2nd Peter Chapter One

Introduction to 2nd Peter

 

1.      Theme

a.       As opposed to 1st Peter, which focused on consolation through suffering and Christian service, this letter focuses on warning against false teachings.

b.      The theme verse could be: 2Pe 1:16  For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

c.       Peter warns them against false teachings and false teachers

d.      Peter encourages them to remain steadfast in what they know is true, the word of God, which is the testimony of the apostles and prophets.

e.      2 Peter 1:19-21 ESV  And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,  20  knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation.  21  For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

2.      Author

a.       Claims to be Simon Peter, apostle of Jesus: 1:1

b.      The writer claims to be present at the transfiguration: 1:16-18

                                                              i.      Only three were present that day aside from Jesus: Peter, James and John.

c.       Claims to have been warned by Christ of his impending death: 1:14

3.      Time & Place

a.       If 1st Peter was written during Nero’s persecution and if Peter was martyred during that persecution then this was probably written before his death.

b.      Circa AD 67.

4.      Background

a.       Addressed to the same audience of his first letter, the churches of Asia Minor

b.      More specifically the elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia (1 Pe 1:1)

c.       Peter sensed his impending death and urges the saints to guard their faith.

5.      Purpose

a.       Peter is warning them about Gnosticism.

b.      The way to fight false teachings is by growing in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus.

c.       To teach them life cannot be separated from doctrine.

d.      To teach them to patiently wait for Jesus’ return.

6.      Brief Outline

a.       Chapter One – Apostolic Exhortation and Testimony – Cultivation of Christian Character

                                                              i.      Salutation – 1:1-2

                                                            ii.      Growth by the power of God – 1:3-11

                                                          iii.      Purpose and aim of the church leader – 1:12-15

                                                          iv.      Authentication of Scripture – 1:16-21

b.      Chapter Two – Apostolic Warning – Condemnation of False Teachers

                                                              i.      Danger & judgment of false teachers – 2:1-9

                                                            ii.      Description of false teachers – 2:10-22

c.       Chapter Three – Apostolic Hope – Confidence of Christ’s Return

                                                              i.      Mockery in the last days – 3:1-7

                                                            ii.      Jesus will return! – 3:8-10

                                                          iii.      Exhortation in view of Jesus’ return – 3:11-16

                                                          iv.      Concluding remarks – 3:17-18

 

Taken from Nelson’s Complete Book of Maps and Charts

 

Comparison of 1st and 2nd Peter

 

1st Peter (deals primarily with external threats from persecution)

V  Hope in the midst of present suffering

V  Day of salvation when Jesus died, was buried, and rose

V  Be encouraged in present trials

 

2nd Peter (deals primarily with the internal threats of false teachers)

V  Danger of false teachings

V  Day of the Lord when Christ returns in judgment

V  Be warned of eschatological judgment

 

Chapter One

 

2 Peter 1:1 ESV (All verses from the English Standard Version)

Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

 

Salutation

 

Peter begins this brief letter by identifying himself as a servant and apostle.

 

There are two words for servant in the Greek: doulos and andrapoden. The latter refers to persons captured in war and sold as slaves whereas doulos means one born into slavery. Clearly Peter and Paul saw themselves as born again to be slaves of Christ (Eph 6:6; 1Co 7:22), escaping the slavery in the world by dying to self and being born again through baptism in Christ.

 

Peter is also an apostle, a term we have discussed several times in previous letters.  Apostolos  =  One commissioned to continue in a specified work. The primary qualifications are listed in Acts 1:21-22 when they sought a replacement for Judas Iscariot. Notice that only Judas is replaced. When an apostle has died as faithful, he continues to be an apostle in Heaven, not needing replacement on Earth, for their words continue to testify to the commission assigned by Jesus. In John 17:6-21 Jesus illustrates the commission given to these apostles, and how they were to impact others who were not apostles. In Mat 19:28 Jesus teaches how they will continue to be apostles even in Heaven, so nowhere do we see the church practicing a replacement for them, not even after James is martyred (Acts 12:2).

 

Peter’s audience can be assumed to be the same he addresses in his first letter, to the elect exiles of the dispersion; the Jews (Christians) of the Diaspora: scattering of language, culture, or people: a dispersion of a people, language, or culture that was formerly concentrated in one place.

 

He describes them quite differently this time, saying they have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours, meaning the apostles. It is interesting that nowhere in the Bible there is any support for the clergy-laity view, yet it is something that continues to be perpetuated even in the face of Peter saying things like these. Will the pope say his parishioners have a faith of equal standing with his? Will the clergy of the many denominations that exist dare say this as well? Yet we find the great apostle Peter humbly testifying that he has no edge over any other disciple when it comes to the faith we need in Jesus Christ. We all stand equally before Christ!

 

2 Corinthians 5:10 ESV  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

 

We all will be judged and we all have been given the same standing: salvation by the faith of Jesus Christ, by His righteousness, as Peter describes. Paul writes about this in his letter to the Galatians:

 

Galatians 2:16 KJV  Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

 

See my notes on Romans 3:22 for an in depth look at the difference in translations of this verse and others that make reference to the faith of Christ as opposed to faith in Christ and what the difference is between the two.

