The Bible contains 5 one-chapter books: Obadiah, Philemon, 2 John, 3 John, and Jude. Jude is certainly a fascinating book. I hope the study guides below will help you to develop an interest in studying Jude. If the guide helps you please help us get the word out that this study guide is availabe at this site.
Jude… 6500sg
The following background remarks come from: Studies in 1 John, 2 John, and 3 John, edited by Dub McClish, pp. 27-32, and relate to matters of the particular time in which John wrote…
“The Johannine Epistles were written during a maelstrom of conflict! The first generation of church leadership (i.e., the apostles) had ‘finished the race and kept the faith.’ Now, only one remained alive; and while some apparently thought that the Lord Himself would return prior to John’s death, history would prove them wrong. To John fell the task of dealing with the conflict which now surrounded the infant church; and deal with it he would! …
“Who, exactly, were these false teachers that John wrote to expose, and what was their doctrine? The exact identity of these false teachers has been called by some ‘a matter of controversy.’ Others, however, have researched the matter in such a manner as to provide clues as to their identity. From extra-Biblical research, and from Biblical statements, there are certain things that we do know. As John R. W. Stott says, ‘John describes them by three expressions, which draw attention to their diabolical origin, evil influence, and false teaching.’ Stott lists the three expressions as (1) ‘false prophets’ (1 John 4:1); (2) ‘deceivers’ (2 John 1:7); and (3) ‘antichrists’ (1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 John 1:7). And, in each case there are ‘many’ – ‘many false prophets,’ ‘many deceivers,’ ‘many antichrists.’ …
“Gnosticism took on many forms, but can basically be discussed under two categories — (1) those who denied the Deity of the Lord (Cerinthian Gnostics), and (2) those who died the humanity of the Lord (Docetic Gnostics). These denials were ultimately brought about by the Gnostics’ dualistic belief that matter is inherently evil and only spirit is good. For the Gnostic, the spirit was from God, and therefore good, since the Gnostic held God to be perfect and good; but matter, and especially the body, was not from God and therefore evil. Of course, with this particular view came two problems: (1) how to explain the creation, and (2) how to explain the incarnation, if matter is inherently evil (which the Gnostic believed) and if God is inherently good (which the Gnostic also believed), then God could not have created the world, for God (good) would not (could not) create evil. Thus, the Gnostics eventually ended up with an artificial system of ‘aeons’ or ‘emanations’, (i.e., ‘lesser gods’), one of which created the world. This was their only way around the problem of God’s directly creating that which they believed to be evil. The body likewise, being composed of matter, must also be evil, said the Gnostics, and therefore the incarnation of Christ (Deity’s inhabiting a literal body) could not have occurred. …
“After all is said and done, of course, the whole system of Gnosticism can be shown to be in error by simply noting that it makes salvation available only to a few select people (those to whom the ‘special knowledge’ had been made available), and thereby makes God a respecter of persons. Acts 10:34-35, however, makes it clear that God may not be charged with that error. Also, Gnosticism makes salvation meritorious, by making one’s mental efforts, not the blood of Christ, the basis of that salvation. Eph. 2:6ff and many other passages are thus violated.
We have listed below links to study guides for each of the individual chapters of 1 John and a combined PDF file which includes all five chapters. If the guides are helpful, please help us to make them available to others using the social media buttons below.
1 John ALL Chapters… 6200sgCombo
1 John 1… 6201sg
1 John 2… 6202sg
1 John 3… 6203sg
1 John 4… 6204sg
1 John 5… 6205sg
Things Emphasized in Mark [NIV First Century Study Bible, with notes by Kent Dobson, 2014, Zondervan, an Olive Tree Bible Study App Module].
Click below for study guides on each chapter, or for one single study guide on the entire Book of Mark. If you find them helpful, please tell others where you found them.
