EPISTLES OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
JUDE ~ 1ST & 2ND PETER
JUDE
Jeopardy
v.
3 contend for the faith v. 4 slipped in...godless...license v. 5 angels...abandoned...destroyed v. 6 abandoned...in darkness...chains v. 7 perversion...eternal fire v. 8 pollute...reject...slander v. 10 abuse...unreasoning animals...destroy v. 11 destroyed...rebellion v. 12 blemishes...without the slightest
qualm...twice dead v. 13 wild,
foaming...shame...wandering...blackest...forever v. 15 judge...convict...ungodly v. 16 grumblers...faultfinders...boast...flatter...own
advantage v. 18 scoffers v. 19 divide v. 23 snatch from the fire v. 24 falling |
Jude
identified himself as the "brother of James." He did not explain who James was, assuming
everyone knew. In that case, it would
be James, the brother the Jesus. That
means Jude, too, was the brother of Jesus.
Matthew 13:55 describes his earthly family. After trying
unsuccessfully to teach people in Nazareth, his home town, the people
objected: "Isn't this the
carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's
name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren't all his sisters with us?" Judas is the same name as Judah, and that
is the same name as Jude. And, by the
way, Jesus had at least three sisters, because, if he'd had one, they would
have said, "his sister," and if he'd had two they would have said,
"both his sisters."
Instead, they said "all his sisters." Right up to the end of Jesus' life, his brothers did not
believe in him. Just six months
before his crucifixion, John 7:3-5 says that his brothers said sarcastically,
"You ought to leave here and go to Judea so that your disciples may see
the miracles you do. No one who wants
to become a public figure acts in secret....show yourself to the
world!" How they must have
resented him and his claims. The
account ends with, "For even his own brothers did not believe in him." But some time between Jesus' crucifixion and ascension
to heaven 40 days later, his brothers became believers. Some 120 believers waited for further
instructions in Jerusalem, among them "Mary the mother of Jesus and his
brothers" (Acts 1:14). When Jude
called himself the brother of James, keep in mind that the apostle James had
been executed with the sword (probably beheaded) sometime during the first
years of the church (Acts 12:1-2).
The James who seems to have taken the Apostle James' place was
identified by Paul as "the Lord's brother" (Galatians 1:19). Jude apparently wrote a circulating letter to warn
people who believed "once saved, always saved," so they could do
anything they wanted. What is
frightening is that he describes to a T the problems of the church in modern
times. |
v. 1 Did Jude call himself a
bishop or right reverend of anything?
___ By what "title"
did he refer to himself? ____________
v. 3 Had all of "the
faith" been delivered by this time?
__________________
v. 4 People today rationalize,
"If God is really good, he surely won't condemn me for a little adultery,
skipping church, not being baptized."
They change the __________________ of God into a
_____________________________ for immorality.
v. 5 Even though God delivered
the Jews out of Egyptian slavery, what did he later do to those who did not
believe in him?
___________________________
v. 6 Even the angels who had
once been with God in heaven with positions of authority, once they left, God
bound them with _________________________ to be judged on that great Day.
v. 7 People of Sodom and
Gomorrah felt it was no one else's business what kind of sex life they had,
including God's. Now they will be
punished with ______________________________________________.
v. 8 Some people say no one
has a right to tell them what to do, including God. They are only __________________________ who pollute their own
bodies, reject authority and ___________________________ celestial
___________________________.
v. 9 Even when the archangel,
Michael, disputed with the devil about the body of Moses, did not condemn Satan
to hell, but said, "The Lord ______________________ you!"
v. 10 Some people blame God for
everything bad as an excuse to not follow him, and instead deny the existence
of Satan.
What they do choose to
understand - animal-like sensual instincts - these are the very things that
_____________________ them.
v. 11 They take the way of
________________________________ who, when caught harming his brother, just
said, "Am I my brother's keeper?" (Genesis 4:9).
Some rush into religion
for ______________________ like the enemy of the Jews offered to Balaam
(Numbers 22:17). Name some
"religious causes" which have netted fortunes for some religious
leaders.
____________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Some people have been
destroyed by Korah's __________________________________ when he said God hadn't
made Moses the leader of the people (Numbers 16:1-3, 35).
v. 12-13 People like this in our congregations are
_________________________________________ who worship with us without the
slightest ___________________________________.
But they are clouds ________________ rain, blown along by the ___________________________;
they are twice _____________________.
