WEEK 31: Review All of Hebrews, 1 Peter, & 2 Peter

This week (April 12 to April 18), please review Hebrews, 1 Peter, & 2 Peter.

Study Tip: This is it. The last week of practice before Districts. Districts is our last quiz meet of the year. It is your last chance to make a difference for your team. Take this week and really try to drive home the material you have missed. If you're weak on too much material to review this week, pick a specific part to focus on: Hebrews, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, Finish-the-Verse questions, References, etc. Do your best to be a competitor at Districts, not just a spectator!

Seating for Districts will be set by scores. Keep your eyes here in the next few days for the "final" Scoreboard.

Upcoming Events:
- April 21, Districts Year-End Quiz Meet in Sparta, NJ

REMINDER: Re-Reviewing 2 Peter Tonight

Remember, despite the original schedule tonight we will be quizzing on SECOND PETER. Please come ready to quiz. Districts is only 2 weekends away now, and we need to be at our best!

WEEK 30: Review 2 Peter 1-3 AGAIN!

This week (April 5 to April 11), please review 2 Peter, Chapters 1-3 (i.e. the entire book) We're re-reviewing this week, since most of the team couldn't make the last practice. This is change from the original study schedule.

If you want to read the chapters online, click here. (Free website Biblegateway.Com)

Listen to the chapters here.

Study Tip: Second chances are wonderful things. So are third chances! This is your third chance to study and learn 2 Peter. There are only 3 chapters, so it is your best bet to become an expert on one section for Districts. Take the opportunity this week to refresh your knowledge (or embed some knowledge if you missed it the first time around.) This is your last chance to really learn this material.

Upcoming Events:
- April 21, Districts Year-End Quiz Meet in Sparta, NJ

WEEK 29: Review 2 Peter 1-3

This week (March 29 to April 4), please review 2 Peter, Chapters 1-3 (i.e. the entire book)

If you want to read the chapters online, click here. (Free website Biblegateway.Com)

Listen to the chapters here.

Study Tip: This next week is Holy Week. It begins Sunday with Palm Sunday (remembering Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem), continues Maundy Thursday (remembering the Last Supper), Good Friday (remembering Christ's death on the cross), Holy Saturday (remembering the silence and fear of the disciples), and ends the following Sunday with Easter (remembering the Resurrection!). Think about how each day reflects upon the material you're reading, and be looking for references back to this time. Holy Week is the central part of the Christian story (until He comes again) and you can find many allusions to it in all of Peter's writings.

Upcoming Events:
- April 21, Districts Year-End Quiz Meet in Sparta, NJ

Tonight - Quizzing on 2 Peter 2 & 2 Peter 3

We missed last Wednesday's practice due to inclement weather. Please be ready to quiz tonight on both 2 Peter 2 and 2 Peter 3. It will be a fun night of all 2nd Peter, all time. See you then!

Finish the Verse Questions for 2 Peter 3

Remember, the full list of FTV's can always be found at this link. The // in the verse marks the minimum number of words you need from the FTV to uniquely identify it.

Question: But do // not forget...
Answer: ...this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:8-9)

Question: But the day //of the Lord...
Answer: ...will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. (2 Peter 3:10)

Question: Since everything // will be destroyed...
Answer: ...in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. (2 Peter 3:11-12)

Question: But grow // in the grace...
Answer: ...and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. (2 Peter 3:18)

Reference Questions for 2 Peter 3

Remember, the full list of Reference Questions can always be found in the sidebar or at this link.

QUESTION: According to 2 Peter 3:2, I want you to what?
ANSWER: Recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles. (cf Heb 13:23)

QUESTION: According to 2 Peter 3:3, You must understand what?
ANSWER: That in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. (cf 2Pe 1:20)

QUESTION: According to 2 Peter 3:8, Do not forget what?
ANSWER: This one thing, dear friends: with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. (cf Heb 13:2, 13:16)

QUESTION: According to 2 Peter 3:9, The Lord is what?
ANSWER: Not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (cf Heb 13:6)

WEEK 25: Study 2 Peter 3

This week (March 1 thru March 7), please study 2 Peter, Chapter 3

If you want to read the chapter online, click here. (Free website Biblegateway.Com)

Listen to the chapter here. (MP3s coming soon!)

If you'd like to read a commentary on the chapter, click here. (Free website, ChristNotes.Com)

Study Tip: This is our LAST WEEK of new material! It is much easier to get motivated and excited about new stuff, than about going back to where we've already been. Take this last opportunity to engage your mind on what is fresh and new.

Upcoming Events:
- March 10, Quiz Meet in Cresskill, NJ
- April 21, Districts Year-End Quiz Meet in Sparta, NJ

Reference Questions for 2 Peter 2

Remember, the full list of Reference Questions can always be found in the sidebar or at this link.

