erence to Christ's death,
suffering, resurrection and ascension. Glance through 1 Peter again to
see how often these are mentioned. The spirit manifested is one of
anxiety, severity, and denunciation, white in 1 Peter it is one of
mildness, sweetness and fatherly dignity. It connects the second
coming of Christ with the punishment of the wicked, while 1 Peter
connects it with the glorification of the saints. Its key-note is
knowledge, while that of 1 Peter is hope.

Some Teachings. (1) To be holy, not to secure an inheritance, but
because we already have it. (2) To love the brethren, not to purify
our soul, but because it is pure. (3) That we sacrifice, not as
penance, but as an expression of praise.

Analysis.

Introduction, 1:1-2.

I. Progress in the Christian Life, 1:3-21 end.

1. An exhortation to growth, 3-11.

2. Reasons for these exhortations, 12-21.

II. False Teachers, Ch. 2.

1. The evil teachers and their followers, 1-3.

2. Their punishment, 5-10.

3. Their character, evil ways and end, 11-32.

III. The Second Coming of Christ, 3:1-13. He will bring both blessings
and destruction.

Conclusion, 3:14-18.

For Study and Discussion. (1) What our salvation involves, 1:5-11. (2)
The characteristics of the false teachers, 2:1-3, 10, 12-14. (3) The
certain punishment of these false teachers, 2:4-6, 15, 16, 21, 22. (4)
The exhortations of the book such as to sobriety, 1:13. (5) The
predictions of the book.

* * * * *

Chapter XXXVIII.

First, Second and Third John and Jude.

First John.

Author and Date. It was probably written from Ephesus, 80 or 85 A. D.
though some put it as early as A. D. 69, while others put it as late
as A. D. 95. The author nowhere indicates his name, but through all
the centuries it has been attributed to John, the beloved disciple.
For information concerning him see lesson twenty-eight.

The Readers. It was doubtless written primarily to the churches of
Asia Minor in which John by reason of his work at Ephesus had a
special interest. It is evident that those addressed were of all ages
and were hated of the world. They were inclined to worldliness and to
the danger of looking too lightly upon sin. They were also in danger
of being led into doubt by those who denied the deity of Jesus.

The Style. It is more in the form of a sermon or pastoral address than
of an epistle. It is written with a tone of conscious authority. The
thought is pr