Second Peter Study
Purpose: To warn Christians about false teachers and to exhort them to grow in their faith in and knowledge of Christ
Author: Peter
To whom written: The church at large, and all believers everywhere
Date written: About A.D. 67, three years after 1 Peter was written, possibly from Rome
Setting: Peter knew that his time on earth was limited (1:13, 14), so he wrote about what was on his heart, warning believers of what would happen when he was gone - especially about the presence of false teachers. He reminded his readers of the unchanging truth of the gospel.
Key Verses: ''His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue'' (1:3).
Key People: Peter, Paul
Special Features: The date and destination are uncertain, and the authorship has been disputed. Because of this, 2 Peter was the last book admitted to the canon of the New Testament Scripture. Also, there are similarities between 2 Peter and Jude.
First Peter Study
Purpose: To offer encouragement to suffering Christians
Author: Peter
To whom written: Jewish Christians driven out of Jerusalem and scattered throughout Asia Minor, and all believers everywhere
Date written: About A.D. 62-64, possibly from Rome
Setting: Peter was probably in Rome when the great persecution under Emperor Nero began. (Eventually Peter was executed during this persecution.) Throughout the Roman Empire, Christians were being tortured and killed for their faith, and the church in Jerusalem was being scattered throughout the Mediterranean world.
Key Verses: ''You have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith... may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ'' (1:6, 7).
Key People: Peter, Silvanus (Silas), Mark
Key Places: Jerusalem, Rome, and the regions of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia Minor, and Bithynia
Special Features: Peter used several images that were very special to him because Jesus had used them when he revealed certain truths to Peter. Peter's name (which means ''rock'') had been given to him by Jesus. Peter's conception of the church - a spiritual house composed of living stones built upon Christ as the foundation - came from Christ. Jesus encouraged Peter to care for the church as a shepherd tending the flock. Thus, it is not surprising to see Peter using living stones (2:5-9) and shepherds and sheep (2:25; 5:2, 4) to describe the church.
John Study
Purpose: To offer encouragement to suffering Christians
Author: John the apostle, son of Zebedee, brother of James, called a "Son of Thunder"
To whom written: New Christians and searching non-Christians
Date written: Probably A.D. 85-90
Setting: Written after the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 and before John's exile to the island of Patmos
Key Verses: ''And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name'' (20:30, 31).
Key People: Jesus, John the Baptist, the disciples, Mary, Martha, Lazarus, Jesus' mother, Pilate, Mary Magdalene
Key Places: Judean countryside, Samaria, Galilee, Bethany, Jerusalem
Special Features: Of the eight miracles recorded, six are unique (among the Gospels) to John, as is the ''Upper Room Discourse'' (chapters 14-17). Over 90 percent of John is unique to his Gospel - John does not contain a genealogy or any record of Jesus' birth, childhood, temptation, transfiguration, appointment of the disciples, nor any account of Jesus' parables, ascension, or Great Commission.
Proverbs Study
Purpose: To teach people how to attain wisdom and discipline and a prudent life, and how to do what is right and just and fair (see 1:2,3) - In short, to apply divine wisdom to daily life and to provide moral instruction
Author: Solomon wrote most of this book, with Agur and Lemuel contributing some of the later sections
Date written: Solomon wrote and compiled most of these proverbs early in his reign
Setting: This is a book of wise sayings, a textbook for teaching people how to live godly lives through the repetition of wise thoughts
Key Verse: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction" (1:7).
Special Features: The book uses varied literary forms: poems, brief parables, pointed questions, and couplets. Other literary devices include antithesis, comparison, and personification