QUESTION: According to 2Pe 2:10, These men are what?
ANSWER: Bold and arrogant, not afraid to slander celestial beings. (cf 2Pe 2:12, 2:17)

QUESTION: According to 2Pe 2:12, These men are what?
ANSWER: Like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed. (cf 2Pe 2:10, 2:17)

QUESTION: According to 2Pe 2:17, These men are what?
ANSWER: Springs without water and mists driven by a storm. (cf 2Pe 2:10, 2:12)

WEEK 25: Study 2 Peter 2

This week (February 23 thru February 29), please study 2 Peter, Chapter 2

If you want to read the chapter online, click here. (Free website Biblegateway.Com)

Listen to the chapter here. (MP3s coming soon!)

If you'd like to read a commentary on the chapter, click here. (Free website, ChristNotes.Com)

Study Tip: Did you know that when you sleep, your mind continues to work on whatever you were thinking about last before you fell asleep? If you are working through an especially difficult passage of scripture, sometimes it can be helpful to study it and work with it right before bed. Then your subconscious can work on it as you sleep (warning, you may dream about quizzing!) and when you wake up, you may find the passage more deeply ingrained into your mind.

Upcoming Events:
- March 10, Quiz Meet in Cresskill, NJ
- April 21, Districts Year-End Quiz Meet in Sparta, NJ

Finish the Verse Questions for 2 Peter 1

Remember, the full list of FTV's can always be found at this link. The // in the verse marks the minimum number of words you need from the FTV to uniquely identify it.

Question: His // divine power...
Answer: ...has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.(2 Peter 1:3)

Question: For this very //reason,...
Answer: ...make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. (2 Peter 1:5-7)

Question: For if // you possess these qualities...
Answer: ...in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.(2 Peter 1:8-9)

Question: We did //not follow cleverly invented stories...
Answer: ...when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. (2 Peter 1:16)

Question: And we // have the word of the prophets...
Answer: ...made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
(2 Peter 1:19)

Question: Above all, you // must understand...
Answer: ...that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:20-21)

Reference Questions for 2 Peter 1

Remember, the full list of Reference Questions can always be found in the sidebar or at this link.

QUESTION: According to 2Pe 1:5-7, Make every effort to what?
ANSWER: To add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. (cf Heb 4:11, 12:14; 2Pe 3:14)

QUESTION: According to 2Pe 1:11, You will receive what?
ANSWER: A rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (cf Heb 10:36, 1Pe 5:4)

QUESTION: According to 2Pe 1:19, We have what?
ANSWER: The word of the prophets made more certain. (cf Heb 10:19)

QUESTION: According to 2Pe 1:20, Above all, what?
ANSWER: You must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. (2Pe 3:3, 4:8)

QUESTION: According to 2Pe 1:20, You must understand what?
ANSWER: That no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. (cf 2Pe 3:3)

WEEK 24: Study 2 Peter 1

This week (February 16 thru February 22), please study 2 Peter, Chapter 1

If you want to read the chapter online, click here. (Free website Biblegateway.Com)

Listen to the chapter here. (MP3s coming soon!)

If you'd like to read a commentary on the chapter, click here. (Free website, ChristNotes.Com)

Study Tip: Tired of reading about complex tricks to improve your studying? Okay, let's keep it simple. How often are you reading the chapter for each week? If you answered LESS than "twice a day", then YOU ARE NOT doing the minimum. Every quizzer should be reading the week's chapter AT LEAST twice a day EVERY DAY. This simple commitment can change you from a useless quizzer to one who makes the difference between a win and loss for your team.

Upcoming Events:
- March 10, Quiz Meet in Cresskill, NJ
- April 21, Districts Year-End Quiz Meet in Sparta, NJ

Finish the Verse List for Hebrews, 1 Peter, 2 Peter

HEBREWS
1: 1-2, 3, 13
2: 1, 9, 10, 14-15, 17, 18
3: 1, 12-13
4: 9-10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15-16
5: 7, 8-10, 13-14
6: 10, 11-12, 17-18, 19-20
7: 18-19, 25, 26, 27
8: 6
9: 12, 14, 15, 22, 24, 27-28
10: 1, 12-14, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26-27
11: 1, 3, 6
12: 1, 2, 3, 5-6, 7, 11, 14, 15, 28-29
13: 2, 4, 5-6, 8, 15-16, 17, 20-21

I PETER
1: 3-4, 6-7, 8-9, 13, 14-16, 18-19, 23, 24-25
2: 1, 2-3, 4-5, 9, 11, 12, 13-14, 16, 20-21, 24, 25
3: 1-2, 3-4, 7, 8, 9, 10-11, 15-16, 18
4: 8, 10, 16
5: 5, 6-7, 8-9, 10-11

2 PETER
1: 3, 5-7, 8-9, 16, 19, 20-21
2:
3: 8-9, 10, 11-12, 18

Theology of 2 Peter

Every writer has an intent when he puts pen to paper (or has his scribe do so). What are the underlying themes and theology of 2 Peter? And what does he see as most important?

