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Preaching the Word
1 and 2 Peter and Jude: Sharing Christ's Sufferings (Preaching the Word)
Neither Peter nor Jude minced words about the realities that would confront every Christian and that were confronting the church at large-suffering and persecution, contradictory views of the gospel, constant challenges to the faith at the hands of false teachers. Yet even in the face of these harsh realities, both biblical writers unswervingly declared that there is no cause for despair as long as one's foundation and identity are in Christ. With the truths of 1-2 Peter and Jude echoing across the ages, commentator David Helm beckons us to listen in his stirring exposition. Yet it is not enough to listen, he says. Peter's and Jude's words must compel us to do just what the early Christians hold fast to their identity in Christ, ground themselves in the truth, live lives worthy of their calling, and vigorously contend for the faith. Part of the Preaching the Word series.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published March 24, 2008
37 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
David R. Helm
27 books39 followersDavid R. Helm, along with Arthur Jackson, serves as Lead Pastor of the Hyde Park Congregation of Holy Trinity Church Chicago. David is Chairman of The Charles Simeon Trust, a ministry devoted to equipping men in expository preaching.
A graduate of Wheaton College and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, David is ordained in the PCA and serves on the council of The Gospel Coalition. He authored I, II Peter and Jude in Crossway’s Preaching the Word series, and contributed to Preach the Word:Essays in Expository Preaching in Honor of Kent Hughes. In addition, David has written The Big Picture Story Bible, One to One Bible Reading and The Genesis Factor (the latter with Jon Dennis). His forthcoming book on preaching is titled Expositional Preaching: How we speak God's Word Today which will be released in April of 2014.
David and his wife, Lisa, have five children (Noah, Joanna, who is married to Ben Panner, Baxter, Silas and Mariah) and reside in the Hyde Park neighborhood.
A graduate of Wheaton College and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, David is ordained in the PCA and serves on the council of The Gospel Coalition. He authored I, II Peter and Jude in Crossway’s Preaching the Word series, and contributed to Preach the Word:Essays in Expository Preaching in Honor of Kent Hughes. In addition, David has written The Big Picture Story Bible, One to One Bible Reading and The Genesis Factor (the latter with Jon Dennis). His forthcoming book on preaching is titled Expositional Preaching: How we speak God's Word Today which will be released in April of 2014.
David and his wife, Lisa, have five children (Noah, Joanna, who is married to Ben Panner, Baxter, Silas and Mariah) and reside in the Hyde Park neighborhood.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 11, 2023
I’ve not always got on with the PTW series but Helm nails 1-2 Peter and Jude. Devotionally rich, but with some good theological and exegetical technicalities going on in the background. Very readable. 4.5/5 (felt the illustrations/intros to some passages were overblown).
February 26, 2016
There are several books that reside near the back of the New Testament that I submit get overlooked in our zeal to push through to the book of Revelation and the renewal of all things we find at the end of that particular book. Before we get to the ultimate promise of redemption, there is the matter of our current state of existence and how we are to approach this thing called the Christian life and walk. Contained in 1-2 Peter and Jude, part of the aforementioned fly over books of the New Testament, are valuable truths on matters such as persecution, suffering, dealing with false teachers and those who desire to twist and distort the truth of Scripture.
In his excellent commentary on 1-2 Peter and Jude, David Helm digs deep into those important issues, providing the reader and user of this commentary with sound biblical insight from a pastoral point of view. Having recently written an article on a portion of 1 Peter 4, I can humbly attest to the fact this commentary from Helm was pivotal in helping me properly exegete and to additionally provide helpful application to the text for which I was studying and writing.
I was most intrigued with Helm’s commentary on Jude. This small one chapter book can seem a bit strange to some and quite honestly, ask yourself when the last time you heard a sermon from Jude or when you even heard it mentioned in a biblically related conversation. After all, Jude talks about angels who did not keep their proper place and who chose to leave their domain. That action resulted in God placing them in everlasting chains. What is that all about? Jude also quotes from the book of Enoch, an extra-biblical text that is embraced by some and kept at arm’s length by others.
It was refreshing to read David Helm’s commentary on Jude, in particular his treatment of the issues related to Genesis 6 which Jude addresses. He correctly notes the bene ha-elohim mentioned in Genesis 6 were angels who disobeyed God’s command and interacted in a sinfully sexual manner with humanity. Weird sounding? Very much so; however, this is the appropriate exegesis of Genesis 6 as well as the context of what Jude is addressing. As Helm saliently notes, the lesson is “Whenever we find ourselves succumbing to the temptations to live autonomously, to do as we please, to reject authority, to remove any notion of proper place or position, we are waging war against Heaven and are in danger of becoming subjects of judgment.”
