1 PETER, 2 PETER, AND JUDE

1 Peter exhorts its audience to worship for life, both present and eternal, through the sufferings of Jesus Christ, 2 Peter exhorts its audience to worship in the knowledge regarding the final coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and Jude exhorts its audience to worship in the mercy and love of God through our Lord Jesus Christ. John Paul Heil applies to the letters of Peter and Jude the thoroughgoing chiastic analysis he has previously applied to Philemon, Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, Hebrews, and James. He argues that they are focused on worship, broadly understood, as he has previously argued is true of the letters of Paul, Hebrews, and James. All should find his application of these perspectives to the letters of Peter and Jude illuminating. --Terrance Callan, Dean of Special Studies and Professor of Biblical Studies, The Athenaeum of Ohio This is not a standard commentary in that few of the traditional introductory topics are covered. Nor is it a discussion of classical rhetorical methodology, but that allows Heil to focus on structure, specifically the macro- and micro-chiastic structures he sees in the letters. Having already applied such analysis to James, Hebrews, and several Pauline letters, Heil is no stranger to this methodology. I look forward to the response his contribution receives in this new field. --Peter H. Davids, Visiting Professor in Christianity, Houston Baptist University John Paul Heil offers new proposals for the structures and main themes of these three closely related letters. . . . Heil s very careful attention to the texts has revealed their chiastic structures, which convey the authors thinking. With audience response Heil clarifies the reactions sought in each letter and presents these to his own reader. The book is truly insightful, and, as always, Heil s treatment scholarly. --Robert F. O Toole, S.J., S.S.D., Professor Emeritus, Pontifical Biblical Institute John Paul Heil is Professor of New Tes