Series: New Testament Overview
Category: Core Seminars, False Teaching, Inspiration and Inerrancy of the Bible, Grace and Mercy, The Wrath of God, Perseverance of the Saints, Predestination and Election, The End Times / Return of Christ, The Gospel
Detail:
Introduction & Purpose: False Teaching “Among You”
One of my favorite things to do when I take a flight somewhere is to spend some time browsing through the airport bookstore. The bookstore is a reminder that we live in a pluralistic age, where atheist manifestos sit in the same sale bin as Buddhist meditation guides and commentaries on the Qur’an. As a Christian, I walk through and notice plenty of falsehood: everything from the book God Is Not Great by the late atheist Christopher Hitchens, to a Hindu text promising “A Life of Purpose, Happiness, Prosperity, and Freedom.”
Now, I must say that it’s discouraging to see these titles; these books are dangerous, they deny the one true God. But it typically doesn’t ruin my flight – this is what we expect from people who don’t claim to believe in Jesus. But what happens when I get to the Christian section of the bookstore? Is that shelf full of truth? If I grab any book with a Christian label, will I arrive in my destination as a wiser and more faithful follower of Christ?
With that question in mind, listen to the Apostle Peter’s words from 2 Peter 2:1: “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you , who will secretly bring in destructive heresies” And then listen to the 4th verse of the letter written by Jude: “For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and lord, Jesus Christ.”
In 2 Peter, there “will be” false teachers that come; in Jude, they have already “crept in” unnoticed. But did you hear what phrase both authors use: “among you .” These two letters aren’t about defending the faith against Roman polytheism or Greek philosophy. They’re fighting something even more dangerous: falsehood with the Christian label. Poison wrapped up like a candy bar. The question is: will we be those who eat the poison? Or will we be alert and aware? As you see there under “purpose,” Peter and Jude write To warn Christians against false teaching and to encourage them to persevere in the true faith.
So, first, we’ll look at some background and an outline for each book, and then we’ll talk about four main themes, four certainties that these books call us to know. We’re going to jump around a bunch between these two letters, so you’ll want to keep your finger or a pen on both of them as we go.
Authorship, Audience & Context
Let’s begin by talking about who’s writing. Please turn to 2 Peter 1:1. The book begins, “Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ ” We see the author here identifies himself as Peter, and then look at 1:16: “For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eye witnesses of his majesty.” Peter goes on to tell about how he personally saw the transfiguration of Jesus.
Who’s Peter writing to? Look over at 3:1: “This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder.” It’s likely that the first letter is the Biblical letter of 1 Peter, which as we saw in 1 Peter 1:1 was written to Christians scattered throughout Asia Minor, modern day Turkey. Peter wrote that letter to encourage believers as they suffered through persecution. But now, it’s not just attacks from the outside that concern Peter – it’s attacks from within. And Peter says in 1:14 that “I know that the putting off of my body will be soon.” – he can tell that his death is near. And so he pens one final warning to his people.
Turn over to Jude and let’s ask some of the same questions. Who wrote it? Verse 1, “Jude a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James .” Scholars agree that the James he’s talking about is James the half-brother of Jesus and the leader of the Jerusalem church who wrote the book of James. This means that Jude too is a brother of Jesus.[1]
Who is he writing to? Verse 1 makes it clear that his audience is Christians: “To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ.” When we look at the rest of the letter, we can guess that his readers were most likely Jewish Christians, because Jude refers to some characters and stories that would have been known in the Jewish community. Now, if you read through Jude this week, you’ll probably be curious about these references because a couple of them don’t actually come from the Old Testament. Jude alludes to a story about the archangel Michael in verse 9[2] st Enoch in verse 14.[3] What’s Jude doing here? He’s not saying that these things are scripture. Instead, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he’s illustrating his points using stories that his audience would be familiar with. The things he refers to are true, but he’s not suggesting that all of 1 Enoch is inspired or inerrant. Paul did the same thing when he quoted true statements from non-inspired Greek philosophers in Acts 17 and 1 Corinthians 15.[4]
So why treat these books together in a single class?
After all, there are key differences. 2 Peter focuses explicitly on “false teachers” and “false prophets” within the community whereas Jude focuses more on “the godless” outside of the community. 2 Peter’s audience is likely located in the region of Galatia whereas Jude’s audience is likely in Judea. Anti-Christian heresies in both places denied Christ as master, but in 2 Peter it is by denying Christ’s return and living in pleasure whereas in Jude it is by rebelling against Christ and lawful authorities.[5]
Still, they share many of the same themes and concerns so we treat them together in this class. You see in your handout there a chart that shows which verses resemble each other. You can look at that at home and notice all the similarities.
Similarities and Differences in Jude and 2 Peter
Taken from Herbert W. Bateman IV, "‘Memories’ About the Old Testament in Jewish and Christian Tradition Inform 2 Peter and Jude, Part 2." JETS 67, no. 2 (2024): 302.
