The Amazing Bible. Book Club

The traditional view of this book is that Jude, the brother of James who was the leader at the church in Jerusalem, and the 1/2 brother of Jesus, wrote this letter to believers. Since he used many Old Testament examples, he was probably writing to Jewish believers, but we do not know where he is located, or exactly where the letter is sent. Verse one defined the believers as called, loved, and kep...

The last chapter of 2 Peter focuses on the day of the Lord. It is described as the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men (3:7), the day of the Lord (3:10), the coming day of God (3:12), and in the very last verse, 3:18, it is the day of eternity. Peter stressed that even if some people scoff, the Lord is coming again. He judged the world the first time by water, and the next time it will...

In chapter 2 of 2 Peter, the Apostle focused on the false teachers that was in their midst. He described them as bringing in destructive heresies and denying the Master. They  have unrestrained ways, and the way of truth is maligned. They are greedy. They exploit with deceptive words. They are like irrational animals. They speak blasphemy. They are destructive. They carouse in the daytime. They de...

In chapter one of 2 Peter, he reminds his readers to grow in their Christian characteristics, they are to supplement their faith with goodness, knowledge, self-control, endurance, godliness, brotherly love and godly love. If we do that we will be useful in knowing Jesus, and it will keep one from falling. Peter understands his death is quickly approaching, and he wanted to remind his readers of th...

In the introduction, it was discussed why some people do not believe that Peter wrote this letter, but it was accepted into the Canon of Scripture as from Peter, and we are taking the traditional view that Peter wrote this letter to the same group as his first letter (2 Peter 3:1), which we find in 1 Peter 1:1 were believers who had scattered to modern-day Turkey. Peter wrote the letter to encoura...

In the last chapter of 1 Peter, chapter 5, he exhorted the elders to shepherd the flock of Christ as an example, not because they have to, or for financial gain, or so they can have power over people. He reminded them that Jesus is the Chief Shepherd over them, and He will give an unfading crown of glory to those who are faithful. He reminded the young men to honor their elders, and then he remind...

Chapter 4 of 1 Peter encourages believers that since Christ suffered in the flesh, we should also expect it. Our suffering makes us more like Christ. As believers, we are not to live like the world does but in a way that brings glory to God. Since the end of all things is near, we are to have sound judgment and a sober spirit for the purpose of prayer (v. 7). We also are to love one another, for l...

In chapter 3 of 1 Peter, he continues his discussion on what godly living looks like. Wives are to submit to their husbands. Christian wives are to be beautiful from the inside out. Husbands are to be understanding and show their wives honor. All believers in Christ are to live harmoniously, and are to love one another in humility. Christians are called to be a blessing in good and bad times. Our...

Peter explained that as believers in Jesus, we are to not be like the world, but we are to grow in our salvation as we come to Jesus, a living stone, and when we believe in Him, we too become living stones which are being built together with Jesus as the capstone that holds us all together. We are built up so that we can offer spiritual sacrifices which are acceptable to God because Jesus paid the...

In today's lesson, we learned that Peter, one of Jesus' 12 disciples, is now likely in Rome, and that he used the term "Babylon," so as to disguise his true location from the Romans. He is writing to believers, probably both Jews and Gentiles, who live in the area of modern day Turkey. The purpose of this letter is to encourage believers to be faithful in the midst of persecuti...

In the final chapter of James, He spoke sternly to the rich who live in luxury and self-indulgence instead of using their wealth for the glory of God. He reminds us that God hears the cry of the less fortunate, and we are to remember that God is standing at the door. He hears and knows all things. He reminds his readers to endure suffering and persecution because the Lord is coming again soon. He...

In James chapter 4, believers are called adulterers because of their idolatry with the world, and a belief that  a person controls their own destiny. James reminds his readers that we are to submit to the Lordship of God, and recognize that He has a plan for our lives. We are to say, "If the Lord will..." verses saying I am going to do this and that because James pointed out our lives ar...

After James discussed that our faith is tested, and that real faith produces works, not in chapter 3 we find that true faith affects our tongue. We have a warning that teachers receive a stricter judgment from the Lord. James also tells us that our tongue directs our life. He compares it to a bit in a horses' mouth, a rudder on a ship, and a small fire that caused a large fire. He also points...

