Lesson 11: Peter, John, and Jude: General Epistles, Part 2

By the end of this lesson, the student should:

(1) Know the likely dates and historical settings of the General Epistles.

(2) Outline the primary themes and purposes of the General Epistles.

(3) Understand the biblical doctrine of assurance.

(4) Be aware of the danger of false teaching.

(5) Relate the message of these books to the needs of today’s world.

► Read 1 and 2 Peter, 1–3 John, and Jude.

► Memorize 1 Peter 1:6-7, 1 John 1:6-7, and Jude 1:24-25.

In every generation, the church has faced challenges. By the last half of the first century, persecution from outside and false teachers from inside had become serious dangers for the church. These threats have continued throughout church history. The letters of Peter, John, and Jude warn against these dangers. More importantly, they encourage us to remain faithful in the face of these dangers. These small letters carry a big message: The God who called us is able to give victory over anything that would separate us from him.

Background to Peter’s Letters

Author

Simon Peter was one of the best-known leaders in the early church. After being introduced to Jesus by his brother Andrew, Peter became one of Jesus’ three closest disciples. His original name was Simon (“He has heard”), but Jesus changed his name to Peter (“Rock”).

Peter’s quick tongue and overconfidence caused him repeated troubles during Jesus’ earthly ministry, especially when Peter denied Jesus during his trial. After the resurrection, Peter was restored. Three thousand people were converted under his ministry at Pentecost. He traveled as a missionary and was eventually crucified in Rome during the persecutions of Nero.[1] According to church tradition, Peter requested that he be crucified upside down[2] because he felt unworthy to die the same death as the Savior whom he had once denied.

► How would Peter’s failures during Jesus’ earthly ministry have helped him as he wrote believers, encouraging them to remain faithful through difficult times? What did he learn from his own experiences that affects his teaching in these letters?

Audience and Place of Writing

Peter was writing from Rome. At the end of his letter, he writes, “She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings…” (1 Peter 5:13). In the Bible, Babylon often represents forces opposed to the people of God. Peter uses Babylon to refer to Rome as the enemy of God’s people. Parallel with the Babylon imagery, Peter addressed his first letter to the exiles of the Dispersion in Asia Minor (1 Peter 1:1). Just as Israel was scattered during the exile, the church was now suffering persecution. Unlike Israel, believers were suffering for their faithfulness rather than for disobedience; they were sharers in the sufferings of Christ (1 Peter 4:12-13).

The audience for these letters is primarily Gentile. These are converts who no longer live by the passions that were theirs in their former ignorance (1 Peter 1:14). 2 Peter does not identify an audience, but it is Peter’s second letter to the same group of readers (2 Peter 3:1).

Date

It is likely that Peter wrote these letters shortly before his death in the mid-60s A.D. The letters are usually dated to between 62 and 67 A.D.

Purpose

1 and 2 Peter encourage suffering believers to remain faithful. Just as Christ suffered and then was exalted, followers of Christ suffer in this world and then enjoy eternal glory. They must be faithful in the face of both suffering (1 Peter) and false teaching (2 Peter). Peter assures his readers that God will reward those who endure.

Themes of 1 Peter

The Hope of the Christian

As the elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, believers are promised an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for them (1 Peter 1:2, 4). Though there is suffering in this world, we are guarded by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time (1 Peter 1:5). Regardless of the trial of our faith, we have the hope of eternal glory. This hope brings such great joy to suffering believers that it cannot be fully expressed (1 Peter 1:8).

A Call to Holiness

The hope of eternal glory motivates us to respond to God’s call to holiness. Quoting Leviticus 19:2, Peter challenges his readers to be holy just as God is holy (1 Peter 1:16). This will be seen in our love for our brothers (1 Peter 1:22), our thirst for spiritual truth (1 Peter 2:2), and our pure lifestyle (1 Peter 2:11).

In a letter addressed to persecuted believers, it may seem surprising that Peter emphasizes submission to authority. Knowing that suffering might tempt followers of Christ to reject all earthly authority, Peter writes that holy people must be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution (1 Peter 2:13). This submission is for the sake of Christ, who submitted himself to earthly rulers. Believers must submit to political authorities and employers, as well as proper family authorities (1 Peter 2:13-3:7). If we suffer, we must suffer as Christians, not as evildoers (1 Peter 3:17, 1 Peter 4:12-19).

[3]Suffering on the Path to Glory

The Old Testament prophets predicted that Christ would suffer before receiving glory (1 Peter 1:11). Christ has suffered for us in the flesh (1 Peter 4:1), and we too should expect suffering. Just as Christ was exalted to glory, we too will receive the glory that is promised to the children of God. Peter himself had witnessed the sufferings of Christ and had received the promise of the glory that will be revealed (1 Peter 5:1). That promise encourages every suffering believer.

Themes of 2 Peter

Growth in Godliness

In his second letter, Peter challenges followers of Christ to continued growth in godliness. He says that through God’s precious and very great promises, believers become partakers of the divine nature.