The Book of Mark… 4100sg
Mark Chapter 1… 4101sg
Mark Chapter 2… 4102sg
Mark Chapter 3… 4103sg
Mark Chapter 4… 4104sg
Mark Chapter 5… 4105sg
Mark Chapter 6… 4106sg
Mark Chapter 7… 4107sg
Mark Chapter 8… 4108sg
Mark Chapter 9… 4109sg
Mark Chapter 10… 4110sg
Mark Chapter 11… 4111sg
Mark Chapter 12… 4112sg
Mark Chapter 13… 4113sg
Mark Chapter 14… 4114sg
Mark Chapter 15… 4115sg
Mark Chapter 16… 4116sg
“The consistent theme throughout the book of James is genuineness. Essentially, the entire letter is an attempt to cause members of the Lord’s body to recognize the ramifications of one’s becoming a new creature in Christ. It is as if James were simply saying that a real Christian will do such and such, and that he will refrain from responding in this or that way! It is an appeal to the Lord’s people to consider seriously whether or not they are living as true disciples should. Jesus had told believing Jews, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed” (John 8.31). Since Christ’s disciples came to be called Christians (Acts 11.26), that is exactly what James was inspired to instruct his brethren to be—Christians indeed!” [“James—An Introduction,” by Garrell L. Forehand, in Studies in James, Valid Publications, 1990, p. 26].
The links below will take you to study guides based upon the wonderful Book of James. I hope they might be useful to you in mining the jewels to be found in this great treatise. If you will, please tell others about where they might come to find these guides.
James chapter 1… 5901sg
James chapter 2… 5902sg
James chapter 3… 5903sg
James chapter 4… 5904sg
James chapter 5… 5905sg
Combined PDF of all chapters… 5900.SGcombo
Study Guides on Titus will help you in your study of this great New Testament Book. We will soon have a study guide for each of the 260 New Testament Books. We have a NT Study Guides Page, where the guides are listed in Bible order. If you are helped by them, please tell others to come study them also.
Luke does not mention Titus in the book of Acts, but this able and devoted companion of Paul is referred to in other places. We do not know his place of birth, but probably was in Antioch of Syria. At least, this is the conviction of many great scholars. Titus played a great part in the early history of the church and was of such character that the church could depend upon him for working to advance the spread of the gospel.
It is remarkable to note the prominence which Titus enjoyed in Paul’s epistles to the churches, showing the fact that Paul did regard him highly. Paul mentions him some nine times in Second Corinthians, and always with marked affection and appreciation. The difficult tasks which Paul gave him demonstrated Titus’ strength of character and ability to deal with people. For instance: (1) The collection for the Jerusalem Saints. When Paul needed someone to motivate the Corinthians in their duties toward aiding the saints in Judea, which they promised, he called upon Titus for that task. (2) He used Titus as a peacemaker. The church at Corinth was not void of her problems and Paul sent Titus there according to 2 Corinthians 7.5-16, to help this situation. (3) He was used to demonstrate a principle (Gal 2.1-5). When Paul and Barnabas left Antioch to go into the Galatian area to establish churches, some Judaizing teachers came to Antioch and taught that circumcision was still binding. It is at this point and time that Paul uses Titus to teach a great lesson to the Jews. (4) His work on the Island of Crete. Sometime after Paul’s release from his first imprisonment he and Titus did some evangelistic work at Crete. Whether this was the first effort among these people we know not. We do know however, that on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2, there were representatives from Crete. Certainly it is possible that some of them obeyed the gospel, and later returned to their homeland and established the work. Be that as it may, we see from Titus 1.5 that Paul had left Titus there to set things in order.
When Paul left Titus in Crete, Titus had a big job on his hands. The task which Paul committed to him was a most difficult one. The immorality of the Cretans had reached such a low ebb that they gave themselves over to greediness, licentiousness, lying, and drunkenness; they were a people who were unsteady insincere, and factious.
