New Testament Survey Part 2: Session 11 - Challenge of Heresy

This homework assignment, part of a New Testament Survey course, focuses on the challenge of heresy as presented in 2 Peter, Jude, and 1, 2, and 3 John. The assignment requires students to analyze passages addressing false teachings, the importance of maintaining a strong Christian faith, and the characteristics of true believers. Students are prompted to answer questions about the promises of God, the qualities essential for a fruitful Christian life, warnings against false teachers, the second coming of Christ, and how to live a stable Christian life. Furthermore, the assignment delves into the original and present intentions of Jude's letter, the examples of God's judgment, positive steps Christians should take against evil, and the great truths Jude affirms. It also examines John's emphasis on the senses, the twofold promise to those who walk in the light, and the consequences of claiming to be without sin. Additionally, it explores God's provision for sin, the marks of true knowledge of Christ, reasons to avoid loving the present age, and the purpose of John's writings. The assignment also covers the implications of the Lord's coming, the incompatibility of sin with being a child of God, and the marks of true sonship. Finally, it examines the tests for determining if teaching is from God, the evidences of dwelling in God, and the characteristics of those born of God. The assignment concludes by analyzing the significance of the three witnesses and the consequences of believing the threefold testimony about God's Son.

New Testament Survey, Part 2 Session 11
Session 10
The Challenge of Heresy
Your reading for this session consists of 2 Peter; Jude; 1, 2 ,3 John and chapter 10 in your
Textbook.
Write your answers in the spaces provided.
1. See 2 Peter 1:1-3:18
a) Why has God given us His “great and precious promises” (1:4 NIV)?
God provides his great and precious promise to mankind to realize their repentance
due to violence activity.
__________________________________________________________________
b) List the qualities Peter mentions as being essential for a well-rounded, fruitful
Christian life (1:5-9).
Peter mentioned the qualities for a fruitful and well rounded Christian life are reliability
of Christian faith, ancient prophecy inspiration and eyewitness testimony.
__________________________________________________________________
c) Peter assures his readers that his message about “the power and coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ” (1:16) is no fabrication. His message rests on two solid
foundations, namely,
i) The two solid foundations are like_______________________________________
Transfiguration eyewitness_____________________________________(1:16-18)
i) ancient prophecy inspiration____________________________________(1:19-21)
d) Peter gives warning against false teachers (2:1-3). Why must their activities not
be taken lightly?
Their activity must not be taken lightly because the false teaching brings only
bondage and non liberty to the world. Moreover, it makes suffer the Christians
persecution which lies for the stress in Christian life related to comfort and
emulation.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
e) What point is Peter making with his long list of examples in 2:4-8 (see vs 9)?
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The long list of examples given by the peter is indicating a significant point which lies
for the poor reliability of christian faith.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
f) Peter’s description of these false teachers continues (2:10-22). The cruellest
thing about them is the way they fail those who put their trust in them (vv 17,18).
Though they had at one time believed in Christ, what is their condition now (vv 19-
22)?
The present situation of them is like that the false teachers will incur the same
judgment because of false prophets relating to Old Testament time.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
g) Peter now returns to the subject of Christ’s second coming (3:1-14).
i) What is the scoffers’ claim (vv 3,4)?
The scoffers claim about second coming of the christ is the recollection of catastrophic
end scenario and which is denoted as a god’s ability to for intervening again in world
history which is well Illustrate by the flood.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
ii) How does Peter refute this claim (vv 5-7)? ___________________________
The delay of second coming of the god is handled by the Peter by
mentioning that time is of no consequences to god and the forbearance of god lies for
the mankind. Therefore, God always open his door for the people after their
repentance.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
h) Christ’s return is delayed only because
i) The christ return is delayed only because consequences of time to god
ii) his forbearance to the mankind based on repentance
i) Though delayed, the Lord’s return is none the less certain (3:10). In the light of
this certainty, then, how should we live (3:11-15)?
