1 & 2 Peter and Jude (Life Application Bible Commentary | LABC)
Digitale Logos-Edition
Overview
Besieged on all sides, the early church faced external and internal threats. Followers of Christ could easily have been defeated or diverted. A distinct minority in a pagan society, they could have capitulated to their culture. But, challenged by God through these holy writers and strengthened by the Holy Spirit, they stood fast, even unto death. We, too, live in a hostile environment, a God-denying culture where many would enjoy eliminating all traces of Christian faith. Crossing the centuries, these short and profound letters have been written for us. They encouraged us to live godly lives, to stand firm in our faith, and to be ready for Christ’s return.
About the Series
The Life Application Bible Commentary series provides verse-by-verse explanation, background, and application for every verse in the New Testament. In addition, it gives personal help, teaching notes, and sermon ideas that will address needs, answer questions, and provide insight for applying God’s Word to life today. The content is highlighted so that particular verses and phrases are easy to find.
Each volume contains three sections: introduction, commentary, and reference. The introduction includes an overview of the book, the book’s historical context, a timeline, cultural background information, major themes, an overview map, and an explanation about the author and audience.
The commentary section includes running commentary on the Bible text with reference to several modern versions, especially the New International Version and the New Revised Standard Version, accompanied by life applications interspersed throughout. Additional elements include charts, diagrams, maps, and illustrations. There are also insightful quotes from church leaders and theologians such as John Calvin, Martin Luther, John Wesley, A. W. Tozer, and C. S. Lewis. These features are designed to help you quickly grasp the biblical information and be prepared to communicate it to others. The reference section includes a bibliography.
Top Highlights
|
“genuine, honest, personal, solid, life-changing, dynamic eye-openness to the true God himself” (Page 161) |
“Christ has given us everything needed for life and godliness. The power to grow doesn’t come from within us, but from God. Because we don’t have the resources to live as he requires, God gives us everything we need for godly living (to keep us from sin and to help us live for him). ‘Godliness’ means moral uprightness and honoring of God.” (Page 161)
“Peter explained that the believers who continued to carry their worries, anxieties, stresses, and daily struggles by themselves showed that they had not trusted God fully. It takes humility, however, to turn everything (literally, ‘throw your anxieties’) over to God and trust that he cares. God is not indifferent; he knows what he’s doing in our lives. Sometimes we think that struggles caused by our own sin and foolishness are not God’s concern.” (Pages 136–137)
“The believers did not need to be holy in order to be saved, but they were called to holy living in order to portray God’s nature and his grace to an unbelieving world. The price the Lord paid for our redemption ought to result in our faithful obedience to him.” (Page 38)
“The more we taste God’s goodness, the more tasteless other worldly options will become. We must not fill our lives with cheap substitutes so that we lose our craving for the truth contained in God’s Word.” (Page 52)