Mission and Perseverance in 2 Peter and Jude
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I first became aware of the lack of scholarship involving the General Epistles and mission when researching for my book Theology of Mission: A Concise Biblical Theology. It was the General Epistles that gave the most challenging time because of the dearth of scholarship. I found more research and writings on mission in the Writings section of the Tanakh than in these eight New Testament books.
Donald Senior and Carroll Stuhlmueller, while acknowledging the General Epistles significance to mission, confess such is “less intense” and some of them “have almost no reference to the issue of the church’s universal mission,” 1 Peter an exception within the corpus.[1] Senior notes that Hebrews, James, Jude, and 2 Peter have little to offer on the topic.[2] However, Adreas J. Köstenberger includes 1 Peter and Hebrews as making significant contributions to a theology of mission.[3]
As the gospel spread and the Church grew during the first century, two significant challenges plagued the saints. Internal conflict, fueled by false teachers and ungodly lifestyles, and external opposition, felt in the various forms of persecution, battered local churches. A great deal of the content of the General Epistles focuses on these two matters.
As the Church went into the world and lived the Kingdom ethic, the biblical authors needed to provide instructions for first century living. If the churches failed to live according to their calling, not only would they fail to grow in sanctification but the message of hope through judgment would not reach the ears of those outside the Kingdom.
Given the overwhelming emphasis of these challenges (i.e., false teachers, ungodly lifestyles, and persecution), it is unsurprising few scholars have addressed the topic of mission. However, throughout the General Epistles, the blessing of the nations is connected to steadfastness in suffering, godly lifestyles, engagement with unbelievers, and witness in light of Judgement Day.[4]
One can imagine my excitement, when a few years ago, I heard Abeneazer G. Urga was doing research and writing on evangelism in Hebrews. Of course, my excitement grew when this developed into a book with Edward L. Smither and Linda P. Saunders.[5] But before I could tell others about it, Reading James Missiologically and Reading 1 Peter Missiologically also flew off the press, with Reading 2 Peter and Jude Missiologically forthcoming at this time.[6] Within a short period, the Church went from a dearth of information on the General Epistles to experiencing a missiological Cambrian explosion thanks to Urga and his collaborators! These resources are not only critical as we consider the application of a missional hermeneutic to the General Epistles but will likely encourage future scholars to work within the corpus.
I was asked to write a chapter addressing perseverance and mission for the forthcoming work on 2 Peter and Jude. Be sure to keep an eye out for that book.
| Category | 2 Peter | Jude |
|---|---|---|
| Call to Perseverance | “be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure” (2 Peter 1:10) | “contend for the faith” (Jude 3) |
| Threats to Perseverance | False teachers and false teaching (2 Peter 2–3) | False teachers and sinful behavior (Jude 4–16) |
| Motivation for Perseverance | Judgment and salvation (2 Peter 2:4–10) | Judgment and salvation (Jude 5–11) |
| Means of Perseverance | Personal development of seven qualities (2 Peter 1:5–7) | Divine protection and sustaining power (Jude 24–25) |
Until then, I want to draw attention to one matter I observed in my research. Mission looms large in the hearts and minds of the authors as it drives their pens and content. Without perseverance, God’s mission will not come to pass. Without perseverance, there is no purity in lifestyle, personal peace, or proclamation of the gospel.
The saints’ evangelism so that “all should reach repentance” (2 Pet 3:8-9) and their “lives of holiness and godliness” (2 Pet 3:11) serve as hastening agents for the parousia (2 Pet 3:12).
Therefore, a threat to perseverance is a threat to mission.
In pastoral fashion, the authors provide the readers a means to perseverance related to God’s power and personal practices.
Again, keep an eye out for this book!
[1] Donald Senior and Carroll Stuhlmueller, The Biblical Foundations for Mission (Orbis Books, 1983), 297.
[2] Senior and Stuhlmueller, 309.
[3] Andreas J. Köstenberger, “Mission in the General Epistles,” in Mission in the New Testament: An Evangelical Approach, ed., William J. Larkin, Jr. and Joel F. Williams (Orbis Books, 1998), 189-206.
[4] I develop these four in my book Theology of Mission: A Concise Biblical Theology (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2021),126-34.
[5] Abeneazer G. Urga, Edward L. Smither, and Linda P. Saunders, Reading Hebrews Missiologically: The Missionary Motive, Message, and Methods of Hebrews (William Carey Publishing, 2023).
[6] Abeneazer G. Urga, Jessica A. Udall, and Edward L. Smither, Reading James Missiologially: The Missionary Motive, Message, and Methods of James (William Carey Publishing, 2025); Abeneazer G. Urga, Jessica A. Udall, and Edward L. Smither, Reading 1 Peter Missiologically: The Missionary Motive, Message and Methods of 1 Peter (William Carey Publishing, 2024).