We live life in the light of certainty as a holy and blameless life related to anticipation
of Christian return.
__________________________________________________________________
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j) Peter sums up the theme of his Epistle (3:17,18). How are we to maintain stability
in the Christian life?
We maintain stability in the christian life following some significant factors like non-
skepticism, lenticious behavior avoidance etc.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
2. See Jude 1-25.
a) What was Jude’s original intention (v 3)?______________________________________
The original intention of jude is to send his readers on the salvation doctrine.
______________________________________________________________________
b) What is his purpose now (v 3)?______________________________________________
The present purpose of jude is to make join their readers in the defence of faith
c) Why did he feel compelled to change the subject matter of his letter (v 4)?
Jude feel compelled to change the subject matter when the false teachers started to
introduce disgrace and trouble among the church’s fellowship.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
d) Jude says that these ‘ungodly persons’ are under condemnation, and he demonstrates
this by citing Old Testament examples of God’s judgment on sin. These include:
i) Distortion of god grace
______________________________________________________________(v5)
ii) Lordship of Christ
______________________________________________________________(v 7)
e) Verses 8-16 unsparingly denounce the activities of these false teachers.
i) With which three Old Testament characters does Jude compare them (v 11)?
The three testament characters are trouble and disgrace, drink and eat without
reverence and care for none.
ii) What sins had each of these three committed?____________________________
The sin is stated as a insulting language to the evil
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
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__________________________________________________________________
f) Why should believers not be surprised at the appearance of those who attack the faith
and live ungodly lives (vv 17-19)?____________________________________________
The believers not be surprised because faith attack is lies for a sin and ungodly life is
its result.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
g) What positive steps should Christians take to guard themselves and others
against evil (vv 20-23)?
The positive steps need to take is praise to the god.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
h) What great truth does Jude affirm in his magnificent benediction (vv 24, 25)?
The great truth Jude affirms is only praise to the god can able to guard the peoples
from sin.
______________________________________________________________________
3. See 1 John 1:1-2:27
a) Notice John’s appeal to three of the senses (1:1,2). What do you think he is trying
to emphasise?
The form of false teaching
______________________________________________________________________
b) What John and his fellow-apostles have seen and heard, he wishes to announce
(1:3,4). Why?
They heard god’s voice and they wish to announce it to reduce the conflict between
Christianity and philosophy.
______________________________________________________________________
c) What twofold promise is made to those who ‘walk in the light’ (1:7)?
Spiritualism and faith
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
d) What are the consequences of claiming that we have not sinned (1:8,10)?
Establishment of certainty and true knowledge
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
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e) What provision has God made for anyone who sins (2:1,2; 1:9)?
Body consideration to the evil
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
f) According to John, how can we tell whether we truly know Christ or merely claim
to know Him (2:3-6)?
It can be claimed by achieving brotherly love, righteous living and faith in jesus
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
g) What is the second mark of those who are ‘in the light’ (2:9-11)?
Assurance of eternal life
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
h) What two reasons does John give for Christians to avoid falling in love with this
present age (2:15-17)?
Docetism and Cerinthianism
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
i) What is John’s purpose in writing this portion of his letter (2:26)?
The knowledge about false teaching and results
ii) To whom do his warnings refer, and what are these people teaching (2:18-27)?
The warnings refer to the church missionaries and these people teaching about true
knowledge of god.
______________________________________________________________________
4. See 1 John 2:28-4:6
a) What does the Lord’s coming mean for the true child of God (2:28-3:3)?
It means something is indicating positive aims
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
a) b) What reasons are given to show that sinning is utterly incompatible with being a
child of God (2:29: 3:4-10)?
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False teaching and ungodly life
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
c) i) John identifies a second mark of true sonship (3:11-18). What is it, and how
is it demonstrated?
Church government and discipline which is violated by false teaching
__________________________________________________________________
ii) What are we intended to learn from the example of Cain (3:12-15)?