Jude
Descriptions
2 Peter
Descriptions
1:17
Jesus is declared “beloved” of God at baptism/mount of transfiguration (Gospels)
3
“beloved”
4
“godless”
2:1
“false prophets”
“false teachers”
“destructive heresies”
4
“who deny our Master and Lord”
“denying the Master”
2:2
indecent conduct
2:3
“greed”
5
“remember” past Jewish history
exodus generation “destroyed”
6
angels “abandoned their dwelling”
2:4
“angels who sinned”
–
held captive in Tartarus
“he has kept” in eternal chain
in chains
“under darkness”
“of darkness”
“for the judgment of the great day”
“kept until judgment”
–
2:5
punishment of the ancient world
–
Noah, a herald of righteousness, rescued
–
God’s punishment by way of flood
7
Sodom and Gomorrah judgment as an
example
2:6
Sodom and Gomorrah reduced to ashes
–
2:7
righteous Lot rescued
–
2:8
righteous Lot’s soul tormented
–
2:9
protection of the godly
–
judgment of the ungodly
8
ungodly people are dreamers (of earthly
glories)
defile the flesh
2:10
false teachers indulge in fleshly desires
reject authority
–
insult angelic beings
insult angelic beings
9
the archangel Michael
–
argues with the devil
–
Testament of Moses quoted
–
argument over body of Moses
–
Michael refuses to issue judgment
2:11
issue judgments
10
comparison with animals
2:12
compared with animals
born for capture and “eternal” destruction
2:13
suffer harm
deceitful inclinations “blemish” feasts
2:14
“greed”
11
Cain’s brutality
–
Balaam’s “error of wages”
2:15
Balaam’s “love for wages of unrighteousness”
–
2:16
Balaam’s rebuke by a mute pack animal
Korah’s rebellion
–
12
hidden reefs
–
rivals are waterless springs/clouds
2:17
rivals are waterless springs and mists
autumn tress without fruit/dead
–
13
wild waves of the sea
–
wandering stars
–
14
“for whom the gloom of darkness has
been reserved forever”
“for whom the gloom of darkness has been
reserved”
description of Enoch
–
Enoch, descent from Adam
–
15
1 Enoch 1:9 quote
–
divine judgment of all people
–
convict every person of ungodly deeds
–
16
convict the ungodly of their harsh words
–
ungodly (rebellious) people are grumblers
–
fault-finders
–
follow their own desires
–
offer bombastic speeches
–
–
flattery condemned
–
–
2:18
speak empty words
–
entice with debauchery
–
2:19
slaves to corruption (cf. 2:2, 3, 14)
–
2:22
Proverbs 26:11 quote
–
proverb from an unknown source
17
“beloved”
3:1
“beloved”
“remember the prophetic words”
“to remember the prophetic words”
–
“from the holy prophets”
–
and the commandments of the Lord
“from the apostles of our Lord”
“through your apostles”
–
second letter to stir up a pure mind
18
the coming of scoffers
3:3
the coming of scoffers
–
driven by ungodly desires (context: rebellion)
3:8
“beloved”
–
God’s view of time differs
–
3:9
God has not forgotten his promise
–
3:10
God’s catastrophic judgment is coming
20
“beloved”
3:14
“beloved”
–
wait patiently
–
live a moral life
build one another up in faith
–
be merciful to those wavering
–
save others
–
maintain godly love
–
–
3:15
Paul is declared as “beloved”
–
3:17
“beloved”
III. Outline
With that background in place, let’s look at how these books are structured so we can see how the authors mount their arguments. You’ll see the outlines on the back of the handout.
2 Peter
Looking first at 2nd Peter, you’ll see that in many ways it’s a symmetrical letter. It begins and ends with exhortations for believers. First, in 1:1-15, Peter reminds them that they are saved only by God’s power and calls them to “make every effort” to live in a way that confirms God’s work in them. Similarly, the book closes at the end of chapter 3 with an instruction to “make every effort” to live in holiness as we wait for the second coming of Christ. In the the second section, Peter gives reasons we can be confident that Jesus is returning, and in the 4th section, 3:1-13, Peter explains what will happen when the day of the Lord comes. The middle section, then, chapter 2, is really the center of the book’s message. Peter describes the false teachers, their godless way of life, and the horrific destruction that will God will pour out on them.
Jude
And we see a similar structure in Jude. It’s one of the briefest books in the Bible – you can tell that Jude is like a loving father who is spurred to passionate writing by the dire circumstances his children face. Like 2 Peter, the center of the book is a portrait of the empty lifestyle of the godless and the judgment that awaits them. And immediately before and after that center portrait are again two exhortations – first, in verses 3-4, to contend for the faith, and second, in verses 17-23, to be built up in the knowledge and love of God. At the very beginning and end of the book, Jude in his greeting and doxology reminds his readers that in the midst of such falsehood, God is a true and faithful hope. God is the one who called them, and God is the one who will keep them from falling until they appear before his glorious presence.