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love (2 Peter 1:4-7).

Warnings Against False Teaching

Persecution (the primary concern of 1 Peter) comes from outside the church; false teaching (the primary concern of 2 Peter) often arises from inside the church. Peter exposes the teachings of false prophets who are invading and participating in the church. The danger of their teaching can be seen in their ungodly character, summarized in 2 Peter 2:10-19. The description concludes with a proverb, “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire” (2 Peter 2:22).

Faithfulness in Light of the Lord’s Return

Skeptics were attempting to discourage followers of Christ by questioning the Lord’s return. They insisted that all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation (2 Peter 3:4). Peter responds that the delay of Christ’s return is the result of God’s patient mercy. God does not desire that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). His delay gives opportunity for repentance. However, this delay should not lead us to doubt the certainty of Christ’s return. “The day of the Lord will come like a thief…” (2 Peter 3:10). Because of his sure return, we must live as holy people; we must be found of him in peace, without spot or blemish; and, we must continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:11, 14, 18).

Background to John’s Letters

Author and Date

Early church fathers such as Irenaeus and Clement of Alexandria refer to the Apostle John as the author of these books. Like Peter, John was a fisherman and became one of Jesus’ three closest disciples. He was present at the trial of Jesus and was with Mary at the crucifixion. Along with Peter, John was one of the first witnesses of the empty tomb. In his Gospel, John refers to himself as “the other disciple” and the disciple “whom Jesus loved” (John 20:2).

According to Eusebius, John and other followers of Christ fled from Jerusalem shortly before the city was destroyed by Rome in 70 A.D. The believers fled to the town of Pella in Perea (on the east side of the Jordan River). John later ministered in Ephesus. The three letters from John were probably written in Ephesus during the latter part of the first century.

Audience

1 John does not identify any specific audience. John refers to his readers as “my little children” (1 John 2:1), “beloved” (1 John 3:2), and “brothers” (1 John 3:13). These terms suggest that he is addressing fellow believers with whom he had a close relationship.

2 John is addressed to “…the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth…” (2 John 1:1). There are two possible interpretations of this phrase. “The elect lady” may refer to

• A lady who allowed a church to meet in her house.

• A local church known to John. “Her children” would refer to the members of that church.

3 John is addressed to Gaius, a convert of John (3 John 1:1).

Themes of 1 John

The first of the three letters is the longest. Instead of a traditional greeting, John begins with a statement supporting the authority of his letter. He is not writing about rumors or made-up stories, but about things he has personally witnessed: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands…” (1 John 1:1). 1 John is similar to the Gospel of John in its emphasis on the factual truth of the life of Christ.

Conditions for Fellowship with God

John states his purpose for writing at the beginning of the letter: “And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete” (1 John 1:4). This joy is through fellowship with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ (1 John 1:3). Writing about our fellowship with God, John uses the term know (1 John 2:3, 13-14, 1 John 4:7-8). To know God is more than mental knowledge; it is an experiential relationship. John states the conditions for maintaining fellowship with God:

• We must walk in the light (1 John 1:6-7).

• We must not walk in sin (1 John 2:1-2).

Sin and Fellowship with God

John’s teaching regarding sin includes two important truths:

• God provides strength for a victorious life. “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin…” (1 John 2:1). If we maintain fellowship with God, we will not maintain fellowship with sin (1 John 1:6–2:5, 1 John 3:6-9). As children of God, we will not continue to commit willful sin. We cannot walk with sin and walk with God at the same time.

• God provides grace for those who fall. “…But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1). Though God intends a life of consistent victory, he also promises grace for the one who repents after falling (1 John 1:9, 1 John 2:1-2).

Love and Fellowship with God

Continuing victory over sin is not based only on personal discipline or self-control; it is based on love for God (1 John 2:5). The controlling principle of the Christian life is love for God.[1] It is through love for God that we keep his commands. If we love God, we will not love the world or the things in the world (1 John 2:15).

A person who does not love his brother is not of God. If we love God, we will love God’s children (1 John 3:10-11, 1 John 4:20-21). The evidence that we have passed from death to life is our love for our Christian brothers. This love is more than words; it is seen in our actions (1 John 3:14-18).

The Assurance of the Children of God

John wrote so that his readers could know that they had eternal life and so that they could believe in Jesus (1 John 5:13). Continuing assurance requires continuing obedience. We know that we are God’s children when our lives are characterized by three things:

1. Obedience to truth (1 John 1:6-7). This aspect of assurance parallels Jesus’ words quoted in John 8:31: “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples.” Our assurance as Jesus’ disciples is based on continued attentiveness and obedience to his word.

2. Freedom from willful sin (1 John 3:8-10). Since we cannot have fellowship with God if we continue in willful rebellion against God, we clearly have no assurance if we continue in such rebellion.

3. Love for fellow believers (1 John 3:14-19). Jesus told his disciples, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). John repeated this emphasis in his epistle: “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers…” (1 John 3:14).

