2 Peter and Jude: An Introduction and Commentary

E. Michael Green’s commentary on 2 Peter and Jude combines historical introduction with sustained exposition of both New Testament letters. It treats each epistle in its own setting while also examining their literary relationship, especially 2 Peter’s use of material closely related to Jude. Introductory discussions address authorship, date, occasion, the character of the false teaching confronted by the letters, and Jude’s use of Jewish apocalyptic writings. The result is a study concerned not only with what individual verses mean but with why these letters were written and how their warnings and encouragements function in Christian life.

In 2 Peter, Green gives major attention to the contrast between genuine knowledge of Jesus Christ and the claims of false teachers. The opening chapter presents God’s divine power and promises as the basis for a transformed life. Participation in the divine nature is connected with escape from the world’s corruption, while faith is to issue in moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly affection, and love. The commentary therefore helps readers asking how Christian growth relates to grace, how knowing Christ should change conduct, and why practical godliness is a safeguard against doctrinal and moral error.

The exposition of 2 Peter 1:16–21 examines the apostolic witness to Christ’s majesty, the transfiguration, the prophetic word, and the origin of prophecy as men spoke from God under the Holy Spirit’s action. These themes become part of the letter’s answer to teachers who undermine apostolic truth. Green then follows 2 Peter 2 through its extended denunciation of false teachers, their destructive influence, sensuality, greed, arrogance, and promise of a freedom that ends in slavery. Old Testament judgments and biblical examples are used to show that God knows both how to preserve the godly and how to bring the unrighteous to judgment.

Second Peter 3 receives substantial treatment as the letter answers scoffers who question Christ’s promised return. Green explains the apparent delay of the Parousia in relation to God’s patience, repentance, the certainty of the day of the Lord, final judgment, and the promise of new heavens and a new earth. The passage turns eschatology into an ethical question: because God’s future is certain, believers are called to holiness, steadfastness, and growth in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. The book can therefore serve readers asking why Christ has not yet returned, how Christians should respond to skepticism about the Second Coming, and what biblical hope should produce in daily life.

Jude is treated as an urgent appeal to contend for the faith in the presence of corrupting teachers. Green explains Jude’s use of Israel’s wilderness generation, fallen angels, Sodom and Gomorrah, Cain, Balaam, Korah, Michael the archangel, and the prophecy attributed to Enoch. These difficult references are interpreted as part of Jude’s warning against people who pervert grace, reject rightful authority, and combine spiritual claims with ungodly conduct. The commentary also develops Jude’s positive pastoral response: believers are to build themselves up in their holy faith, pray in the Holy Spirit, remain in God’s love, wait for Christ’s mercy, and help those endangered by error.

Across both letters, Green connects doctrine, conduct, discernment, perseverance, judgment, and Christian hope. The commentary is especially relevant to questions about recognizing false teaching, maintaining moral and doctrinal faithfulness, growing in Christ, understanding difficult apostolic warnings, and living responsibly in expectation of Christ’s return.