New Testament BCM 103 Dr. Dave Mathewson Gordon College/Denver Seminary

Intro. to 2 Peter 2 Peter and Jude: out of canonical order like Colossians / Philemon addressed to similar setting 2 Peter and Jude: out of canonical order like Colossians / Philemon addressed to similar setting 1 and 2 are designations we give them not necessarily chronologically, we can determine order often 1 and 2 are designations we give them not necessarily chronologically, we can determine order often

2 Peter: Primary Problem False teachers – antinomianism, deny future judgment, called into question the message of the prophets/apostles, so live anyway you want! False teachers – antinomianism, deny future judgment, called into question the message of the prophets/apostles, so live anyway you want!

2 Peter Genre 2 Peter like 2 Tim. resembles a last will and testament (last words of a dying hero) 2 Peter like 2 Tim. resembles a last will and testament (last words of a dying hero) 2 Peter 1:12-15 last words 2 Peter 1:12-15 last words Primary Purpose: Peter writes to encourage Christians to live holy lives in a corrupt world by maintaining their confidence in Scripture and the certain coming of the Lord to judge and to save. Primary Purpose: Peter writes to encourage Christians to live holy lives in a corrupt world by maintaining their confidence in Scripture and the certain coming of the Lord to judge and to save.

Purpose of 2 Peter Concerned not only that they believe the correctly but ethics as well. Orthodoxy and orthoproxy Concerned not only that they believe the correctly but ethics as well. Orthodoxy and orthoproxy The way he accomplishes his purpose The way he accomplishes his purpose He’s going to take up a series of objects that Christ is not going to return and God is not going to judge He’s going to take up a series of objects that Christ is not going to return and God is not going to judge

2 Peter Objection #1 ( ) Objection #1 ( ) The Apostles were teaching myths The Apostles were teaching myths Answer: Answer: No, they were eyewitnesses of Christ’s glory No, they were eyewitnesses of Christ’s glory Objection #2 ( ) Objection #2 ( ) The prophets were simply wrong The prophets were simply wrong Answer: Answer: No, they spoke by God’s Holy Spirit No, they spoke by God’s Holy Spirit

Objection #3 (2.1-22) Objection #3 (2.1-22) Judgment simply will not happen Judgment simply will not happen Answer: Answer: God has judged in the past, he will do it again God has judged in the past, he will do it again Objection #4 (3.1-10) Objection #4 (3.1-10) The fact that God has delayed proves that there will not be a judgment The fact that God has delayed proves that there will not be a judgment Answer: Answer: God’s timing is not ours, and he is giving humanity a chance to repent God’s timing is not ours, and he is giving humanity a chance to repent

Authorship of 2 Peter 2 Peter more than any other NT book was disputed whether Peter wrote it 2 Peter more than any other NT book was disputed whether Peter wrote it Writing style and vocab. so different from 1 Pet. Writing style and vocab. so different from 1 Pet. 2 Pet. resembles a testament [last words of dying hero: ethical and eschatological material] 2 Pet. resembles a testament [last words of dying hero: ethical and eschatological material] Most of those are pseudonymous [Testament of Moses, Testament of Abraham… not by Abraham written in his name Most of those are pseudonymous [Testament of Moses, Testament of Abraham… not by Abraham written in his name 2 Peter is testament so it is pseudonymous 2 Peter is testament so it is pseudonymous

Early Catholicism in the NT Fading of the soon return of Christ Fading of the soon return of Christ Institutionalization of the church Institutionalization of the church Crystallization of the faith Crystallization of the faith

Jude Comparing 2 Pet. and Jude Comparing 2 Pet. and Jude Similarity of ideas down to similarity in wording Similarity of ideas down to similarity in wording What is the relationship between 2 Pet. and Jude? What is the relationship between 2 Pet. and Jude? Similar tradition that both had or one of the documents borrowed from the other Similar tradition that both had or one of the documents borrowed from the other Most agree Jude first and 2 Pet. used Jude Most agree Jude first and 2 Pet. used Jude Order in NT not order in which written Order in NT not order in which written

Jude Why the book of Jude? Why would it be included in the NT? All of Jude basically in 2 Peter. Why the book of Jude? Why would it be included in the NT? All of Jude basically in 2 Peter. Jude 5-9 where did that come from? Jude 5-9 where did that come from? Why was it accepted into the NT canon? Why was it accepted into the NT canon? Who was Jude? –Jesus’ brother; that is one of the reason it makes it into NT Who was Jude? –Jesus’ brother; that is one of the reason it makes it into NT

Purpose of Jude Combating antinomianism as 2 Peter; sexual immorality with no consequences Combating antinomianism as 2 Peter; sexual immorality with no consequences Dreamers=teachers; pollute their own bodies, reject authority and slander celestial beings Dreamers=teachers; pollute their own bodies, reject authority and slander celestial beings Problem of itinerate preachers who might be traveling around teaching heresy Problem of itinerate preachers who might be traveling around teaching heresy Jude is going to respond to that to convince readers not to give in to that Jude is going to respond to that to convince readers not to give in to that

Purpose of Jude Jude 3= Purpose; wants them to contend for the faith; not just a body of belief but ethics as well Jude 3= Purpose; wants them to contend for the faith; not just a body of belief but ethics as well Addressing false teaching, not to give into that Addressing false teaching, not to give into that

How does Jude accomplish his purpose? The way he accomplish his purpose is he is going to tell stories The way he accomplish his purpose is he is going to tell stories from OT from OT all have to do with God judging immorality all have to do with God judging immorality Jude 5ff: delivered people out of Egypt and destroyed those who did not believe Jude 5ff: delivered people out of Egypt and destroyed those who did not believe Sodom and Gomorrah, immorality... Sodom and Gomorrah, immorality... Message don’t give in to antinomian Message don’t give in to antinomian

Tough texts Angels did not keep their authority cf. 1 Pet 3:18; tradition in Jewish literature in Gen. 6 sons of God = angelic beings who now are in chains; Jude 6 similar  judgment Angels did not keep their authority cf. 1 Pet 3:18; tradition in Jewish literature in Gen. 6 sons of God = angelic beings who now are in chains; Jude 6 similar  judgment Jude 9: Archangel Michael about the body of Moses; where does that come from? Deut. =death of Moses; this story not in OT Jude 9: Archangel Michael about the body of Moses; where does that come from? Deut. =death of Moses; this story not in OT This story=Testament of Moses did have this story; Jude relying on Jewish lit. This story=Testament of Moses did have this story; Jude relying on Jewish lit.

Jude Purpose and function of stories is just as God judged evil in the past he will do it in their day. Purpose and function of stories is just as God judged evil in the past he will do it in their day. Therefore don’t give into antinomianism Therefore don’t give into antinomianism Jude 24 ultimate goal –doxology; pursue holiness, stand Jude 24 ultimate goal –doxology; pursue holiness, stand Why Jude  credentials of Jude as Jesus brother, reinforces reject of antinomianism and to purse holiness Why Jude  credentials of Jude as Jesus brother, reinforces reject of antinomianism and to purse holiness