Universal Truth: The Catholic Epistles of James, Peter, Jude, and John

by Lawrence R Farley

Overview

The catholic, or general, epistles of the "other apostles"--James, Peter, Jude, and John--are sometimes overshadowed by the stirring theology of the great Apostle to the Gentiles, St. Paul. But these seven epistles are quiet gems of instruction, encouragement, and exhortation for all believers. Written at various times and locations and to differing audiences, the general epistles nevertheless share some common themes: endurance under persecution; living out the Faith in a hostile society; discerning heresy by its fruits--namely, immorality and lack of love--and resisting it, holding fast to the apostolic faith. As Fr. Lawrence deftly shows in his commentary, all these are timely themes from which believers today can richly profit.

One volume in the Orthodox Bible Study Companion Series.

About the Orthodox Bible Study Companion Series This commentary series was written for the average layperson. Working from a literal translation of the original Greek, the commentary examines the text section by section, explaining its meaning in everyday language. Written from an Orthodox and patristic perspective, it maintains a balance between the devotional and the exegetical, feeding both the heart and the mind.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781888212600
Publisher:	Ancient Faith Publishing
Publication date:	09/07/2020
Series:	Orthodox Bible Study Companion
Pages:	232
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Archpriest Lawrence Farley currently pastors St. Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church (OCA) in Langley, B.C., Canada. He received his B.A. from Trinity College, Toronto, and his M.Div. from Wycliffe College, Toronto. A former Anglican priest, he converted to Orthodoxy in 1985 and studied for two years at St. Tikhon's Orthodox Seminary in Pennsylvania.

Table of Contents

Introduction to the Series

A Word about Scholarship and Translation . . . 9

Key to the Format of This Work . . . 11

The General Epistle of St. James

Introduction . . . 13

I. Opening Greetings (1:1) . . . 17

II. Exhortation to Endure under Trial (1:2–18) . . . 18

III. Exhortation to Be Doers of the Word (1:19—2:26) . . . 24

IV. Exhortation to the Meekness of Wisdom (3:1—4:12) . . . 36

V. Exhortation to Humble Contentment (4:13–17) . . . 47

VI. Exhortation to Be Patient under Suffering (5:1–11) . . . 48

VII. Exhortation to Avoid Oaths (5:12) . . . 52

VIII. Exhortation to Prayer (5:13–18) . . . 53

IX. Exhortation to Reclaim the Sinner (5:19–20) . . . 55

The First Epistle of St. Peter

Introduction . . . 57

I. Opening Greeting (1:1–2) . . . 61

II. Our Hope as God’s Redeemed (1:3—2:10) . . . 62

III. Living among the Gentiles (2:11—4:11) . . . 76

IV. Enduring the Fire (4:12—5:11) . . . 98

V. Final Greetings (5:12–14) . . . 106

The Second Epistle of St. Peter

Introduction . . . 109

I. Opening Greeting (1:1–2) . . . 113

II. True Knowledge of God (1:3–11) . . . 114

III. False Teachers Promote Ungodliness (2:1–22) . . . 122

IV. Though False Teachers Scoff, Wait for theLord’s Coming (3:1–18) . . . 131

The Epistle of St. Jude

Introduction . . . 139

I. Opening Greeting (1–2) . . . 141

II. Urgent Warning Against False Teachers (3–19) . . . 142

III. Final Admonitions (20–23) . . . 153

IV. Concluding Doxology (24–25) . . . 155

The First Epistle of St. John

Introduction . . .157

I. Preface (1:1–4) . . .161

II. Exhortation to Walk in Righteousness and Love, Separate from the World (1:5—5:12) . . .162

III. Conclusion (5:13–21) . . . 200

The Second Epistle of St. John

Introduction . . . 207

I. Opening Greetings (1–3) . . . 209

II. Warnings against Antichrists (4–11) . . . 210

III. Closing Words (12–13) . . . 214

The Third Epistle of St. John

Introduction . . . 215

I. Opening Greetings (1–4) . . . 217

II. Warning against Diotrephes (5–12) . . . 218

III. Closing Words (13–14) . . . 223

Excurses:

• On Faith and Works in James and Paul . . . 35

• On Jude’s Use of Non-Canonical Books . . . 151

• On Christ as the Propitiation of Our Sins . . . 165

• On Sin and the Christian . . . 183