NEW TESTAMENT FOUNDATION NT 102 THE CHRISTIAN IN A NON-CHRISTIAN WORLD THE ENEMIES WITHIN

1
NEW TESTAMENT FOUNDATIONNT 102THE CHRISTIAN
IN A NON-CHRISTIAN WORLDTHE ENEMIES WITHIN
2
1 PETER   Introduction A. I Peters primary
focus Christian living in a non- Christian
world   B. I Peter makes reference to Isaiah
53  
3

• Authorship
• A. Support for traditional opinion of Peter as
  author
• 1. Author presents himself as Peter, an apostle
  of Jesus (11)
•  
• 2. Tradition is unanimous

4

• B. Arguments of countering opinions and
  responses
• 1. The quality of the Greek is too good for a
  Galilean fisherman
•  
• 2. The text reads too much like Paul
•  
• 3. The possible reference to imperial
  persecution

5

• Date Provenance
• A. Indication of Date
• 1. Features of the persecution which the church
  is undergoing
• a. Only recently begun (412ff do not be
  surprised ...)
•  
• b. No deaths as yet

6

• 2. Absence of polemics against Rome (as per
  Revelation)
•  
• The letter may be dated, then, probably sometime
  just before Neros outbreak, ca. 64.

7

• B. Indications of Provenance
• 1. Telling phrase She who is in Babylon sends
  you greetings (513)
•  
• 2. Interpretive commentary

8

• C. Addressees
• 1. to the Diaspora in the five provinces of Asia
  Minor (12)
• 2. to Gentiles (114, 18 210 43ff)

9
Churches in Northern Asia Minor
10

• Purpose
• A. I Peter notes addresses persecution of some
  kind (16 412 cf. 212, 15, 19 313-16 44
  510) but it presents nothing specific (in
  terms of purpose) proposals
• 1. traditionally connected with official Roman
  persecution (e.g. Nero, AD 54-68 Domitian,
  AD 81-96 or Trajan, AD 98-117 cf. 315
  412, 15-16 59)

11

• 2. social ostracism (resident aliens
  visiting strangers 211 cf. 11, 17) based
  on
• a. change in their ethical behavior (314, 17
  cf. 212, 19-20 36 44, 15-16) and as a
  result
•  
• b. change in social relationships (cf. Elliott,
  Home for the Homeless, 1981)

12

• B. Hence, the purpose of the epistle may be said
  to be...
• 1. to bolster faith which is perhaps wavering
  AND/OR
•  
• 2. simply to encourage
• In either case, it deals with how they ought to
  live as Christians in the face of hostility.

13

• Content
• A. Introductory matters (11-2)
•  
• B. Thanksgiving (13-12)
• 1. Your new birth gives rise to a living hope
•  
• 2. In the meantime, you are shielded by faith in
  Gods power
•  
• 3. Thus you rejoice in this glorious salvation

14

• C. Holiness Christian Conduct (113210)
•  
• Echoes of the Exodus from Egypt the Sinai
  experience
•  
• 1. God is holy (11323)
• 2. You are Gods housethe Temple imagery
  (24-10)
•  

15

• D. Conduct under Suffering (211419)
• 1. General exhortation (211-12)
• a. Abstain from soul-warring desires
•  
• b. Let your good conduct witness to Christ

16

• 2. Discussion on submission to authorities
  (213-17)
• a. Show respect to human authorities but fear
  God
•  
• b. On the one hand, live as free men, but on the
  other, live as servants of God (216)

17

• 3. Specific implications (218411)
• a. To slaves who have pagan masters (218-25)
• i. Bearing up under suffering is commendable
  only when unjustly treated
•  
• ii. Christ is the redemptive example
•  
• b. To wives who have pagan husbands (31-6(7))

18

• c. To all others (38411)
• i. Live in harmony
• ii. Christian suffering
• iii. Do not retaliate but bless
• for this leads to life (I Pet 310-12 echoes
  Ps 3413-17)
• and to winning your persecutors
• iv. Follow the example of Christ
• v. Christs preaching in Hades? 2nd chance for
  salvation? (318-20 46)
•  