Wild waves, foaming up their ______________________________,
____________________________ stars for whom ________________________ darkness
has been reserved ________________________________.
v. 15 The Lord will come and
judge all the ______________________________ words spoken against him. Such people are
__________________________________ and __________________________________ who
blame God if anything wrongs happens in their lives. They follow their own evil ___________________ and then
____________________________ about all they've gotten by with.
v. 19 The ungodly divide us by
following in______________________________ on how to worship and follow God,
instead of the Spirit. Look at John
14:17 and 17:17. What is the Spirit
we're supposed to be following?
______________________
v. 22 Now that Jude is through
lambasting hypocritic church leaders, he says, "Be merciful to those who
____________________ (agnostics).
Snatch anyone you can from the ________________________________ (of
hell) and save them. Show mercy to
everyone you can, but mixed with ________________________________, loving them
but hating their sins.
v. 24 Jude's entire letter is
summarized in this verse. Yes,
Christians can ______________________________.
1ST PETER
Persecution
1:6 suffer grief in all kinds of trials 1:13 prepare your minds for action 2:13 Submit...to every
authority...king...governors 2:19 pain of unjust suffering 2:20 beating...suffer...endure 2:21 suffered 2:23 insults...suffered 3:9 evil...insult 2:13 harm you 3:14 suffer...frightened 3:16 speak maliciously...slander 3:17 suffer 4:1 suffered in his body...suffered 4:4 heap abuse 4:12 painful trial...suffering 4:14 insulted 5:1 sufferings 5:7 anxiety 5:8 prowls around...devour 5:10 suffered
a little |
Peter
wrote his letter to Christians in the provinces of today's Turkey: Pontus was
along the Black Sea across from Russia Galatia extended
through the middle of Turkey almost to Mt. Ararat on the border of Russia Cappadocia was
just south of Galatia, extending to Iran Asia was on
the west coast on the Aegean Sea Bithynia was
on the Black Sea just west of Pontius where today's Constantinople is, very
close to Bulgaria Nero had ruled about five years. At first, as long as his mother was alive,
he was a fairly good emperor. It is
believed by some that she had converted to Judaism. However, upon her death, things fast became bad. Malicious rumors flew about the
Christians: They had a
different king besides Caesar They married
their "brothers" and "sisters" They were
cannibles, eating both body and blood They were
atheists, believing in only one God Fox's Book of Martyrs says that after
Stephen's martyrdom - the first of all Christians - about 2,000 Christians
were martyred (much with the assistance of Paul), being about AD 28. The next martyr we know of by name was the
Apostle James (Acts 12:1-2). An
ancient writer, Clemens Alexandrinus, said that, as James was led to the
place of martyrdom, his accuser was brought to repent of his conduct by the
apostle's extraordinary courage...and fell down at his feet to request his
pardon...resolving that James should not receive the crown of martyrdom
alone. Hence they were both
beheaded. About this same time at
Philippi, Macedonia, Timon and Parmenas were martyred, being about AD 44. The apostle Philip went to the province of Phrygia on
the Black Sea across from Russia. In
AD 54, he was scourged, thrown into prison, and afterwards crucified. Next known was Matthew went to Ethiopia
where he was slain with a halberd in the city of Nadabah, AD 60. Then, according to Fox: "The first [sidespread] persecution of the Church
took place in the year 67 under Nero....gave way to the greatest extravagancy
of temper and to the most atrocious barbarities. Among other diabolical whims, he ordered that the city of Rome
should be set on fire, which order was executed by his officers, guards, and
servants. While the imperial city was
in flames, he went up to the tower of Macenas, played upon his harp, sung the
song of the burning of Troy, and openly declared that he wished the ruin of
all things before his death....several thousands perished in the flames, were
smothered in the smoke, or buried beneath the ruins....continued nine
days.... |
"Nero,
finding that his conduct was greatly blamed, and a severe odium cast upon him,
determined to lay the whole upon the Christians, at once to excuse himself,
and have an opportunity of glutting his sight with new cruelties.....the
barbarities exercised on the Christians were such as even excited the
[sympathies] of the Romans themselves.
Nero even refined upon cruelty, and contrived all manner of
punishments for the Christians that the most infernal imagination could
design. In particular, he had some sewed
up in skins of wild beasts, and then worried by dogs until they expired; and
others dressed in shirts made stiff with wax, fixed to axletrees, and set on
fire in his gardens in order to illuminate them. "This persecution was general throughout the whole
Roman Empire; but it rather increased than diminished the spirit of Christianity. In the course of it, St. Paul and St.
