Jude and 2 Peter. Andrew M. Mbuvi

from the two vantage points that I considered vital in breathing new insight in these short but important writings—communal identity and Greco-Roman associations. A renewed interest in Greco-Roman associations, especially from the works of Philip Harland, provide aspects of comparison that I hope introduce new perspectives on the role of minority group rhetoric from the first century and act as a sounding board to the rhetoric in Jude and 2 Peter. Secondly, the Fusing of the Horizons sections provide a useful avenue to reflect on modern implications of reading certain elements of the epistles within contexts of the modern communities with which I am familiar. I sincerely hope that the findings offer some distinctive contribution to the study of these letters.

      Without downplaying my indebtedness to the prodigious minds that have gone before me in writing commentaries on Jude and 2 Peter, I quite consciously sought to limit my footnotes so that as much of my own reflections on the texts were not obscured by side comments and discussions. Aware that the readership for the series aims for an academically informed reader, but one who may not have the technical background needed to engage in the Greek text, I have sought to limit overt engagements with technical commentaries and tried as much as possible to present a running commentary as best as I could. The imprint, upon my own work, of such great commentaries on Jude and 2 Peter as those by Richard Bauckham, J. D. Charles, Peter Davids, Gene Green, Michael Green, Jerome Neyrey, Bo Reicke, etc., is unquestionable. Thanks also to R. Jackson Painter and Jeremy Hultin for sharing their SBL papers and subsequent thoughts with me.

      I must acknowledge the support of Shaw University for their support, especially the former dean of the Divinity School (currently Interim VP for Institutional Advancement) Dr. Bruce Grady. Together with the generosity of the Association of Theological Schools grant (Theological Scholars’ Grant, 2012–13), the university approved a semester’s sabbatical in Spring 2013, that allowed for the bulk of the initial work in the commentary to be accomplished. My family has played a very helpful role in finding time for me to write, especially my in-laws who have driven six hours each way on numerous occasions to babysit our two very energetic kids so that my wife and I can have some free time to ourselves. To my wife Amanda, thank you for your continued support. For our kids, Elijah and Rachel, may you one day read this book and find in it blessing. A close friend of mine, Rev. Canon Francis Omondi, Director of the The Sheepfold Ministries, in Kenya, read the entire manuscript in its penultimate stage and provided a lot of very helpful comments that resulted in at least two more Fusing of the Horizons sections.

      When you spend a couple of years doing a writing project like this one, it is bound to be impacted by important events in life. Towards the end of my sabbatical, I was saddened to lose my mother, Mrs. Jane Mutave Musyoka, after what would have been a minor surgical procedure, on June 8, 2013. A pillar of prayer in our family lives, she is sorely missed! Travelling back home for the funeral allowed me to reconnect with family and friends, but also gave me evidence of my mother’s legacy of kindness, graciousness, love of God and neighbor, and selflessness. She was the embodiment of the virtues in 2 Peter 1:5–7. If for some freaky anomaly in nature we could choose a mother, I would choose her all over again! It is to her memory that I wish to dedicate this book.

      Last, and certainly not the least, I would also like to thank the series editors, Michael Bird and Craig Keener, first for the invitation to contribute in the series, and also for their encouraging support along the way. I hope I have lived up to your expectations for the project! And may the commentary serve the Covenant community.

      Abbreviations

      AB – Anchor Bible

      ABRL – Anchor Bible Reference Library

      AGRW – Associations in the Greco-Roman World: A Sourcebook

      ANF – Anti-Nicene Fathers

      Anodos – Anodos: Studies of the Ancient World

      ANTC – Anglican New Testament Commentary

      ASV – American Standard Version

      Bib. – Biblica

      BBR – Bulletin for Biblical Research

      BDAG – A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature

      BECNT – Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament

      BNTC – Black’s New Testament Commentary

      BTS – Biblical Tools and Studies

      CÉFR – Collections de l’École Française de Rome.

      CBQ – Catholic Biblical Quarterly

      CBNT – Coniectanea Biblica: New Testament Series

      CCSS – Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture

      EKKNT – Evangelisch-Katholischer Kommntar Zun Neuen Testament

      EQ – Evangelical Quarterly

      FRLANT – Forschungen zur Religion und Literatur des Alten und Neuen Testaments

      GPBS – Global Perspectives on Biblical Scholarship

      HTKNT – Herders theologischer Kommentar zum Neuen Testament

      ICC – International Critical Commentary

      IGRR – Inscriptiones Graecae ad Res Romanas

      IVPNTC – InterVarsity Press New Testament Commentary

      JBL – Journal of Biblical Literature

      JETS – Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society

      JGRChJ – Journal of Greco-Roman Christianity and Judaism

      JSH – Journal of Sport History

      JSNT – Journal for the Study of the New Testament

      JSNTSup – JSNT Supplement Series

      JSJ – Journal for the Study of Judaism

      JSP – Journal For the Study of Pseudepigrapha

      JTC – Jewish and Christian Traditions

      JTS – Journal of Theological Studies

      KEKNT – Kritisch-Exegetischer Kommentar über das Neue Testament

      NAC – The New American Commentary

      NBBC – New Beacon Bible Commentary

      NCB – New Century Bible

      NCBC – The New Cambridge Bible Commentary

      Neot – Neotestamentica

      NIV – New International Version

      NRSV – New Revised Standard Version

      NTL – The New Testament Library

      NTS – New Testament Studies

      PCS – Pentecostal Commentary Series

      PNTC – Pillar New Testament Commentary

      PL – J.-P. Migne, ed., Patrologia Latina

      PGNT – Phoenix Guides to the New Testament

      RFIA – The Review of Faith & International Affairs

      SBLDS – Society of Biblical Literature Dissertation Series

      SUNT – Studien zur Umwelt des Neuen Testaments

      Sac. Pag. – Sacra Pagina

      SHBC – Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary

      tev – Today’s English Version

      TBN – Themes in Biblical Narrative

      TDNT – Theological Dictionary of the New Testament

      TH NTC – Two Horizons New Testament Commentary

      THNT – Theologischer Handkommentar zum Neuen Testament

      tniv – Today’s New International Version

      TNTC – Tyndale New Testament Commentaries

      TSAJ