19

• 4. Admonishment regarding suffering
• a. Suffering is to be expected (412-19)
•  
• b. Do not be surprised but rejoice since this is
  participation in Christs sufferings
•  
• c. Do not be ashamed since it is all part of the
  eschatological birth pangs
•  
• d. Commit yourselves to God continue to do good

20

• 5. Closing remarks to the church (51-11)
• a. Elders rule by example (51-5).
•  
• b. Young men be submissive (56).
•  
• c. All live with humility wisdom (57-11).
•  
• d. Doxology (510-11)
•  
• E. Farewell (512-14)

21

• Conclusion
• A. Christ has suffered to redeem us
•  
• B. We may also be called to suffer
•  
• C. We suffer with joy since, just as Christ was
  raised to glory, so also will we.
•  

22

• The Spirits in Prison of 1 Peter 318-20
•  
• One of the most problematic NT passages is 1 Pet.
  318-20
• For Christ died for sins once for all, the
  righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to
  God. He was put to death in the body but made
  alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went
  and preached to the spirits in prison who
  disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in
  the days of Noah while the ark was being built.
  In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved
  through water.

23

• Implications
• Apostles Creed he descended into hell (no
  specification as to the purpose)
• Doctrine of Purgatory

24

• 6 basic questions about this event
• When it occurred
• Who preached
• What was preached
• To whom the message was preached
• Where it was preached
• The reason for the preaching

25
TIME MESSENGER CONTENT SPIRITS/PLACE PURPOSE
1 Noahs day Christ in Noah Repentance Humans on earth (but now spirits in hell) Judgment
2 Between Christs death resurrection Christ Gospel Dead unsaved humans in Hades who perished in Noahs flood Judgment
3 Between Christs death resurrection Christ Gospel Dead unsaved humans in Hades from OT times 2nd chance to believe
4 Between Christs death resurrection Christ Defeat of death Dead unsaved humans in Hades from OT times Judgment
5 Between Christs death resurrection Christ Release Dead humans in Purgatory who repented just before dying in Noahs flood Lead them to heaven
6 After Christs resurrection Christ Defeat of Death Imprisoned angels of Genesis 6 in Tartarus Victory of resurrection
26

• Analysis of Views
• 1. Noah preached repentance to his generation
  who are now in Hades.
• A. Strengths
• Peter says Christ preached through prophets (I
  Pet. 111 2 Pet. 25 cf. 2 Cor. 133).
• Noah Peter's readers shared in common many
  characteristics such as being a righteous,
  persecuted minority.

27

• B. Weaknesses
• 1. Although I Peter 25 says that Noah was a
  preacher, this is not taught in the present
  text before us. Rather, the subject of the
  verb in verse 18 ("Christ died...") continues
  into verse 19 when it notes that "he went..."
•  
• 2. Christ inspiring prophets is not the same as
  Christ himself preaching and there are no other
  parallels to Christ temporally inhabiting OT
  characters

28

• 3. Actually, Christ is the model of righteous
  suffering here-not Noah.
•  
• 4. This view doesnt relate the event to the
  death and resurrection of Christ which is noted
  in the context.

29

• 2. Christ preached judgment to unsaved human
  spirits in Hades who died in Noah's flood.
•  
• A. Strengths
• 1. The view addresses both Noah's and Christs
  involvement in the event.
•  
• 2. This view sees the recipients as remaining
  unsaved and since the message is one of
  judgment it avoids the problematic second
  chance to believe" theory.

30

• B. Weaknesses
• 1. In the NT "spirits" always refers to nonhuman
  spiritual beings (angels) unless specifically
  noted as human (Matt. 1245 Mk. 123, 26
  330 Luke 1020 Acts 1915-16 1616 238-9
  Eph. 22 Heb. 114 129, 23 Rev. 1613, 14).
•  
• 2. This view does not explain why Noahs
  generation is singled out among the numerous
  wicked generations.
•  

31

• 3. Christ preached a second chance to accept the
  gospel to unsaved human spirits in Hades.
•  
• A. Weaknesses
• 1. No evidence in the text to suggest a second
  chance to believe
•  
• 2. Hebrews 927

32

• 4. Christ announced victory over unsaved human
  spirits in Hades whose condemnation was final.
•  
• A. Strengths
• 1. This view acknowledges Christ as the
  preacher.
• 2. The timing of this event would make sense.
• 3. It does not argue an unscriptural "second
  chance" theology

33

• B. Weaknesses
• 1. Spirits" when unqualified never refers to
  humans in the NT (only to angels)
• 2. The concept of preaching to the dead is a
  foreign idea to the NT

34

• 5. Christ released human spirits from Purgatory
  because they repented at Noah's Flood.
•  
• A. Weaknesses
• 1. The place where these spirits were held was a
  prison seems an odd description of the place
  of the righteous.
•  
• 2. The scriptural basis for purgatory is
  lacking.

