Orthodox Bible Study Companion

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