James, 1 & 2 Peter, and Jude (Teach the Text Commentary Series)
Overview
Jim Samra provides insightful and pastoral commentary on these powerful books. James addresses faith and works, the role of mercy, and Scripture. First Peter takes up God’s plan of salvation and the issue of Christian suffering. It’s an encouragement to faithful discipleship as sojourners in a hostile world. Second Peter exhorts us to growth and faithfulness, specifically in the face of false teachers. The short book of Jude emphasizes contending for the apostolic faith in the face of ungodliness in the church and society.
- Provides information pastors need to effectively communicate Scripture
- Contains a concise summary, main theme, illustrations, and interpretation for each passage
- Points to key themes and ways to communicate them to today’s audience
Top Highlights
“Together ‘a living hope’ and ‘an inheritance’ represent the intangible and tangible aspects of salvation: eternal life, new relationships in the family of God, and a new purpose in life, as well as a kingdom, heaven’s riches, and spiritual power. Just as being born into a biological family brings with it both physical life and access to the family’s possessions and resources, so being born again into God’s family brings both eternal life and access to the riches of heaven.” (Page 111)
“Although Peter is talking now about Jesus, what he is saying is still within the domain of the sanctifying work of the Spirit, meaning that God the Father planned salvation; Jesus accomplished God’s plan through his life, death, resurrection, and ascension; and the Holy Spirit enacts or applies what Jesus has done to the lives of believers.” (Page 105)
“It is not intuitive that trials should cause joy, so James asks his readers to make a deliberate effort to set aside their natural inclinations of fear, discouragement, and anger and choose to be joyful in the midst of trials.” (Page 6)
“James knows that when a believer yields to temptation, it will result in sin, and that sin will lead to death. By death, James means separation from the life that God provides. Because he is talking about believers, James is not referring to eternal separation from God in hell here. But when believers sin, we cut off our access to God and receive discipline from God. This can result in physical death (e.g., Acts 5:1–11); separation from fellowship and being given into Satan’s power (e.g., 1 Cor. 5:1–13); sorrow (e.g., 2 Cor. 7:8–10); reenslavement to sin and powerlessness in the Christian life (e.g., Rom. 6–7); sickness (e.g., 1 Cor. 11:30); shame, spiritual blindness, and rebuke (e.g., Rev. 3:18–19); loss of strength, groaning, and wasting away (e.g., Ps. 32:3–4); and more.” (Page 14)
Samra has written a lucid and accessible commentary on James, 1 and 2 Peter, and Jude. Students and pastors will be grateful for a commentary that is concise and clear. At the same time, the work is filled with pastoral wisdom to guide us in our everyday lives as Christians.
Thomas R. Schreiner, James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Crisp, to the point, and full of wisdom--that is how Jim Samra teaches the texts from James, Peter, and Jude. Here is a commentary that is pastoral, careful with the text, discerning, and quite useful."--
Darrell L. Bock, Senior Research Professor of New Testament Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary; senior Bible teacher, Back to the Bible
The strengths of Jim Samra's contribution to the Teach the Text Commentary Series are those aimed at by the series itself; the concise overview of the options for understanding each text in context, the presentation of its structure, and the corresponding instructions for teaching the text are judicious throughout. Written in clear prose and consistently pastoral in its orientation, this volume will prove to be a go-to practical resource for leaders tasked with teaching at all levels in the church.
Scott Hafemann, professor of New Testament, University of St. Andrews
- Title: James, 1 & 2 Peter, and Jude
- Author: Jim Samra
- Series: Teach the Text Commentary Series
- Publisher: Baker
- Print Publication Date: 2016
- Logos Release Date: 2018
- Era: era:contemporary
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Bible. N.T. James › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. 1 Peter › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. 2 Peter › Commentaries; Bible. N.T. Jude › Commentaries
- ISBNs: 9781493410675, 9780801092404, 1493410679, 080109240, 080109240X
- Resource ID: LLS:TTC80JAM
- Resource Type: Bible Commentary
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-10-05T17:12:52Z
The Teach the Text Commentary Series gives pastors the best of biblical scholarship and presents the information needed to move seamlessly from the meaning of the text to its effective communication. By providing focused commentary, this volume allows pastors to quickly grasp the most important information. Each unit of the commentary includes the big idea and key themes of the passage and sections dedicated to understanding, teaching, and illustrating the text.