35

• 6. Christ proclaimed triumph over imprisoned,
  fallen angels who married women before the flood
•  
• A. Strengths
• 1. "Spirits" refer to angels
•  
• 2. Angels (or sons of God) were involved in
  disobedience (Gen. 6)

36

• 3. Parallel with pre-NT Jewish mythology (e.g. I
  Enoch 1011-12 Jubilees 56)
•  
• 4. Imprisoned angels in Tartarus in 2 Peter 24.

37

• B. Weaknesses
• 1. Never are angels said to have disobeyed
  during the building of the ark
•  
• 2. This view argues on the less likely (secular)
  meaning of the word for "preached" (which is
  not impossible but only unusual).
•  
• 3. This view assumes the possibility of sexual
  relations between angels and humans.

38

• II PETER
•  
• Introduction
• 2 important questions/issues
• A. Who wrote 2 Peter?
• B. What is its relationship to Jude?

39

• Relationship to Jude
• II Peters relation to Jude should be discussed
  first since it has a bearing on authorship and is
  often regarded as the major reason for
  considering the writing non-Petrine.

40

• A. Repetition of verses
•  
• B. Theories of explanation
• 1. Majority Opinion most see 2 Peter using Jude
• 2. Additional Questions

41

• Authorship (authenticity)
• A. Issues surrounding Petrine authorship
• 1. Support
• a. The apostle Peter is identified as the
  author in v.1.
•  
• b. The second letter suggests that I Peter is
  the first (31), shares some themes (role of
  OT prophecy 119-21 cf. 1 Pet 110-12
  Noah 25 cf. 1 Pet 320f)

42

• 2. Difficulties
• a. Canonicity question (in contrast to I Peter
  Jude)
•  
• b. Language variance
•  
• c. Reference to Pauls writings (316f),
  implies
• i. The writings have been collected
• ii. They were in general circulation
• iii. They have been regarded as canonical
•  

43

• d. Unusual concern II Peter is concerned with
  some who deny the 2nd coming.
•  
• e. Some theological differences

44

• 3. Resolutions?
• a. II Peter was eventually accepted
• b. Greek perhaps explicable on the basis of a
  different amanuensis
• c. The denial of the second coming is also of
  some weightbut could it have been evidence of
  a newly emerging problem?
•  
• These are some genuine concerns, but categorical
  declarations either way should be treated with
  caution.

45

• B. Issues surrounding pseudepigraphical source
• a. Pseudepigraphy was a standard literary
  convention both approved censured,
  depending on the purpose
• - but the church rejected such
•  
• b. A large amount of Jewish inter-testamental
  literature was of this variety
• - but no letters

46

• Date
•  
• Purpose Content
• A. Purpose
• II Peter deals with internal crisis as heresy
  threatened the church.
• 1. Identity of the false teachers
• a. Identity is actually unknown
• b. some form of early Gnosticism is
  suggested

47

• 2. Characteristics of the false teachers
• a. They are denying the parousia (2nd coming)
  (34, 9 cf. 23)
•  
• b. They are undermining the apostolic teaching
  perverting scripture (116ff, 20f 21 316b)
•  
• c. Their lifestyle is similar to those in Jude
  (sexual immorality, 22, 10, 14, 18
  drunkenness, gluttony, 213) turning freedom
  into moral license, 219a enslaved to
  corruption, 219b) greed, 23, 14)

48

• B. Content
• 1. Exhortation to make their calling election
  sure (13-11)
• a. everything we need for life goodness,
  through our knowledge of him (great and
  precious promises)
• i. to participate in the divine nature (cf.
  I Pet. 51 sharer in the glory that is to
  be revealed or I John 13 koinonia with
  the Father the Son)
•  ii. to escape corruption caused by evil
  desires

