New Testament Study Guides - ElectronicGospel

New Testament Study Guide: Letters of Peter and Jude
NEW TESTAMENT STUDY GUIDES
Rather than studying the New Testament verse-by-verse or in an
overview, this series seeks to look at the letter according to its contexts–
passage-by-passage, that is, by analyzing each of its paragraphs. Responses
to the questions should be done on a separate sheet of paper and in shortanswer
or essay format.
INTRODUCTION
Simon Peter identifies himself as the author of the two letters that have
come to bear his name. In addition, the tiny book of Jude bears an uncanny,
but logical resemblance to the flow of Second Peter, but was evidently
written by one of the Lord’s fleshly brothers, Judas, or Jude.
Peter’s letters were likely written around A.D. 64 from the city of Rome,
called Babylon in the epistle probably to disguise the source (5:13).
Emperor Nero was just then commencing his persecution of the church and
uninspired historians contend that Peter would lose his life as a result.
Silvanus and Mark were with Peter, and the latter association may have had
something to do with the second canonical gospel account.
The purpose of First Peter is to communicate the commands of God to
his servants. Peter vividly recalls Jesus’s death and teaches about leadership
and perseverance. The apostle wrote to settle them in the midst of
bewildering persecution. His guidance is practical and temperate. Peter
urges them to stand firm in their faith based on the knowledge of salvation
and the example set by Jesus.
The purpose of Second Peter is to deal with some problems, including
false teaching and a faltering trust that Jesus was coming back because
nearly 35 years had already passed. It is little wonder that the world has
grown so lax now that nearly 2000 years have come and gone.
Second Peter 2:1-3:4 appears to quote almost word for word from Jude
4-19, so that both books show common inspiration and purpose. Jude
describes the character of the wicked instructors in trying to train his
brethren to recognize them. He tells his readers how to deal with error and
how to protect their own from its destructive course.
Jude was written during the last half of the first century when itinerant
false prophets were troubling the churches with their errors. Jude exposes
their greed, pride and selfishness in an attempt separate the true saints from
their influence.