Peter were martyred. To their names
may be added Erastus, chamberlain of Corinth [Acts 19:22; 2 Tim. 4:20],
Aristarchus, the Macedonian [Acts 19:29; 20:4; 27:2; Col. 4:10; Phm. 24],
Trophimus, an Ephesian converted by St. Paul and fellow-laborer with him
[Acts 20:4; 21:29; 2 Tim. 4:20], Joseph commonly called Barsabas [Acts 15:22]
Ananias...of Damascus; and each of the Seventy [Luke 10:1-17]. |
1:4 No matter how bad people treat
us, our inheritance can never ______________________________ because it is in
______________________.
1:5 We are
______________________________________ by God's power.
1:7 We have trials (even to
ourselves) so our faith may be proved ____________________________________.
1:8 "Though you have not
______________________ him, you love him; and even though you do not see him
now, you ____________________________ in him."
1:9 The
___________________________ of our faith is salvation.
1:10-12 Even the prophets, who searched
___________________________ for the meaning of what they were writing, were not
serving themselves, but you
who are
persecuted. Even
_______________________________ longed to look into these things.
1:18 Before being Christians, we
live an __________________________ way of life.
1:19 The blood of Christ is
precious (1:19), Christians are precious (2:4) and Jesus is precious (2:6,7) to
God.
2:4-8 Peter means stone. In these verses he refers to Christ as the living
Stone (v. 4), Christians as living stones (. 5), Jesus as the cornerstone (v.
6), the capstone the builders rejected (v. 7), the rock that makes sinners fall
(v. 8).
2:9 Christians are a royal
______________________________________.
Therefore, we are all "clergymen." That's how important we are to God.
2:13-14
Christians are to submit ourselves to ______________________________
authority, for God puts them in power to
____________________________
wrongdoers.
2:18 If we have a harsh boss,
we are to _______________________________ to them.
2:20 If we suffer for doing
wrong, it is nothing. But if we suffer
for doing good and endure it, this is
__________________________________________ before God.
2:21-22 We were called to suffer
because Christ suffered, leaving us an ___________________________ that we
should follow in his ________________________________, even though he never
committed a sin.
3:1 IN THE SAME WAY, that is,
even if you suffer, submit to your husbands because words don't do much good,
but they can be converted by their wives'
_____________________________________.
3:9 Even when life isn't
fair, do not ____________________________ evil with _________________ or insult
with ________________________, but ________________________________. This is why we were called.
3:14 Even if you suffer, do not
__________________________ what they fear; do not be
_____________________________.
3:15 "Always be
____________________________ to give an _____________________________ to
everyone who asks you to give the ____________________________ for the
______________________________ you have."
3:16 Keep a clear conscience so
slanderers may be ___________________________________.
3:17 It is _______________________________
to suffer for doing good than evil.
3:21 The waters that saved Noah
symbolize __________________________________ that now
__________________________ you.
4:1-2 If we suffer, we are
_________________________ with sin, for we will not live the rest of our
earthly life for human _________________________.
4:4 Your old friends think it
_________________________________ that you do not _____________________________
with them into your old way of living, and heap ________________________________
on you.
4:7 People today say the end
is near. What did Peter say 2000 years
ago?
___________________________________________
4:12 We are not to be
______________________________ at the painful suffering as though something
___________________ were happening to us.
4:14 If we are
______________________________ because of Christ, we are
______________________________________.
4:16 If we
__________________________ as a Christian, we are not to be
_______________________________, but __________________________ God that we
bear the name of ________________________________.
5:1 Did Peter call himself
the pope? _______________ Did he call himself THE elder?
________________
5:2-4 Elders are not to serve
for ____________________________, and they are not to _______________________
it over the congregation. Who is the
Chief Shepherd? Peter or Christ? __________________________
5:6-7 We are to
____________________________________ ourselves under God's
_____________________________ hand, and cast all our
______________________________ on him, for he ________________________ for us.
5:8 The lions to which many
Christians were then being cast are really the tools of who? __________________________
5:9 Who else was suffering
too? _____________________________________________________________________________
2ND PETER
Purity
NOT ONLY WERE
CHRISTIANS IN DANGER OF LOSING THEIR LIVES
THEY WERE ALSO IN
DANGER OF GIVING UP CHRISTIANITY IN ORDER TO LIVE.