49

• b. fruit of the Spirit as path to effectiveness
  and fruitfulness (vv.5-8 cf. Gal 522ff)

50

• 2. Encouragement in the form of Peters last
  will testament (112-21)
• a. The parousia is no fable
•  
• b. The transfiguration assures us (vv. 16-18)
•  
• c. This also makes more sure the word of the
  prophets (vv. 19-21)

51

• 3. Warning against false prophets (21-22) an
  attack on their manner of life
• a. Their corrosive heresies will destroy them
  and those who unwittingly follow them (vv.1-3)
•  
• b. God will both judge them and deliver us
  (vv.4- 10a).
•  
• c. Their freedom is actually bondage to sin
  (vv.10b-22)

52

• 4. Attack on their arguments the certainty of
  the parousia (31-18)
• a. The false prophets arguments are mistaken
  (vv. 1-10)
•  
• b. Creation the end
•  
• c. Be prepared (vv. 11-18), in contrast to the
  false prophets
• i. Live holy and godly lives
• ii. Be wary of those who twist the scriptures

53

• Comments
• The danger we all face of forgetting the second
  coming

54

• I-III JOHN
•  
• Introduction
• The Johannine Tradition 1, 2, 3 John
• Jerome, Comm. Gal. 3.6 In his old age dear John
  was accustomed to say hardly anything more to his
  disciples than, Children, love one another!
• His disciples and hearers became so annoyed at
  this endless repetition that they asked him why
  he was saying the same thing to them. He replied,
  Because it is the Lords command, and it
  suffices if this be done.

55

• A. Debate Opinion
•  
• B. General Comparisons
• 1. Authorship
•  
• 2. Character

56

• a. I John, the most substantial by far, is hardly
  an epistle at all
• i. No introductory greeting or identification,
  no personal matters, no final greeting
•  
• ii. More like an ad-hoc homily
•  
• iii. Concerned that believers remain true to
  the faith
•  
• b. II III John are quite brief more
  epistolary
•  

57

• 3. Content
• a. I II John
• i. Deal with false teachers, apparently denying
  the incarnation (docetic Christology?)
• a. In I John they have left the church
  (219).
• b. In II John they seem to masquerade as
  itinerants (v.7).
• ii. Possibly the same false teachers in view
• b. III John
• Deals with a matter of usurpation of leadership

58

• I JOHN
•  
• Purpose Content
• A. Concerns
• Several concerns all related around the one issue
  of false teachers

59

• 1. Teaching
• a. Faith issue Held unorthodox views of Jesus
• i. Apparently denied Jesus was the Christ or
  Son of God (222 51, 5)
•  
• ii. Rejected the incarnation (43 cf. 2 John
  7)
•  
• iii. Perhaps also denied that Jesus death had
  atoning significance (410 56-9).

60

• Johns Response Jesus is the Christ (1 John
  51) Jesus Christ has come in the flesh (42)
  Jesus is the Son (223 323 511) or the Son of
  God (13, 7 38, 23 49, 10, 15)

61

• b. Moral issue Claimed a special relationship
  with God in which they
• i. Walked in light were without sin (16, 8,
  10 24, 6, 9)
•  
• ii. Had special knowledge (23, 11, 13ff)

62

• Johns Response
• He exposes them
• are without sin (18, 10)
• have fellowship with God but walk in darkness
  (16)
• know God but are disobedient (24)
• are in the light but hate their fellow
  Christians (29)
• love God but hate their brothers sisters
  (420)

63

• He affirms the following
• to abide in God is to obey him (26)
• to sin willfully shows you have not known God
  (33-6 518)
• whoever acts sinfully belongs to the devil
  (37-10)
• we should love one another (311-12, 17-18)
• refusing to love your brother or sister means
  you have not inherited eternal life (314-15)
• God is love and to know him is to love (48-10)
• Faulty Christology ? unethical conduct

64

• c. Love issue
• Demonstrated a lack of love and of the
  characteristically Christian concern for the
  poor and needy (29, 11 317-18 420)
• - suggests some form of over-realized Gnostic
  and elitist spirituality?

65

• Johns response
• Love as hallmark of believers recalls Jesus
  command in John 1334 1512, 17 1720-23.
• Christs laying down his life for us (expression
  of Gods tangible love) example for all
  believers to do likewise (316 410).
• Living in Gods love means knowing obeying him
  (15-7).

