10. St. Peter—Catholic View: "The first Epistle of St. Peter, though brief, containeth much doctrine concerning Faith, Hope, and Charity, with divers instructions to all persons of what state or condition soever. The Apostle commandeth submission to rulers and superiors, and exhorteth all to the practice of a virtuous life in imitation of Christ. This epistle is written with such apostolic dignity, as to manifest the supreme authority with which its writer, the prince of the Apostles, had been vested by his Lord and master Jesus Christ. He wrote it at Rome, which figuratively he calls Babylon, about fifteen years after our Lord's Ascension." (Douay Bible, p. 1481.)

11. I Peter: "The date of the epistle is uncertain. Some place it in 61 A. D.., before St. Paul's Roman imprisonment; others, in 63 or 64 A. D., after the release of that Apostle. The probabilities are slightly in favor of the latter date. It was addressed to Christians in certain regions of Asia Minor (i: 1). Strictly interpreted, the language points to Jewish Christians, but it is now generally held that all Christians are included in the address. The occasion of the epistle was impending trial, probably not state persecution, but social and personal opposition and reproach. Hence the tone of consolation and encouragement, even in the exhortations. As often remarked, the keynote is 'Hope.'" (Bible Treasury, p. 150.)

12. II Peter: "The early evidence from Christian writers in support of this epistle is not so strong as in the case of most of the New Testament books. But, as it claims to be written by the 'Apostle' Peter, it must be regarded as genuine, or as a wilful forgery. Internal evidence disproves the latter view. It differs but slightly from the first epistle in style and language, and these slight differences can be accounted for from its purpose. The superiority to all Christian writings of the post-apostolic age is evident. A recent discovery of parts of two apocryphal books attributed to St. Peter shows what inferior literature the earliest forgers produced. * * * * Apparently addressed to the same readers as the first epistle, this one has a different purpose, viz., to warn against teachers of error, and to enjoin an advance in knowledge as well as in holiness. The false teachers cannot be identified with those of the second century, which is another proof that St. Peter wrote the epistle." (Bible Treasury, p. 150.)

13. Epistles of John: "The tract called the First Epistle of John seems rather to partake of the nature of a doctrinal discourse, addressed to believers generally, but more particularly to Gentiles in Asia Minor, probably in the neighborhood of its chief city, Ephesus. Its date is uncertain. Some place it before the destruction of Jerusalem, others towards the end of Cent. i., thinking it bears marks of combating the Gnostic heresy. This epistle contains only thirteen verses, eight of which are found in substance in the first. It was probably written about the same time, but it is addressed 'to the Elect Lady' (thought by some to mean the Church), and 'her children;' or to 'the Lady Electa,' a person so-called for her eminent piety. They are exhorted to persevere in love, faith, and godliness, and to beware of false teachers." (Bagster Bible Helps, p. 30.)

14. Jude: "Jude, 'brother of James,' is supposed to be the Apostle (surnamed Thaddeaus and Lebbaeus), and a near relation of our Lord (Matt. x: 3; xiii: 55; Luke vi: 16). The epistle is remarkable for the quotation of an otherwise unrecorded saying of Enoch (ver. 14), and a tradition of a dispute between Michael the archangel and Satan regarding the body of Moses (ver. 9.) Its date, place, and occasion, are unknown; but it seems to denounce the same false teachers as those rebuked in II Peter ii, and in very similar language; warning them by the example of the fallen angels, of Cain, the impenitent in the times of Noah, of the wicked cities of the plain, of Korah, and Balaam; asserting the certainty of the future judgment and punishment of the wicked." (Bagster Bible Helps, p 30.)

15. Revelation: "This is the only [most largely] prophetic book of the New Testament, and much of it remains still unfulfilled. There is satisfactory evidence of its being genuine. Justin Martyr, living sixty years after its supposed date, ascribes it to John; Papias acknowledges its inspiration; Irenaeus (disciple of Polycarp, who was John's own disciple) testifies to his authorship, and that he had himself received the explanation of one passage in it from those who had conversed with the Apostle about it. To these may be added Clement of Alexandria, Theophilus, Tertullian, Origen, Cyprian, Jerome, Athanasius, etc." (Bagster Bible Helps, p. 30.) See Doctrine & Covenants, sec.. lxxvii; also Y. M. I. A. Manual for 1898-9.

Footnotes

[1]. See note 3, Lesson IV.

LESSON IX.

GREAT NEW TESTAMENT CHARACTERS—LECTURES.