1 & 2 Peter & Jude

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 The book of 1 Peter is historically and traditionally attributed to the Apostle Peter, the Great Fisherman and leader of the faith after Jesus ascended. . The title “1 Peter” reflects its position as the first of two epistles attributed to Peter in the New Testament. The opening verse affirms his authorship. Scholars uphold Peter’s authorship, emphasizing his firsthand experience with Christ and his leadership role in the early church.  1 Peter was written in the early 60s.

2 Peter followed between 65-68 AD warning of severe persecution by the Roman Empire against the Christian Church.   The title of Peter for both books represents internal evidence that the books were written by the Apostle Peter.

Peter's first epistle was written to encourage and strengthen early Christians to remain faithful in the midst of Rome's severe persecution knowing that the redemption promised by Our Lord was certain to follow.  2 Peter provides added warnings against false teachers and their deceptive practices,

The two letters were written to the dispersed believers  (1 Peter 1:1).  These were likely the people in the dozens of churches Paul had planted encouraged.  These were more likely Gentile believers rather than Jewish believers.  

The Christian movement was believed by the Jewish religious leaders to be doomed to failure as soon as they murdered Jesus of Nazareth.  Acts 9 tells us that Saul of Tarsus was permitted by the Sanhedrin to expand his geographical area for persecuting Christians outside Judea and into Asia.  Saul was converted on the way to Damascus of Syria and became known as Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ.  The hope that Christianity offered was far superior to the persecution of the Jews and Romans, and provided for strong belief for the thousands who faced death for their belief.

Jude self identifies as author of this book, along with 2 Peter, he wrote sometime between 65 & 80 AD.   2 Peter's potential writing period finished about 12 years earlier than Jude's potential writing period.   Like 1 & 2 Peter, "Jude" identifies the title of the letter and the author of the letter.   

Jude, like  2 Peter provides serious warnings against false teachers, their deceptive practices and the moral decay taking place in the early church.  These warnings of severe persecution by the Roman Empire against the Christian Church come along with the internal church issues facing Jude.    

Jude's let ter was written to the dispersed believers just like 1 Peter.  These were likely the people in the dozens of churches Paul had planted and many missionaries encouraged and trained through the years.  These were mostly Gentile believers rather than Jewish believers.  Jude tries to stay away from quoting Jewish traditions and ritual observance.

The Christian movement was believed by the Jewish religious leaders to be doomed to failure as soon as they murdered Jesus of Nazareth.  Acts 9 tells us that Saul of Tarsus was permitted by the Sanhedrin to expand his geographical area for persecuting Christians outside Judea and into Asia.  Saul was converted on the way to Damascus of Syria and became known as Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ.  The hope that Christianity offered was far superior to the persecutions of the Jews and Romans on the Christians, and served to strengthen believers for the thousands who faced death for their beliefs.