Eschatology is the dominant theological focus in 2 Peter, with an emphasis on the certainty of divine judgment on ungodliness and apostasy. This judgment has happened in the past, continues in the present, and will find ultimate expression on the day of the Lord ( 3:10 ). This is proven by the destruction of the ancient world in its ungodliness, the continuing detention of insubordinate angels, and the catastrophic destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah for their evil and immorality ( 2:4-10 )...

The final judgment of ungodly persons will occur at the second coming of Christ ( 1:16 ; 3:4 ). It will be so severe and comprehensive that it will include the destruction of the heavens, the earth, and everything in them. All evil will be brought under the scrutiny of God and will be punished by him ( 2 Peter 3:5-7 2 Peter 3:10-12 ).

Outline of 2 Peter

So, we've seen the outline/structure of Hebrews and 1 Peter. What about 2 Peter? How does the structure work itself out?

I. Salutation (1:1-2)

II. The Certainty of the Believers’ Salvation (1:3-21)

A. Its Subjective Basis: The Work of God (1:3-11)
B. Its Objective Basis: The Word of God (1:12-21)


III. The Deception of the False Teachers’ Message (2:1–3:16)

A. Their Antinomianism (2:1-22)
B. Their Denial of the Lord’s Return (3:1-16)


IV. Conclusion (3:17-18)

A. Summary of Letter (3:17)
B. Benediction (3:18)

Why are 1 Peter and 2 Peter so different?

If you've done any reading in 1 and 2 Peter this summer, you may have noticed just how different they are. You're not the only one. They way that the author says things just feels different, even translated into the English. However, we should not be too quick to worry. There are explanations.

In recent centuries, however, its genuineness has been challenged by a considerable number of interpreters. One of the objections that has been raised is the difference in style from that of 1 Peter. But the difference is not absolute; there are noteworthy similarities in vocabulary and in other matters. In fact, no other known writing is as much like 1 Peter as 2 Peter. The differences that do exist may be accounted for by variations in subject matter, in the form and purpose of the letters, in the time and circumstances of writing, in sources used or models followed, and in scribes who may have been employed.

It is not well known in America, but modern education is quite different from ancient education. And, in a world without typewriters or word processors, it was quite common for a man who could read and speak a language well not to be able to write the same language legibly. (Some, seeing my handwriting, might say the problem still exists.) So typically letters like this were put to paper by scribes, to whom the writer dictated the letter. The scribe would fix grammatical and vocabulary mistakes, and ensure that the letter reflected exactly what the author intended. Thus, while 1 and 2 Peter have the same author, they likely have very different scribes, who made different choices when putting the letter to paper.

INTRODUCTION: 2 Peter

The last book we'll be studying this year is 2 Peter. Unlike 1 Peter, this book is not focused on how to live in a world of persecution, but rather how to live in a world without the Apostles in it. As the lives of Paul and Peter - the two great leaders of the Christian church after the Ascension - were coming to an end, the Church needed to understand that Christianity was bigger than any sinful, human leader. Check out the Bible.Org introduction for more information.

Peter was about to die. Not only would this motivate him to get the letter finished, it served another purpose as well. With Paul gone, these Gentile churches lost their apostolic witness to the faith. If Peter were to die, then a second apostolic witness would die with him. Although he had only ministered to them in writing, this important link with the apostolic faith would be gone. Not only this, but with the continuing and widening persecution from Rome against Christians, there was still the danger of apostasy. Though Peter could not prevent his death, he could reassure his audience that his death was within the sovereign plan of God. Hence, in the very statement about his coming death, Peter tells his audience that it was prophesied by Jesus (1:14-15). Thus this letter served both as a last will and testament, and as an encouragement for the Christians to remain true to the apostles’ teaching (cf. 3:2, 15-16), even though there would be no living voice left. It is not insignificant that Bauckham, who denies authenticity to this letter, still sees a similar purpose/occasion: “In the relatively new and largely unexpected situation of the Christian church after the death of the apostles, [the writer] assures his readers that they are not disadvantaged as Christian believers who do not have personal access to the apostolic eyewitnesses . . .

ANNOUNCEMENT: Books for 2011-2012 Bible Quizzing!

Okay, we've had over a month since Districts and school is coming to an end, so it is time to start thinking about next year. And the books we will be studying for the 2011-2012 Bible Quizzing season will be.... {{DRUM ROLL}}

• Hebrews
• 1 Peter
• 2 Peter

Over the summer months, we'll have a series of posts to introduce you to these books. June will be all about Hebrews, July is 1 Peter month, and August is 2 Peter month. Stay tuned!