Peter H. Davids - A Theology of James, Peter, and Jude: Living in the Light of the Coming King

E NDORSEMENTS FOR A T HEOLOGY OF J AMES, P ETER, AND J UDE

A clear, thorough work from an eminent scholar of the General Epistles, A Theology of James, Peter, and Jude is sure to be a valuable resource for the classroom.

Karen H. Jobes, Gerald F. Hawthorne Professor of New Testament Greek & Exegesis,
Wheaton College and Graduate School

When Peter Davids writes a book, it gets my attention. A Theology of James, Peter, and Jude is no exception and represents Davids at his best. After devoting four decades to the study of the General Epistles, Peter Davids is uniquely qualified to write this volume. He engages the most recent scholarship and examines the texts in their Greco-Roman context and from an eschatological perspective. His clarity of thought and writing style combine to make this a valuable resource for professors, pastors, seminarians, and Bible teachers.

R. Alan Streett, Senior Research Professor of Biblical Exegesis,
W. A. Criswell Endowed Chair of Expository Preaching, Criswell College

With key commentaries on James, the two epistles of Peter, and Jude under his belt, there are few scholars in the arena better equipped than Peter Davids to tackle a theology of these central texts in the Catholic collection. Davids is clear, comprehensive, and cogent as he helps us hear the heartbeat of books often neglected in church and curriculum.

Gene L. Green, Professor of New Testament,
Wheaton College and Graduate School

While James, Jude, and Peter are often left standing in the hallway when the theology of the New Testament is being discussed, Peter Davids shows us how meaningful their voices can be when they are invited to fully participate in the dialogue. As he places these books within their original streams in early Christianity and the broader river of Gods salvific work in Jesus Christ, Davids shows us how richly they contribute to our theological understanding. By freeing these books from the rigid scales of systematic theology, Davids allows them to have their own solos within the choir of biblical theology.

Duane F. Watson, Professor of New Testament Studies,
Malone University, Canton, Ohio

For forty years Peter Davids has labored lovingly over the Catholic Epistles; now he offers us the mature fruit of that labor. He delivers what the series promises: a rich theological reading of James, Peter, and Jude grounded in exegesis and well informed by the best in recent scholarship. If you want to know how to do biblical theology, look no further.

David B. Capes, Thomas Nelson Research Professor,
Houston Baptist University

Living in the Light of the Coming King

A T HEOLOGY OF J AMES, P ETER, AND J UDE

B IBLICAL T HEOLOGY OF THE N EW T ESTAMENT

P ETER H . D AVIDS

A NDREAS J . K STENBERGER, GENERAL EDITOR

ZONDERVAN

A Theology of James, Peter, and Jude

Copyright 2014 by Peter H. Davids

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Zondervan, 3900 Sparks Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Davids, Peter H.

A theology of James, Peter, and Jude / Peter H. Davids.

pages cm.(Biblical theology of the New Testament ; volume 6)

Includes .

ePub edition December 2014: ISBN 978-0-310-51943-0

ISBN 978-0-310-29147-3 (hardcover printed : alk. paper) 1. Bible. Catholic epistlesTheology. I. Title.

BS2777.D38 2014

227'.906dc23 2014003049

Scripture quotations, in general, are the authors own. Scripture quotations noted as NRSV are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America, and are used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are from The Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible. Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Any Internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Cover photography: Bridgeman Art Library

In memoriam Ralph P. Martin (19252013)

Careful Mentor, Beloved Colleague, Gracious Example

His contribution to the field of this work was significant (as the bibliography only shows in part), but his contribution to scholarship in general and to the lives of those who knew him was even more significant. May this work be a small, if inadequate, example of the type of contribution to God, to Gods church, and to scholarship that flowed from him. It is sad that he did not live to see this, read it, and receive our gratitude in person.

C ONTENTS ( D ETAILED)

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