I focused my comments a bit on Jude but this is not to say that Helm’s commentary on 1 and 2 Peter is no less stellar. As I noted earlier in this review, Helm’s exegesis of 1 Peter was quite helpful for a recent writing project I was involved with and it was his application of the text I found most useful. It is that application element that makes this particular commentary and for that matter the entire Preaching the Word series of which this effort is a part so good and worth investigating. Looking at a text from a scholarly angle is very useful. I take that approach quite frequently, especially when attempting to get at the meaning of words, issues of historical context, or things of that nature. Ultimately though, we are called to apply Scripture to our life and thus a commentary series that focuses on application is a series I will tend to pay more attention to over more academic minded styles.
I highly recommend David Helm’s commentary on 1-2 Peter and Jude. It is excellent, chalk full of valuable insights, and most importantly, it will serve as a valuable took as you examine these often overlooked books of the Bible. Spend some time in these books and have Helm’s commentary nearby when you walk through them.
I received this book for free from Crossway Books and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
In his excellent commentary on 1-2 Peter and Jude, David Helm digs deep into those important issues, providing the reader and user of this commentary with sound biblical insight from a pastoral point of view. Having recently written an article on a portion of 1 Peter 4, I can humbly attest to the fact this commentary from Helm was pivotal in helping me properly exegete and to additionally provide helpful application to the text for which I was studying and writing.
I was most intrigued with Helm’s commentary on Jude. This small one chapter book can seem a bit strange to some and quite honestly, ask yourself when the last time you heard a sermon from Jude or when you even heard it mentioned in a biblically related conversation. After all, Jude talks about angels who did not keep their proper place and who chose to leave their domain. That action resulted in God placing them in everlasting chains. What is that all about? Jude also quotes from the book of Enoch, an extra-biblical text that is embraced by some and kept at arm’s length by others.
It was refreshing to read David Helm’s commentary on Jude, in particular his treatment of the issues related to Genesis 6 which Jude addresses. He correctly notes the bene ha-elohim mentioned in Genesis 6 were angels who disobeyed God’s command and interacted in a sinfully sexual manner with humanity. Weird sounding? Very much so; however, this is the appropriate exegesis of Genesis 6 as well as the context of what Jude is addressing. As Helm saliently notes, the lesson is “Whenever we find ourselves succumbing to the temptations to live autonomously, to do as we please, to reject authority, to remove any notion of proper place or position, we are waging war against Heaven and are in danger of becoming subjects of judgment.”
I focused my comments a bit on Jude but this is not to say that Helm’s commentary on 1 and 2 Peter is no less stellar. As I noted earlier in this review, Helm’s exegesis of 1 Peter was quite helpful for a recent writing project I was involved with and it was his application of the text I found most useful. It is that application element that makes this particular commentary and for that matter the entire Preaching the Word series of which this effort is a part so good and worth investigating. Looking at a text from a scholarly angle is very useful. I take that approach quite frequently, especially when attempting to get at the meaning of words, issues of historical context, or things of that nature. Ultimately though, we are called to apply Scripture to our life and thus a commentary series that focuses on application is a series I will tend to pay more attention to over more academic minded styles.
I highly recommend David Helm’s commentary on 1-2 Peter and Jude. It is excellent, chalk full of valuable insights, and most importantly, it will serve as a valuable took as you examine these often overlooked books of the Bible. Spend some time in these books and have Helm’s commentary nearby when you walk through them.
I received this book for free from Crossway Books and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
June 3, 2025
This was my 12th book I've read in the PTW commentary series, and the furst time I've come across the author David Helm. I thought his treatment of the text was awesome. David is clearly intelligent and well versed in ancient philosophy, history and scholarship. All while having a humble pastors heart.
His chapter about the following text was masterful.
1 Peter 2:11-12
Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
David analysed Plato's works to show us his theology, and how Peter directly quoted and challenged the reigning philosophy of the day.:
"The true votaries of philosophy abstain from all fleshly lusts, and hold out against them and refuse to give themselves up to them . . . they who have any care of their own souls, and do not merely live moulding and fashioning the body.³
Plato’s words “abstain from all fleshly lusts, and hold out against them . . . they who have any care for their own souls” are the very words that Peter utilizes when he calls us to “abstain from the passions of the flesh, for they wage war against your soul.” Could it be that Peter, while rejecting Plato’s rank dualism and the sense that the human body is base, nevertheless won’t reject the overlapping ideas and vocabulary in order to make his point?