Lesson of doom relating to latter day followers
__________________________________________________________________
d) How may a Christian know that he is truly a child of God (3:19-24)?
The proper knowledge about god and faith of god assurance can prove an individual a
true child of god
______________________________________________________________________
e) What test does John give for determining whether or not a person’s teaching is
from God (4:1-3)?
Heresy propagation
______________________________________________________________________
f) What additional test does John give for discerning whether a person’s teaching is
‘from the world’ or ‘from God’ (4:4-6)?
Proper Christianity and philosophy
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
5. See 1 John 4:7-5:21
In this final section, John looks again at the evidences of our dwelling in God, and His
dwelling in us.
a) i) How does John sum up God’s nature (4:7-12)?
The god nature is denoted as the no blind force which is employed in terms of services in the
God's providence.
ii) How has God demonstrated this quality?
God has demonstrated the quality in 3 aspects which are creation, redemption and
sanctification. ___________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
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__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
iii) What, then, must we do in the light of it?
In the light of it there is a requirement of some time for fulfilling the basic teaching.
b) What three tests does John give for determining whether or not “we live in Him and He
in us” (4:13-16)?
There is a requirement of three tests which are the truth test, the obedience test and the love
test. Hence, this test is helpful for providing a faith within the god's work.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
c) John stresses that we are able to love only because love comes from the God. (4:19).
d) Why is it impossible to love God and yet hate one of the members of His family
(4:20,21)?
It is impossible to Love God and hate family member because Love comes from God
because when an individual love God the person automatically love the family member.
However, if the individual says he does not then it is a lie. ________________________
______________________________________________________________________
e) Identify the three characteristics of one who has been ‘born of God’:
i) The individual born of God mainly tends to keep the commandments _______(5:1)
ii) Those are born of God are walking like a Christ walked ________________(5:2,3)
iii) The individual who are born of God do not hate others instead they love them.
(5:4,5)
f) “Water and blood” (5:6) respectively symbolize Jesus’ baptism and death. These are
mentioned because Jesus’ public ministry began with His baptism and ended with His
death and resurrection.
The Corinthian Gnostics of John’s day taught that the divine Christ descended upon
the human Jesus at His baptism, but left Him before His death. What is wrong with this
view?
This view is regarded to be wrong because he should have stayed there instead of
leaving there. ___________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
g) How does John refute this heresy (5:6)? John refute the heresy by simply giving
valuable ethical teaching the era of his ministry. ________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
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h) Old Testament law required two or three witnesses to prove a claim (Deuteronomy
17:6; 19:15). Name John’s three witnesses (5:7,8).
The three witness are the Father, Word and the holy Ghost.___________________________
______________________________________________________________________
i) Why should we accept this threefold testimony about God’s Son (5:9)?
There is a requirement of accepting the threefold testimony of God's son because it
shows the testimony of God is greater._______________________________________
j) What are the consequences of believing this testimony (5:10-12)?
The consequence of the testimony is that it shows the clause of ideas in respect of
λαμβάνομενin the antecedent._______________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
k) What assurance does John want his readers to have (5:13)?
John wants his readers to have some knowledge regarding the love of God. _________
______________________________________________________________________
l) John moves to a second assurance enjoyed by the believing Christian (5:14,15). What
is it?
There are two doubts which occurred those are influences of regarding false teaching and
genuine salvation along with contradictory life style. _____________________________
______________________________________________________________________
m) The author gives an illustration of the kind of prayer that can be made with confidence
(5:16,17). For whom should we pray, and why?
There is a requirement of making some prayer towards the individual those are in need. _____
______________________________________________________________________
n) The letter ends with three affirmations of truths that “we know” as Christians (5:18-20).
What are they?
