, 18
Occasion
Presence of false teachers
Closest to Gnosticism of 2nd century
The Rise of Gnosticism
From the Greek word gnosis(“knowledge”).
It would arise in the 2nd century, but its seeds were already evident.
The physical is bad; the spirit is good.
Salvation through knowledge.
Views of Jesus.
Docetism: Christ only seemed to be human.
Cerenthianism: The Divine Christ entered Jesus at His baptism and departed prior to
His death.
Intent
Pastoral Concern:
Stir new fervency
Arm against Gnosticism
Promote fellowship
Purpose and Key verse
Purpose: Enhanced fellowship
1 John 1:3 - 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.
Characteristics
Forceful simplicity
No opening salutation, a homily
Abrupt end like James
No proper names
Comes like a meditation
Categorical affirmations (5:2)
Thought developed by opposites
Syllogistic logic that moves in circles
Contents (Benware - old)
Introduction 1:1-44
Certainty Through Walking in the Light - 1:5 -2:29
Light 1:5, 7; 2:8, 9, 10
Know 2:3, 5, 29
Certainty of Abiding in Love
Introduced
2:5, 15; 3:1, 10, 11, 14, 16-18; 4:7, 8, 10-12, 16-18,20, 21
Know
3:14, 16, 19, 24; 4:13, 16
Certainty Through the Exercise of Faith
Faith - 5:1, 4, 5, 10
Know - 5:2
Resulting Certainty - 5:13 -21
Highlights of 1 John
1:9 – Faithful & righteous
2:1-2 – Advocate with the Father
3:1 – That we should be called children of God
3:2 – When He appears
4:7-8 – Beloved, let us love one another
5:3 – His commands not burdensome
2 & 3 John
Truth Versus Error
Walking in Truth
Author, John the Apostle
He is a personal acquaintance of readers
He identifies himself as the elder, being old
Each letter fills one sheet of papyrus
John needed no other identification
Papias calls him John the Elder and disciple of the Lord
Information
II John: Date 85 AD or later
Origin: Ephesus
To a lady & adult children?
Widow and matron of the church
Near Ephesus and hospitable to John in his travels
Or: a particular church fellowship?
III John: Date 85 or later
Gaius
3 in New testament
Acts 19:29 – Macedonia
Acts20:4 – Derbe
Rom. 16:23 & I Cor. 1:14 - Corinth
Mature Christian brother vs 1, 2, 5
Evidence for both
Irenaeus quoted 2x
Clement of Alexandria, - “John’s longer epistle…”
Quoted at Council of Carthage - 397 AD
Those nearest Ephesus accepted it first
They resemble each other
Hospitality is an issue in each
Imagine them as cover letters
Purposes - Readers
II John: to a church or to a widow whose circumstances John knows
III John: to Gaius whose struggle John commends
Occasion
II John - Persistent efforts of false teachers affecting the local church
(of the elect lady?)
III John - Diotrephes refused hospitality to itinerants & Gaius offered it John is
sending out itinerant evangelists
Intent
II John: Cultivate vigilance
III John: administrative directive
Enlist Gaius
Condemn Diotrephes
Commend Demetrius
Purpose & key verse
II John - Abiding in truth to avoid error
2 John 1:9 - Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.
III John - Hospitality demonstrates truth
3 John 1:5 - Beloved, you are acting faithfully in whatever you accomplish for the brethren, and especially when they are strangers;
Characteristics
II John
Love and truth
Denial of humanity of Jesus corrected
Deny reception to heretics
III John
Importance of hospitality
Support missionaries
Evaluate controlling leaders
Content
II John
Salutation vv. 1 – 3
Injunctions vv. 4 – 11
Conclusion vv. 12 - 13
III John
Introduction - vs.1-4
Encourage workers for the truth - vs.5-8
Reprove opponents of truth - vs.9-11
Commend witness for the truth - v.12
Conclusion vs. - 13-14
Highlights of 2 & 3 John
2 John 1:8 – Don’t loose your reward
2 John 1:9 – Don’t go too far
3 John 1:3-4 – Glad to hear you are walking in the truth
3 John 1:9-10 – Diotrephes
3 John 1:12 - Demetrius