66

• d. Spirit issue Placed an emphasis on
  prophecy, every spirit, anointing, etc.
  (suggests that the false teachers placed
  considerable store on spiritual life)

67

• Johns Response
• warns against false prophets do not believe
  every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether
  they are of God (41). There is the spirit of
  deceit ? antichrists and a Spirit of Truth ?
  Christ John his disciples
• to test the spirit
• by their fruits you shall know them
• assures believers that possessing the Spirit is
  characteristic of those who live in God (413)

68

• e. Discernment issue
• Johns Response
• Since every believer has been anointed with the
  Spirit (220, 27), thus spiritual discernment is
  the task of every person. No one can claim
  exclusive spiritual insight.
• Individual inspiration must be weighed against
  truth revealed in Scripture tradition (see
  224).
• Historic Christology is the cornerstone of all
  Christian belief.

69

• 2. Identity
• a. Apparently one-time members of the
  community(ies)
•  
• b. Recently defected, seeking to take others
  with them (26 37 41)

70

• 3. Crisis Response
• Their departure seemed to have occasioned a
  crisis of confidence and John writes to affirm
  reassure his readers in their standing before
  God (212-14 cf. 220f, 24f, 27 44).

71

• B. Content
• 1. Complicated Pattern
•  
• 2. Basic Issues
• a. Responding to some concerns over their
  fellowship with God (15217)
•  
• b. Encouraging by way of contrast to the false
  teachers (21833)
•  

72

• c. Revisiting relationship with God (34-10)
• i. Whoever is a child of God should seek to be
  pure even as God is pure.
•  
• ii. Do not continue to sin
• (a) Know what is right.
• (b) Love your brother (and sister).

73

• d. Emphasizing love for one another, as Christ
  in his incarnation loved us (311-24 cf. v.23
  with John 13- 15)
•  
• e. Linking the incarnation brotherly love
  (41512)

74

• 3. Concluding Remarks (513-21)
• a. Remarks made to assure that they have eternal
  life and access to God
•  
• b. Pray for life for those who sin
•  
• c. Sin is of the world, but the Son of God has
  given us understanding to know that he is the
  true God and eternal life (520)

75

• II JOHN
• Setting
• A. II John is specifically addressed to a local
  community (vv.1, 13).
• B. The false teachers who have defected from one
  community are now seeking to infiltrate others
  (vv.7-11).
• II John has similarities of content to I John,
  esp. vv. 5-7 ( I John 218-19 41-2).
• C. Since he intends to visit soon, John writes
  only a brief note.

76

• Content
• Again the integration of love the incarnation
  is developed specifically in the context of the
  following concerns
• A. Reaffirms the command to walk in love ( I
  John 27-8).
•  
• B. Instructs to watch out for false teachers who
  deny the incarnation

77

• C. Instructs that they have nothing to do with
  such people
• Reflection Does exclusiveness in the name of
  truth and non-association with those whose views
  defer from ours appropriate?

78

• III JOHN
•  
• Features
• A. Personal letter
• From the elder to Gaius about one Diotrephes
•  
• B. Ecclesiastical concern developmental history
•  
• C. Length

79

• Occasion Content
• A. About Diotrephes
• 1. Is seeking this position of authority who
  likes to be first in the church

80

• 2. Is asserting himself over against the elder
  (vv. 9-10)
• a. Opposes the elders authority
•  
• b. Rejects the elders letter to the church
•  
• c. Slanders the elder
•  
• 3. Refuses to accept approved itinerants,
  forcing others to do the same, and expels those
  who dont

81

• B. About the letter
• Diotrephes (leader of a house church) ?
  unfriendly to John (Elder) ? rejected once Johns
  letter slanders John rejected missionaries

82

• John (Elder) ? writes III John (warns of
  Diotrephes commends Gaius for his hospitality
  loyalty to receive Demetrius, who is the bearer
  of the letter) ? Gaius (wealthy Christian,
  possibly from another church friendly to John)

83

• John writes to Gaius, who is apparently loyal
• 1. Rejoicing in his faithfulness
•  
• 2. Praising his hospitality
•  
• 3. Commending an itinerant named Demetrius
•