1:8 ineffective and unproductive in
your knowledge 1:10 make your calling and election
sure....never fall 1:12 firmly established in the truth 1:16 cleverly invented stories 1:21 prophecy never had its origin in the
will of man 2:1 false prophets...false teachers 2:1 secretly...destructive heresies 2:2 shameful...truth into disrepute 2:3 exploit you with stories they have
made up 2:4-6 God did not spare....did not
spare....condemned 2:10 slander celestial beings 2:12 blaspheme in matters they do not
understand....destroyed 2:13 harm they have done 2:17 springs without water, mists driven
by a storm. Blackest darkness 2:18 empty, boastful words...entice...in
error 2:19 promise them freedom...selves are
slaves of depravity 2:20 escaped the corruption...entangled 3:3 scoffing 3:5 deliberately forget 3:7 reserved for fire 3:17 carried
away |
Peter
was about to die. He said, "I
think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this
body, because I know that I will soon put it aside as our Lord Jesus Christ
has made clear to me. [What a
reunion!] And I will make every
effort to see that after my departure, you will always be able to remember
these things." What were the last pleas of this dying apostle? Whereas Paul warned of teachers of false
doctrine, Peter warned of teachers of a false way of life. Peter did not attempt to teach any new
doctrine. He reiterated the standard
teachings of Christianity, and then warned over and over about false teaching
and falling from grace (1:10; 2:20-22; 3:9; 3:17). |
1:1 Has Peter called himself
pope yet? _____________ How about the right reverend apostle? _____________
1:3,6,8 God's divine power has given
us _____________________________________ we need through our
___________________. We are to make
every effort to add to our faith goodness, and to our goodness
_______________________________ of God's through his word (not
imagination). This will keep us from
being _____________________________________ and
____________________________________________ in our knowledge.
1:10 When people say we do not
choose God, but that he chooses us, and that we are elected by him for
salvation, does this mean we can never fall?
________________
1:12-13 Even though we are firmly established in the
________________________ now, we need to
__________________________ our memories.
1:16-18 Peter hadn't made up any
stories about Jesus. He saw and heard
for himself Jesus' baptism when God announced, "This is my
_________________, whom I love; with him I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17)
and later when the same voice of God spoke during Jesus' transfiguration
(Matthew 17:1-6).
1:19-21 Also the
fulfillment of prophecies proved Jesus was the predicted Son of God.
2:1 Beware of
________________________________ prophets and teachers who introduce
_______________________________ heresies.
2:3 What causes such people
to teach falsely?
____________________________.
They just ______________________ us with stories they have
__________________________________________.
What is hanging over them?
___________________
2:4 God means what he
says. Who did he not spare when they
sinned, but sent them to hell?
__________________________
2:5 Who did God not spare,
but destroyed them with water?
___________________________________________
2:6 Who did God not spare,
but destroyed them with fire?
_________________________________________
NOTE: Also, they need not try to punish those who
were persecuting them, for God will take care of that.
2:9 But what does God do for
the godly?
_______________________________
2:10 What kind of men slander
celestial beings?
_________________________________________________________________
2:14 When we watch many of
today's TV and movies, are eyes are full of what? __________________________________
2:17 People who live double
lives (Christian and worldly - and we all do it to some extent) are springs
without _____________ and mists driven by a _________________________________.
2:18 Such people mouth
____________________________, boastful words, appealing to our lusts. Can you think of any kinds of worship
services today that
may do that?
________________________________________________________________
2:19 The world says, "If
it doesn't hurt anyone else, why not do it?" Peter said, "They promise them freedom while they themselves
are ___________ญญ_______of _____________________________________.
2:20 If we escape the
corruption of the world by knowing Jesus and are again
______________________________________ in it, we are
________________________________________________________ at the end.
2:21-22 It seems here that
fallen Christians will be worse off in judgment than those who never came to
Christ. Such are like a dog that
returns to its _________.
3:9 Does God want anyone to
perish? _____________________ Therefore, does God choose only certain
people to be saved, or everyone?
__________________________________
3:11-12 We ought to live holy
and __________________________ lives, for this will
______________________________ the coming of the day of God. This is the opposite to what they're telling
us today - more and more bad will bring the end of the world.
3:15-16 Some people
were taking _________________________________ letters which ignorant and
unstable people were
_________________________________________,
just like they do other ________________________________.
NOTE: His statement also indicates Paul's letters were
recognized as Scripture.
3:17 We must be on our guard so
we don't ______________________ for our secure position.