Among such a people Titus’ assignment was no easy task. He had to to carry forward that work which Paul had already started. He must set in order the affairs of the churches which had arisen there. The first thing Paul instructed Titus to do was to select men who qualified for the work of elders. A task necessary to the growth of a congregation as men develop the requirements for such an office. Paul urged Titus to teach sound doctrine to all classes; including the old as well as the young, taking heed meanwhile that he himself is a pattern of good works. To stimulate faith in God’s chosen people and to lead them on to a more complete knowledge of religious truth, in the hope of eternal life was of utmost importance [William A. Wilder, “The Living Message of Titus,” in The Living Messages of the Books of the New Testament, Edited by Garland Elkins and Thomas B. Warren, pp., 244-245].
First Chapter Study Guide 5601sg
Second Chapter Study Guide 5602sg
Third Chapter Study Guide 5603sg
Combined Chapters of Titus 5600.CombinedSGs
btcTitus
Study Guides for 1 Peter will help in the study of this important epistle from the Apostle Peter. There is a separate guide for each of the five chapters of 1 Peter. We have divided each guide into nine parts. Each includes outline, summary, commentary, applications, questions to answer, etc., and two puzzles.
The Apostle Peter obviously has concern for his brethren and wants to motivate them faithfully to endure persecution which will surely come (if not already present). Peter’s powerfully persuasive arguments should provide a strength to saints of all ages! He attempts to help the brethren to appreciate more their own salvation by showing others (prophets & angels) had/have great interest in it. Peter urges us to prepare for meeting temptations and persecutions and to keep it in perspective that these sufferings are only temporary. You will see Peter take us to the Cross to remind us of the great cost of our salvation. Also, we see the importance of having sincere love of our brethren, who have so many things in common with us.
“The basic message of 1 Peter concerns suffering. It is obvious that the people to whom Peter wrote were suffering because of their faith in Jesus Christ. Undoubtedly, this persecution took many different forms. We know that some of what they were subjected to involved being falsely charged with evil (1 Pet. 2:11-12). Those who have been wrongly accused of something know that it is not easy to endure. False accusations take a great toll on one emotionally. However, it seems that their suffering involved more than mere talk, for Peter calls it a “fiery trial” that was testing their faith (1 Pet. 4:12).
“One of the things Peter sets out to do in this epistle is to instruct God’s people on how to handle persecution. They must not react by retaliating (1 Pet. 2:21-25; 3:9), nor should they justify their adversaries by engaging in the things of which they are being accused (1 Pet. 4:15-16). Rather, he says, they must “put to silence the ignorance of foolish men” (1 Pet. 2:11-16) by living pure lives that do not justify the slander. Also, he says Christians should rejoice that they are suffering because they are Christians (1 Pet. 4:13).
“Not only is Peter instructing them on how to deal with suffering for the sake of one’s affiliation with Jesus, but above all else he teaches them that they must remain faithful to the very faith that is bringing the persecution. This is a high price to pay, and, undoubtedly, a price they had not counted on when they became disciples.
“If people are asked to pay a price, they must be convinced that what they are getting is worth the price they are paying. In this way 1 Pet. 1:1-12 fits into the persecution theme of this letter. These words are Peter’s effort to convince his readers that the Christian faith is worth holding on to despite their suffering. What does Peter tell them about Christianity that makes it worth suffering for? He tells them about the future hope they have as Christians (1 Pet. 1:3-4). Then, he tells them that their present trials will serve to prove that their faith is genuine (1 Pet. 1:5-9). Finally, he looks at Christianity from the past (1 Pet. 1:10-12). The prophets and even the angels were greatly interested in the faith they have had the honor of receiving.” [Summary & Theme are from: Gene Burgett, in Studies in 1 Peter, 2 Peter, and Jude, Edited by Dub McClish, Seventeenth Annual Denton Lectures, 1998, p. 29].
We produced these study guides for 1 Peter in combination with our radio program WALKING IN TRUTH. It is our goal to present on this site a study guide for each of the 260 New Testament chapters. We will post those study guides in the coming days to this site. If you benefit from these Study Guides for 1 Peter, will you please spread the word on social media by using the links below this post?
One… 6001sg
Two… 6002sg
Three… 6003sg
Four… 6004sg
Five… 6005sg
All five chapters in one file… 6000sgCombo