Content of 2 John

The message of 2 John is parallel to that of 1 John. Fellowship with God involves living in the love of God and walking in the truth of God. The love commanded in 2 John is not a new commandment; it was taught from the beginning (2 John 1:5-6).

The love commanded in 2 John is a discerning love that holds to truth. Discernment is important because there are many deceivers who do not confess Christ. John warns the elect lady to hold to the truth of the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh (2 John 1:7-8). Fellowship with God requires that we reject false teaching (2 John 1:10-11).

Content of 3 John

The primary purpose of 3 John is to teach about Christian hospitality. Christian hospitality is more than the friendliness that you show to other people; it is an expression of the unity of the church. 2 John warned against welcoming those who teach false doctrine. 3 John warns against rejecting those who teach true doctrine.

Gaius welcomes traveling evangelists with Christian hospitality and treats them as fellow workers for the truth (3 John 1:5-8). By contrast, Diotrephes refuses to accept these brothers. Diotrephes seeks position for himself, rejects the apostolic authority of John, and expels true followers of Christ who challenge him (3 John 1:9-10).

3 John contrasts the behavior of Diotrephes with the Christian love shown by Demetrius (3 John 1:12). This short letter shows the practical application of the Christian love that is commanded in 1 John and the unity of the church in the pursuit of truth that is commanded in 2 John.

Background to Jude

Author and Date

Jude was a half-brother of Jesus. Like his brother James, Jude did not believe in Jesus until after the resurrection.[1] In his letter, Jude identifies himself as a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James (Jude 1:1).

The only evidence regarding the date of the Epistle of Jude is its similarity to 2 Peter. The fact that the letters address similar problems suggests that Jude may have been written at about the same time as 2 Peter, in the early to mid-60s.

Audience

Jude is addressed to those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ (Jude 1:1). References to Jewish themes suggest that the book was addressed to Jewish believers.

Purpose and Content of Jude

Jude indicates that he had hoped to write a doctrinal letter on the theme of our salvation (Jude 1:3). However, because false teachers were invading the church and participating in it, the Holy Spirit inspired Jude to warn his fellow believers against false teaching.

Jude’s message includes:

• A warning against the false teachers and their message

• A description of the judgment that will come on these teachers

• A call to perseverance

• A concluding exclamation of praise “…to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy” (Jude 1:24).

The General Epistles, particularly 1 Peter, encourage us to remain faithful in suffering. Peter challenges his readers to humble themselves today so that, at the proper time, God can exalt them (1 Peter 5:6). Suffering is common to the Christian life, but the suffering will end in glory. This promise encouraged 1st-century believers and should encourage us in the 21st century.

Each of these books encourages practical Christian living. Whether it is Peter’s call to submission to authority, 1 John’s message of love for our brothers, 2 John’s admonition to uphold the truth, 3 John’s call to Christian hospitality, or Jude’s warning against false teachers, the General Epistles teach that truth is more than mental knowledge. We are called to live out biblical truth in our daily lives.

In the 1st century, many followers of Christ (including most of the apostles) died for their faith. In the 2nd century, Polycarp was killed for refusing to burn incense to the emperor. In the 4th century, Catherine of Alexandria was beheaded after testifying to the emperor.

In the 14th century, John Wycliffe’s body was burned because he had translated the Bible into English. In the 15th century, John Huss was burned at the stake for rejecting the doctrines of Roman Catholicism. In the 16th century, 26 believers were crucified in Nagasaki, Japan, during a time of persecution when believers had to worship in secret.

In the 20th century, thousands of Christ’s followers died as martyrs in China, the Soviet Union, and other totalitarian countries. In the 21st century, believers in countries dominated by other religions face daily threats of persecution and death.

In every generation, followers of Jesus have died for their faith. But for the church, this is no cause for discouragement. Peter reminds persecuted believers: “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you” (1 Peter 5:10). The church is triumphant! This is the promise of the General Epistles.

(1) Prepare a sermon or Bible lesson on one of the following topics. Either submit this in writing (5-6 pages) or submit a recording of you preaching or teaching it.

• “Suffering in the Christian life.” Use the principles taught in 1 Peter and illustrate them with examples from church history, particularly from the history of the church in your country.

• “Fellowship with God.” Include the criteria for fellowship with God found in 1 John.

(2) At the beginning of the next lesson, you will take a test based on this lesson. Study the test questions carefully in preparation.

(1) How does Peter use the word Babylon in 1 Peter 5:13?

(2) What was the external danger faced by the church in 1 Peter?

(3) What was the internal danger faced by the church in 2 Peter?

(4) 2 John is addressed to “the elect lady…” To which two things could this refer?

(5) What two truths are important in 1 John’s teaching about sin?

(6) According to 1 John, by what three things are the lives of God’s children characterized?

(7) What is the primary purpose of 3 John?

(8) How was Jude related to Jesus?

(9) Write 1 Peter 1:6-7, 1 John 1:6-7, and Jude 1:24-25 from memory.