The letters of 2 Peter and Jude form a robust pair, with their distinctive overlap in theme and wording. These letters are sometimes overlooked, yet their message for today's church is powerfully relevant. Both their writers aim to expose false guides who bewitch young believers. In response, they set before the churches bedrock conditions of survival, providing inspiring and always practical guidance on Christian growth. Without a maturing knowledge of God, churches (then as now) would be destabilised by destructive and heretical teaching.

ContentsGeneral preface viiAuthors' preface ixChief abbreviations xiiSelect bibliography xvPart 1: The message of 2 PeterIntroduction 31. The genuine article (1:1-2) 142. The power and the promises (1:3-4) 293. The productive Christian (1:5-11) 424. Remember, remember (1:12-15) 525. The witnesses (1:16-21) 606. The fifth column (2:1-3) 727. Putting the world on hold (2:4-9) 828. Profile of a deadly minister (2:10-16) 919. Profile of a deadly ministry (2:17-22) 10410. Have you forgotten anything? (3:1-2) 11311. God's powerful word (3:3-7) 11712. God's promised patience (3:8-10) 12513. Looking forward to a new home (3:11-16) 13414. The message of 2 Peter (3:17-18) 144Part 2: The message of JudeIntroduction 15115. Jude the obscure? (1-2) 15816. Churches in danger (3-4) 16417. Warnings of judgment: three Old Testament examples (5-8) 17518. Warnings of judgment: a familiar example (9-10) 18419. Warnings of judgment: three further Old Testamentexamples (11-13) 19120. Warnings of judgment: a further familiar example (14-16) 20021. Signs of the times: a warning from the apostles (17-19) 20922. Contending for the faith: the Christian (20-21) 21523. Contending for the faith: the fallen Christian (22-23) 22324. Contending for the faith: the salvation we share (24-25) 228Appendix: The authorship of 2 Peter and Jude 234Study guide 252