Any Questions ?
Main Themes
Let’s turn to 4 major themes we see in these books. You can follow along on the inside of your handout.
First: A. The Certainty of Your Call
Think about what Peter and Jude’s readers are facing. You’ve got false teachers looming, spreading error and confusion like confetti around the early church. In this climate, it was key for Christians to be sure of their salvation. So, first, the authors tell them that their salvation is utterly and totally God’s work .
Look, for example, at the second half of Jude v. 1: “To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ.” Being called means being chosen by God personally for new life in Christ.
Peter says something similar in 2 Pet. 1:3-4. Go ahead and turn there: “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises , so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.” What a comfort these words are: He It’s through His promises Verse 1 says even our faith is something we’ve received from God. Jesus died and rose for the salvation of sinners. And by repentance and faith, we are clothed in the pure, spotless, and complete righteousness of Jesus.
And yet, even though our calling is from God, it has implications for us. Peter continues in verses 5-11: “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. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election , for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
He’s saying: You are saved—now live like it. The way you live often says more about what you believe than what you say you believe. He’s saying, if you want to know what someone believes, watch their life.
So, Peter tells us to “Be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election ” – verse 10. How? Believing the great and precious promises of the gospel (1:3-4) and making every effort to pursue godliness (1:5-9). “For if you practice these qualities you will never fall.” – not meaning that you’ll be perfect in this life or that you’ll never sin, or that you stop relying on the gospel for your salvation and start relying on your own works. But that the pattern of your life will reveal that your repentance and faith are genuine.
So let me ask us this morning: when was the last time you examined the fruit of your life ? Look at the qualities Peter lists in verses 5-7 – goodness, knowledge, self-control – do you see evidence of these virtues in your life more and more as you follow Jesus? Do you expend effort on growing in godliness? Can you think of one way this upcoming week you could “make every effort” to grow in these characteristics? Or take your eyes off of yourself for a moment and think of other Christians in your life. When was the last time you noticed someone else growing in these qualities and pointed it out to them? We should notice evidences of grace in each other and tell them about it! “Hey, I just wanted to let you know, I can see how God has grown you in perseverance this past year and you should be comforted to know that the Spirit is at work in you!”
Jude’s letter has a good reminder for us here. He says in verse 21, “keep yourselves in the love of God.” – that’s this kind of active sanctification we’ve been talking about – but then he adds, “waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.” It’s not our good deeds that cause us to persevere to the end. It’s the mercy of Jesus . So: one of the ways we know we are saved is by the evidence in our lives. But the way that we are saved is by trusting in the mercy of Jesus alone.
The first certainty is the certainty of our call; Second is B. The certainty of God’s truth.
When falsehood is waiting around every corner, we don’t just need to be certain about our own faith – we need to be certain about what’s true.
So, Jude tells his readers in verses 17-18 to recall the words of the apostles . Their teaching is true. They predicted scoffers and ungodly people would come—and they have!
And then in 2 Peter chapter 2 he says, listen, the false teachers “will secretly bring in destructive heresies” (2 Peter 2:1). But we have something far better: Look at 1:16-21 . “For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
**What is the Holy Scripture more fully confirmed than? (Peter’s eye-witness testimony)
**How is it more fully confirmed ? (Beholding Christ’s glory in Scripture is greater evidence for the truth of the gospel than eyewitness testimony!)
Why should we trust the writings of the Old Testament? Because they are God’s Word. Here we have one of the clearest statements in scripture about the Bible’s inspiration. The authors used words and concepts natural to them, but the source of the revelation was the Holy Spirit. So if anyone comes and teaches in opposition to the scripture – then they teach in opposition to God himself.
And, importantly, God’s Word is not just the Old Testament . Look at 2 Pet. 3:15-16: “And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.” This is a significant verse, because we have one of the early church apostles already calling Paul’s writing scripture. And, what a comfort to know that we aren’t the first to find some parts of Paul’s letters hard to understand, right?!
All of this should be a reminder to us: A Christian is an echo-chamber of God’s Word. The church is the community in which God’s Word reverberates. I appreciate in 2 Peter 3:2 where he tells his readers and us, what he wants us to do, straight up, pure and simple: “you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets.” What do you do to keep God’s Word on your mind? He says in 1:19 that we should pay attention to the Word like we would to a light shining in a dark place.
If you’ve ever been out in the woods late at night; if you’ve ever been in a dark area where you don’t know how to get back to your cabin or your car; what do you need? The light. Maybe the problem is that we so often forget just how dark the world is. We get comfortable, our retinas adjust, and we think we can make it on our own in woods. We should pray that each day we might recognize the value of the light of God’s Word. We should point one another to the light of God’s Word. What’s the greatest resource I have in making sure I know how to discern which “Christian” book I pick up at the airport is actually true – the light of God’s Word. False teachers
