I & II Peter, I, II, & III John, Jude -
Some basic themes and some of the outstanding verses.
To Jewish believers -- exiles of the dispersion.
Salvation through Jesus Christ
born anew to a living hope (1:3)
ransomed from futile ways...with precious blood of Christ (1:18,19)
born anew...of imperishable [seed]...living & abiding word of God...
good news preached to you (1:23,25)
living stones...built into a spiritual house (2:5)
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might
die to sin and live to righteousness (2:24)
chosen race, royal priesthood, God's own people (2:9)
Christ also died for sins once for all,
the righteous for the unrighteous...(3:18).
Many O.T. quotations:
Prophets searched and inquired...angels long to look into.
Maintain conduct that will close mouth of adversaries:
be subject to human institutions (2:11-17)
servants to masters (2:18ff)
wives to husbands--"won...by the behavior of their wives" (3:1)
all have unity of spirit, bless (3:8-9)
if you suffer for righteousness., will be blessed
be prepared to make a defense
time past...doing what Gentiles like...licentiousness, etc. (4:3)
end of all things at hand (4:7)
keep sane and sober
love one another
good stewards of God's gifts
Suffering and reproach likely suffer as a Christian, not as wrongdoer (4:15,16).
Exhortation to elders concerning their role and attitude (5:1-4);
To younger -- be subject to elders;
To all - humble, cast care, resist devil firm in faith.
God has given us what is necessary to know Him and be fruitful.
Add to faith
virtue
knowledge
self-control
steadfastness
godliness
brotherly affection (philadelphia)
love (agape).
Peter's death to be soon -- wants to remind them of what they know
Eyewitness to majesty of Jesus (transfiguration)
Prophecy of scripture from Holy Spirit.
False prophets have arisen, will arise as before
angels who sinned
time of Noah
Sodom and Gomorrah
blots and blemishes - forsaking right way, gone astray
waterless springs
promise freedom - themselves slaves of corruption
last state worse than first.
Second letter by way of reminder
predictions of holy prophets, commandment of Lord
scoffers - promise of coming?
they deliberately ignore - flood, coming judgment
time with Lord - patient, forbearing, not slow
Since all these things are to be dissolved
wait
be found without spot or blemish
Paul also writes of these things.
Parallels II Peter concerning false teachers
"admission secretly gained...ungodly persons
who pervert grace of God into licentiousness...deny Lord" (v.4)
wilderness wandering - angels who did not keep own position
(basis for Gen 6 interpretation?) - Sodom and Gomorrah
vv 10-13 - cf. II Peter
Enoch - book?
v.17-18 scoffers - cf. II Peter.
v.20-23 positive commands - build yourselves up in most holy faith
pray in Holy Spirit
keep yourselves in love of God
wait for mercy of Lord Jesus
convince some, snatch some, etc.Benediction - v 24-25
Some key ideas: fellowship with God, fellowship with and love of the brethren; light, life, love; who Jesus is.
I John doesn't follow an orderly outline, like Romans for example. (But you can find an outline in Talk Thru the Bible if you want one.)
John is always simple in his language and seems simple in his ideas until you try to get hold of them. It seems to me that it is important not to take any one sentence or idea by itself and try to make a doctrine out of it. Another sentence may seem to contradict the first until you realize that you have to put it all together to get the whole picture. I John 1:9 is one example of this. The back and forth contrast of verses 5-10 must be seen. Another example: see 2:3-5 and compare 3:23. The first passage may seem to put us back under law, but the second gives us the "new command" which he does not specify in 1:7-8, although he does make it plainer in the follow verses.
Main ideas are God's love for us and our love for the brethren and the necessity that they go together. He also refutes the Gnostic idea that matter is evil so Jesus could not be God in the flesh -- flesh is evil.
II John is a very short letter -- vs. 12 explains why. It may be written to a particular lady but more likely to a particular church. It has two of the themes of I John -- love for one another and warning against those who don't believe Jesus came in the flesh. He calls them deceivers and warns not to give them any help.
III John is another short letter, addressed to Gaius. Here John speaks of giving help to true brethren and of Diotrephes, apparently a self-appointed, self-important leader, who refuses to welcome or acknowledge those brethren who come to them, including Demetrius.