The seven letters near the end of the New Testament are a diverse collection, addressed by their writers to widely scattered groups and individuals. They cover topics that range from the meaning of authentic Christian living (as distinct from Jewish cultural norms) to encouraging perseverance among believers suffering persecution. In all of them, however, the writers clarify what is true and what is false teaching--and instruct their readers to discern the difference. In the striking practicality of James, the centrality of love in the epistles of John, or in Peter's hopeful assurance to society's "exiles," we hear the inspired words that steadied the faltering first steps of the early Christian church.
The Daily Bible Commentary
A mere reading of the Bible fails to fulfill its ultimate purpose. The Bible's message is meant to transform. The Daily Bible Commentary series distills the best of current scholarship into the straightforward language of a devotional. It skillfully opens each New Testament book and helps readers respond to the eternal truths within. General editors Richard A. Burridge, Dom Henry Wansbrough, and David Winter, together with other renowned scholars from an array of Christian traditions, provide helpful introduction, accessible explanation, and fresh meditations on individual passages. Balancing profound reflection with penetrating insight, the two-page daily readings engage the mind while never failing to touch the heart.