Review: The God Who Judges and Saves: A Theology of 2 Peter and Jude By Matthew S. Harmon

by on July 10, 2025 | Comment

Books on New Testament theology are often stale and lack depth of real theological analysis. I have regularly felt that when biblical studies attempt to do theology, the fruit is either obvious or seriously off track. Against this backdrop, Matthew Harmon’s exploration of 2 Peter and Jude is a welcome breath of fresh air to help us understand these two short letters in the New Testament.

Admittedly, I am initially skeptical when I see literature pair 2 Peter and Jude together. These letters share a lot of overlap in content, which indicates that one of them likely drew upon the other’s letter as a source document. Commentaries that bundle 1 Peter, 2 Peter, and Jude together make good sense to me. Yet often the pairing of only 2 Peter and Jude reflects bad assumptions about the canonical status of one or both of these letters. It certainly seems to shortchange 2 Peter’s relationship to 1 Peter. Despite my initial skepticism, Harmon’s book triumphs in dovetailing a theological assessment of these two books together.

This series may lack by not having 1 Peter related carefully to 2 Peter. Nevertheless, this volume hits a home run in explaining both 2 Peter and Jude in tandem. In some sections, he wove considerations of the two letters together, showing how they implement similar arguments and develop related concerns. In other places, he gives distinct treatment to each on its own. In both ways, Harmon’s assessment proves insightful and helpful to understand the problems that drove these letters as well as how the biblical authors addressed them.

The one hangup I have about this book is that it at times seems to veer away from its focus on these two letters and toward further parts of the New Testament to develop a point. Specifically, when 2 Peter and Jude do not have an inherent connection to other parts of the New Testament, but that connection is still made, the discussion starts to feel vague. Although exploring biblical truths is good in itself, this book promises insight into a specific section of the New Testament canon. When its focus drifts from that specific remit, it falters into some platitudes.

That said, when this work keeps its sights on expounding the two letters it set out to explain, it hits tremendous heights. Readers of this publication may know that I wrote a series of essays working through Jude. In all the literature that I used to study that letter, none did a better job than Harmon of explaining the nature of the problems at work in the congregation to which Jude wrote. The issues of defying authority, especially God’s, and practicing immorality are obvious in both 2 Peter and Jude. Still, the specifics are not obvious, and trying to discern details from the text is hard. Harmon is incredibly perceptive in drawing upon the text to piece together the best picture of these issues we have in print. I appreciated this treatment greatly and wish that I had it when I was preaching and writing on Jude.

Another standout feature of this book is its discussion of the Trinity in these two letters. 2 Peter and Jude are not lengthy. Neither develops a detailed explanation of the Trinity. They come quickly to address the practical problems on the ground that required pastoral input. Still, Harmon perceptively recognizes the Trinitarian logic in the finer points of these letters. He demonstrates a robust and mature Trinitarian theology at work in the way that Peter and Jude argue their points. So many of the more technical treatments of these works fail to see the underlying view of God that must be in place for Peter and Jude to argue as they do. By contrast, Harmon admirably brings out how even these short letters draw upon the categories that developed into what we know as classical theism.

Each chapter really does offer an exemplary discussion of theological features in these two relatively understudied New Testament letters. The whole book proves to be a welcome addition to the literature on these epistles. It is accessible and short enough to help an average Christian get his or her head quickly around what can be confusing letters. It is rich and insightful enough to be a tremendous resource to pastors who are readying to preach one of these letters. It is again short enough that it will not bog down your studies. It is exactly the kind of resource you want to help a pastor make sure he hits the mains points of concern in these letters.

©Harrison Perkins. All Rights Reserved.

Matthew S. Harmon, The God Who Judges and Saves: A Theology of 2 Peter and Jude (Wheaton IL: Crossway, 2023).

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