In the second chapter of James, he covers the issue of faith that works, verses faith that is dead. He begins right away telling us that as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, we are not to show partiality among people, especially when we enter a place of worship. He reminds us that as believers we are heirs of the kingdom of heaven, we have a noble name, and we live by the royal law, &qu...

Tradition says that James was Jesus' half-brother, who became the leader of the Church in Jerusalem. He wrote this unique letter to Jewish believers who were dispersed from Jerusalem after persecution. It may have been written around AD 49, before the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15), or before his death in AD 62, when he was killed by Pharisees in Jerusalem. This book was the last to be included...

Since we have such a great group of witnesses listed in chapter 11 of Hebrews, plus there are all the ones that the writer did not have time to mention, we are to get rid of everything that causes us to not run our best. We are to keep our eyes on Jesus who stayed faithful because His eyes were focused on the joy that was coming, and now He is sitting at the right hand of God's throne. We are...

In these chapters, the writer encouraged his readers to draw near to God, hold fast the confession of hope, consider how to spur other believers to love and good deeds, to worship and assembling together, and to encourage each other to stay faithful until Christ Jesus comes again. He also gives a strict warning to those who fall away from the Lord. He said, "It is a terrifying thing to fall i...

In this section, the writer of Hebrews explains the tabernacle, and how the curtains separate the holy place from the Holy of Holies, where God dwelt. It was only the High Priest who was allowed to enter, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement, and he must have blood, because only with blood can sin be forgiven. Jesus shed His own blood, and His sacrifice was done once for all who believe in...

In chapter 7 of Hebrews, the writer focused on how Melchizedek's priesthood was superior to Aaron's priest hood. In the Old Testament, Melchizedek is mentioned in Genesis 14:13-24 & then in Psalm 110. We learned that Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of the Most High God who met Abram after a victorious battle. He blessed Abram, and Abram gave Melchizedek a tithe, ten percent...

In Hebrews chapter 6, the writer, warns the Jewish Christian readers to not fall away from Christ, but to stay faithful to Him so they can bear fruit. He then encouraged them to cling to the hope that is found in Christ, to remember the promises of God, who cannot lie, and to think about the people of faith that came before them, like Abraham, and how he waited for his promise to be fulfilled. (25...

So far in Hebrews, the writer showed us that Jesus is better than the Old Testament Prophets, the angels, Moses, Joshua, and in this chapter Jesus is better than Aaron, the High Priest. Aaron was of the tribe of Levi, but Jesus was like Melchizedek.  The priests offered sacrifices, but Jesus offered Himself. The priests had to offer sacrifices for their own sin, Jesus was sinless. They all died, b...

In chapter 4 of Hebrews, the writer encourages us to stay faithful so that we can enter God's rest. He reminded his readers about Joshua, and how even though they entered the promised land, they did not find the Sabbath rest because of their unfaithfulness, yet there is a promised rest for those who believe in Jesus Christ. He repeated that TODAY - is an appointed day - Today is the day to en...

In chapters 1 & 2, the writer of Hebrews told us that Jesus is better than the prophets, and He's better than the angels, and now in chapter 3, Jesus is better than Moses. Moses took care of the house, but Jesus built the house. Moses was a special servant, but Jesus was the Son of God. Jesus is described as an Apostle and High Priest. An apostle is one sent, so Jesus was sent by God the...

In Hebrews chapter 1 & 2 we learn that Jesus is better than the prophets for the prophets were servants, but Christ is the Son. The prophet's message looked to the future to be fulfilled, and Jesus fulfilled it. The prophets were mortal, but Christ is immortal.  We also learn that Jesus is better than the angels. Jesus is the Son of God, and the angel worship the Son. The angels belong to...

Hebrews does not tell us the Who, What, When, Where, and Why, it was written, but from the clues we can make an educated guess. Many debate who wrote it, but i lean toward someone other than Paul wrote it. The main reason is that in 2:3, it seems that the writer was not called by Christ Himself, but through an original witness, and we know that Paul was called by Jesus Himself on the road to Damas...