It mainly denotes toward the need of Velcro in the brains, rewriting the thinking and last is the
working when it is true.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
6. See 2 John verses 1-13.
a) The recipient is more likely to be a personified local church (v 1; cf v 13) than an
individual Christian woman.
b) What gives ‘the elder’ much cause for rejoicing (v 4)? The love from the God give the
amount of personification in the terms of rejoicing. ______________________________
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______________________________________________________________________
c) What commandment does John impress upon the church (vv 5,6)? John commands
toward giving respect to the others regarding the love from god. ___________________
______________________________________________________________________
d) Verses 7-11 refer to Gnostic teachers travelling from place to place and propagating
their views (cf 1 John 4:2,3). “Anyone who goes ahead” (v 9) is anyone who claims to
have a knowledge superior to God’s revelation. What truth were they denying (v 7)?
The truth is mainly concerned regarding the evil and good. _______________________
e) i) What counsel does John offer concerning these teachers (vv 9-11)?
John gets to hear regarding the truth of the love from the teachers. ____________
ii) Why? There is a need of hearing as it requires some knowledge. _____________
iii) ________________________________________________________________
f) John deems it wise not to write at length. What would he prefer to do instead (v 12)?
_there is requirement of writing to the point instead of writing long.
____________________________________________________________________
7. See 3 John verses 1-15.
a) Gaius is commended for:
i) Loving others_________________________________________________(vv 3,4)
ii) respecting others _____________________________________________(vv 5,6)
b) Who were those to whom Gaius had offered hospitality (vv 7,8)?___________________
He offered hospitality to the persons who are in need. ___________________________
c) Diotrephes was obviously a person of some influence.
i) What problems was he causing (v 10)?_________________________________
He was mainly causing the problems of mistrust among the people. __________
__________________________________________________________________
ii) What was motivating his behaviour (v 9)? The surrounding were mainly
motivating the behaviours. _________________________________________________
d) Demetrius was probably the carrier of this letter. There is an impressive threefold
testimony to his character and worth (v 12). From what sources?
From the source of God's son. ______________________________________________
e) Again, John expresses the desire not to write at length. What does he hope to do
instead (vv 13-15)? There is a requirement of hopping for doing the correct things. ____
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Application Questions
The focus in this module is on truth about God, our world and ourselves as we discover it in
scripture. However, truth always needs to be applied, so review the lesson for this session
and see what principles fit with your life. (Space is provided for comments on more than one,
but this will get you started.) For example:
What aspects can inform your praise and prayers?
There is a requirement of praying in a positive way and with immense passionate. _____
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
What encouragements do you see?
There is an encouragement of getting to see God. ______________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
What warnings can you recognize?
There is a warning of meeting the evil if something is done wrong. _________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
What promises can you claim?
I promise to love other and give respect.______________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Now review your work for this session and try to answer the following quiz
questions without referring to any other resources.
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Quiz
Fill in the blanks:
1. Peter asserts that he and his fellow-apostles heard God’s voice on the mountain and
were ______Christian faith__________ of His majesty.
2. Peter predicts the rise of teachers who will secretly introduce destructive
_____Scepticism and licentious___________, thus leading many astray.
3. Peter claims that in the last days _____flood________ will arise, casting doubt on the
Lord’s promised return.
4. Jude felt the urgent necessity to tell his readers that they must ____hold fast________
for the faith once for all _________delivered_____ to the saints.
5. Jude concludes his letter by focussing attention on God, who is well able to keep
believers from ______faith______, and to present them blameless before His glorious
___presence_______ with rejoicing.
6. John’s readers were confronted with a form of false teaching called ___
Gnosticism_________, which denied Christ’s having come in the _______Infinite
pure spirite_____.
7. One of John’s reasons for writing to believers is to help them know for sure that they
have _________material prison of the body___ ____rise to god______.
8. In his ___Second________ Epistle, John instructs the church not to welcome or
accommodate any travelling teachers who deny the truth about Jesus.
9. John’s third Epistle is addressed to __church government_________, whom he
commends for offering _____hospitality_______ to itinerant Christian teachers.
10. John was opposed and maligned by __ Diotrephes ____________, who kept wanting
to put himself first.
Answers are at the back of the _______________________Workbook.
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