Monday, September 2
The Book of 2 Peter
Peter writes his second letter to combat false teaching (chapter 2) and bookends his outlook on the last day (chapter 3) with speaking of grace and knowledge (1:2; 3:18). These are the means of stability against false teaching and the means of escaping sinful desire (1:4; 1:10-13). The author is clear that through knowledge grace comes, specifically through the promises of God (1:2 cf. 1:4). Manifested in his Word (1:19-21), the coming of the Lord is sure and this guards against false prophets who deny the Master (2:1) and who show their unrighteous teaching in their unrighteous, unprofitable living (2:2-22). The believer, on the other hand, does not deny the power of God that created and will judge (3:1-7), but looks at the patience of God as an opportunity for repentance (3:8-10) and sees the coming of the day of the Lord as reason to be holy (3:11-18).[1]
The Book of 1 Peter
Simon Peter writes in 62-63 AD to the believers in Northern Asia Minor[1] to encourage the ones who are suffering for their faith by assuring them of the living hope theirs in Christ (1:3-13). Therefore, he says, “preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1:13). After a short opening (1:1-2), this foundational truth of their identity and inheritance (1:3-2:10) gives the people of God a foundation for righteous living (2:11-4:11). As sojourners, they abstain from the passions of the flesh (2:11; 4:1-7) entrust themselves to the one who will judge (2:13-25) and live in proper relationship with each other (3:1-7; 4:7-11). When the fiery ordeal comes from the devil or outsiders (4:12-5:11), believers are to stand in the grace of God (5:12-14).[2]
The Book of James
James wrote his letter to the believers in the Dispersion
(1:1) to give them a framework for Christian maturity and wisdom which clings
to living faith and which separates from pride.
Although it is difficult to pinpoint an outline of the passage, there
are clearly themes which touch various wisdom ethical teachings. From the outset, James bids Christian
maturity and humility as he encourages endurance in the midst of trials and a
kind of faith that depends upon the God who means for everything to point to
his goodness (1:2-18). The believer is
also mature when he humbly hears the Word and practices it (1:19-25) and acts
in love (1:26-2:13). By living this way,
this person reveals that their faith is living, when they have faith and works
(2:14-26). The wise know how to control
their tongue (3:1-12) and humble themselves before others (4:1-5;5:13-20) and
before God (4:5-16), suffering well (5:7-12).
The Book of Hebrews
The author of Hebrews writes to a Jewish-Christian audience to not shrink back into the old covenant pictures, but instead to hold firm the confidence of their new covenant reality of Jesus who is greater than angels, Moses, Joshua, or any high priest. Therefore, together they will withstand the persecution that bombards them and live in light of the reality of their eternal home. Because Christ has accomplished redemption through a once and for all sacrifice (10:1-18) believers have a full assurance of faith that considers their future inheritance.
To argue for this point, the letter is divided into three major sections: a hymnic section (1-4:13), hortatory subjunctives section (4:14-10:31), and an imperative section (10:32-13:17).[1] Within these portions, the author reveals how the shadow of the OT shows the superiority of Christ over angels, who delivered the message (1:5-2:8), Moses who is only the servant of the builder (chapter 3), and Joshua who is only a part of the earthly rest (4:1-13). If the Jewish believers move away from Christ to these shadows that point to Him, they will be hardened in unbelief (3:12; 4:3). Thus, the Hebrews are commanded to strive to enter through the Word and by drawing near to the great high priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses (4:11-5:8). The sure and steadfast anchor (6:18ff) is the hope before believers because the promises and are sure, the high priest is eternal and holy (7:26), and the new covenant makes the old obsolete (8:1-13; 9). The blood of Jesus cleanses from all sin and sanctifies the believer for all time (10:8-14). So, he ought to set aside the sin that entangles and run with endurance in the present because the future is secure (12:1-2; 13:13-14).
The Book of Philemon
Paul appeals to Philemon to receive Onesimus back as a beloved brother (10). If Philemon considers his usefulness for the gospel (11) and no longer sees Onesimus as a slave (16), the love and faith he shows to others will be effective in this case (5-6) and refresh Paul’s heart (20; cf. 7).
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