Evaluation

Overall Score: 7.7/10

A rich technical companion on 2 Peter and Jude that strengthens careful exposition and sober pastoral warning.

Publication Date(s): 1983

Pages: 388

ISBN: 9780849902499

Faithfulness to the Text: 8.4/10

We find careful, text attentive work that respects context and the letters’ rhetorical force.

Christ Centredness: 7.3/10

The focus is technical, but the letters’ gospel frame is handled in a way that supports faithful proclamation.

Depth of Insight: 8.5/10

We are helped by sustained engagement with difficult passages and interpretive questions.

Clarity of Writing: 7.4/10

Dense, but generally clear in its reasoning.

Pastoral Usefulness: 7.7/10

Especially useful for preaching warnings with accuracy, gravity, and proper restraint.

Readability: 7.1/10

Best read slowly, with time to follow the detail.

Summary

At a Glance

Length: 388 pages
Type: Exegetical (Technical)
Theo. Perspective: Broadly Evangelical
Overall score: 7.7 / 10
Strength: Strong help on difficult texts and biblical allusions.
Limitation: Not a fast, sermon ready guide for a pressured week.

We find Richard J. Bauckham’s 2 Peter & Jude a detailed technical study of two short letters with a sharp pastoral edge. The work helps us track the argument, handle difficult phrases, and understand how the warnings against false teaching function within the letters’ overall purpose.

This is not a quick read, but it is often a clarifying one. When these letters are preached carelessly they can sound merely angry. Bauckham’s attention to context helps us preach them as serious, loving warnings that guard the church.

Why Should I Own This Commentary?

We should own this commentary when we want careful help on passages that are easy to mishandle. The letters press hard on judgement, holiness, and truth. Technical clarity helps us keep our tone faithful to the text, firm without being harsh.

We also benefit from careful handling of biblical allusions and difficult examples. That matters, because our people need to see how Scripture interprets Scripture, and how the apostles reason from the whole counsel of God.

For Reformed preaching, this volume can strengthen our confidence that clear exegesis will produce clear proclamation. The warnings land properly when they are grounded in the gospel of Christ and the call to persevere in truth.

Closing Recommendation

We recommend this as a valuable technical companion for preaching and teaching in 2 Peter and Jude. It is best paired with a more directly expository work, but it can protect our preaching from avoidable errors and shallow readings.

As a next step, we can visit the Bible Book Overview, then browse Top Recommendations, and use the Reformed Commentary Index to build a wiser working shelf.

Where to buy

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