Perhaps the common ground between the two accounts for Peter’s belief that the unbelieving world will “see your good works and glorify God” (2:12). You see, implicit in Peter’s argument is that believers — and nonbelievers alike — have a shared sense of what is good and honorable and right. The ancient Greeks and Peter alike would both say, “Abstain.” Don’t succumb to the contemporary idea that what you think with your mind or say with your mouth or do with your body can be thought or said or done without doing damage to your own soul!"
I also got a lot out of his Jude study. Its a cool little book, which he summarises as follows:
"WHEN JUDE BEGAN HIS LETTER, he did so by telling his readers of his desire to write about the salvation they shared in common (v. 3). But the day was urgent. The hour was late. So he wrote a letter that called them to “contend for the faith” (v. 3) instead, and in verses 17–23 Jude let loose with a furious array of admonitions and commands on how to do just that.
“Remember” the words of the apostles (v. 17).
“Keep yourselves in the love of God” (v. 21).
“Build” one another up “in your most holy faith” (v. 20).
“Pray in the Holy Spirit” (v. 20).
“Wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life” (v. 21).
“Have mercy on those who doubt” (v. 22).
“Save others by snatching them” from the “fire” of Hell (v. 23).
“Have mercy,” even on those who are unrepentant (v. 22).
Another quote from the Jude section:
"If this is the case, then we are dealing here with hardened, unbelieving people for whom there is no hope. Recalcitrant sinners. Condemned and contaminated reprobates who hate everything about our faith. And how does Jude ask us to contend for them? We are to “show mercy”! Stunning. What a rebuke to the church of our day. Large sections of the church in this country seem to have gotten this aspect of contending desperately wrong."
I really enjoyed this book and will no doubt pick it up time and time again.
His chapter about the following text was masterful.
1 Peter 2:11-12
Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
David analysed Plato's works to show us his theology, and how Peter directly quoted and challenged the reigning philosophy of the day.:
"The true votaries of philosophy abstain from all fleshly lusts, and hold out against them and refuse to give themselves up to them . . . they who have any care of their own souls, and do not merely live moulding and fashioning the body.³
Plato’s words “abstain from all fleshly lusts, and hold out against them . . . they who have any care for their own souls” are the very words that Peter utilizes when he calls us to “abstain from the passions of the flesh, for they wage war against your soul.” Could it be that Peter, while rejecting Plato’s rank dualism and the sense that the human body is base, nevertheless won’t reject the overlapping ideas and vocabulary in order to make his point?
Perhaps the common ground between the two accounts for Peter’s belief that the unbelieving world will “see your good works and glorify God” (2:12). You see, implicit in Peter’s argument is that believers — and nonbelievers alike — have a shared sense of what is good and honorable and right. The ancient Greeks and Peter alike would both say, “Abstain.” Don’t succumb to the contemporary idea that what you think with your mind or say with your mouth or do with your body can be thought or said or done without doing damage to your own soul!"
I also got a lot out of his Jude study. Its a cool little book, which he summarises as follows:
"WHEN JUDE BEGAN HIS LETTER, he did so by telling his readers of his desire to write about the salvation they shared in common (v. 3). But the day was urgent. The hour was late. So he wrote a letter that called them to “contend for the faith” (v. 3) instead, and in verses 17–23 Jude let loose with a furious array of admonitions and commands on how to do just that.
“Remember” the words of the apostles (v. 17).
“Keep yourselves in the love of God” (v. 21).
“Build” one another up “in your most holy faith” (v. 20).
“Pray in the Holy Spirit” (v. 20).
“Wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life” (v. 21).
“Have mercy on those who doubt” (v. 22).
“Save others by snatching them” from the “fire” of Hell (v. 23).
“Have mercy,” even on those who are unrepentant (v. 22).
Another quote from the Jude section:
"If this is the case, then we are dealing here with hardened, unbelieving people for whom there is no hope. Recalcitrant sinners. Condemned and contaminated reprobates who hate everything about our faith. And how does Jude ask us to contend for them? We are to “show mercy”! Stunning. What a rebuke to the church of our day. Large sections of the church in this country seem to have gotten this aspect of contending desperately wrong."
I really enjoyed this book and will no doubt pick it up time and time again.
February 21, 2018
Really enjoyed this, particularly helpful with Jude, as not a book I had ever lingered over
Read
April 24, 2024Meh.
January 3, 2025
Strong on the book's big picture, along with the structure and flow of thought from each passage into the next.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews