Today we are reading two New Testament epistles: 2 Peter and Jude. Both are thought to be written by post-apostolic authors and reflect the church situations of late in the first century or early in the second century. In 2 Peter 3:16 there is reference to how the collected letters of Paul have "some things in them (that are) hard to understand" that might be misused and wrongly applied. At the conclusion of 2 Peter there are no Concluding exhortations and greetings to persons as at the fifth chapter of 1 Peter (verses 1-14).
The epistle of Jude follows the three epistles of John but is moved ahead in our Reading Plan; it is a brief tract that warns Christians against persons who cause divisions in the Christian community. Among its examples of divine judgment is one associated with the apocalyptic book (preserved along with other types of writings in the Dead Sea Scrolls) I Enoch. That Biblical figure (Genesis 6:4) is quoted here in the Epistle of Jude (verses 14-15): "See the Lord is coming with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all and to convict everyone of all the deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him."
This Epistle of Jude also includes poetic words of blessing and benediction: "Now to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen." (verses 24-25)
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