 

We can only be justified and receive a faith of equal standing by fully placing our belief and trust in Jesus Christ, which is shown by our obedience to His words in the Bible. To add some weight to this statement, which he will continue to elaborate on in this chapter, Peter reminds us all that the righteousness that saves is that of our savior Jesus Christ Who is our God! An excellent proof verse for the deity of Jesus!

 

2 Peter 1:2 ESV

May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

 

The grace and peace can only be ours not by feeling them in our lives, which is completely subjective and dependent on our unreliable heart (emotions), but by knowing we have a special bond by covenant with our God through our Lord Jesus. This reminder is an encouragement to be devoted to the scriptures, which alone contain the knowledge of God. Peter undoubtedly reminds us that by knowing God (knowing God implies obeying the knowledge of God) and Jesus our peace and grace will not be dependent on our emotional state and will serve to keep us encouraged, whole and pure during the many trials we will face in our life.

 

Enemies of the truth will constantly use subjective language to excuse themselves from the true judgment of the word of God. They will say things like: “it doesn’t feel right; it doesn’t fell like love; I feel I'm right,” etc. to excuse sin and enable weaknesses in themselves and others. Grace and peace cannot be obtained by this!

 

The constant study and obedience of the scriptures will multiply the grace and peace that is ours in Christ!

 

2 Peter 1:3 ESV

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,

 

Growth by the Power of God!

 

Peter has to now expand upon the previous statement. It seems like he wants his readers to be sure they know that God's divine power directly acts upon us (his readers) through the knowledge of God and Jesus. God has granted to us all we need through his word! Notice the tense, has granted, meaning, it was done. There are no new things to be revealed in the word pertaining to life and godliness. It is all in there! This divine power of God (Jesus’ Gospel –Rom 1:16) gives us everything we need for this life and for godliness. Awesome! Peter will elaborate some more as to how exactly the power of God is able to help us in this life, particularly in becoming godly. Let’s talk about what godliness is before we know how it is provided!

 

Godliness (eusebeia) – having reverence and piety towards God and His matters. Being like God; having God-like qualities; i.e. the fruit of the spirit (Gal 5:22-23); being holy (different) like God is holy (1Pe 1:15-16).

 

Obviously we won't learn how to be godly apart from the knowledge in the scriptures. You won't become holy just by being part of a church or even listening to sermons or reading books, not even by just reading the Bible! There is a working knowledge here, emphasis on working. God's power is not passive, but active. It demands a result and that result is godliness. That’s how you will be provided for everything in your life.

 

Hebrews 4:12 ESV  For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

 

One of my favorite verses, showing descriptively just how God's words are living and the action they effect on our heart, soul and spirit! This verse also shows us that God's word is precise. There is nothing trivial about the knowledge we find in the Bible. Everything is there as is supposed to be.

 

2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV  All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,  17  that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

 

A verse every Christian should be familiar with, it describes the four areas God's word affects: teaching, rebuking, correcting and training. The training is in righteousness, that is, what is right. It teaches you to do what is right and corrects you when you are wrong. This means there is a right way of doing things and a wrong way. It is not up to your heart or feelings to be right with God but up to Him! He shows us the way, the truth and the life in Jesus! The man of God is completely equipped, without want, for every god work God has in store for him to do.

 

If we are not equipped it is because we have failed to become disciples of Jesus – students of His teaching, which imply study, practice and obedience. Jesus says we will know the truth if we abide in His word!

 

John 8:31-32 ESV  So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,  32  and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

 

This is a guarantee! One of the first promises we see fulfilled as soon as our obedience begins to mature! If we fail to be equipped by the word it is because we are not obedient to the word:

 

James 1:22-25 ESV  But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.  23  For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.  24  For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.  25  But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

 

When we rely on God's power through the knowledge of the word of God we are relying on Him to escape the corruption of this world as we will see in the following verse. If we rely on ourselves we are deceived. If we only hear but fail to do we are deceived. We need to trust God has revealed what we need for this life and for godliness in His word, the Bible.

 

The Gnostics were teaching that only by special wisdom available to special people were you able to discern spiritual truth and have salvation. There was no clear way to know whether you were saved or not without this special wisdom, often attributed to subjective causes as opposed to the objective wisdom (given by God Himself) received from the scriptures.  Examples of Gnosticism in our society are Jehovah’s Witnesses, 7th Day Adventists, Mormons, Christian Scientists and others that purport to have special knowledge (other books aside from the Bible, or special understanding of the Bible) above and beyond the scriptures.

 

Called us to His own glory and excellence…

God calls us to share everything with him – we will share with Jesus crowns, His throne (Rev 3:21), riches (Romans 10:12; Eph 1:18) and suffering... you name it. We are not called to second class glory but to the glory that is God's own. To the excellence that is God's!

 

2 Peter 1:4 ESV

by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

 

By which…

It is through the knowledge of Jesus He grants us His precious and very great promises.

 

2 Corinthians 4:5-7 ESV  5  For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.  6  For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.  7  But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

 

Very great promises:

1-      Forgiveness of sins – Col 1:14; 1John 1:7-9; 1 John 2:12

2-      Christ (The Spirit) in us, the hope of glory – Col 1:27

3-      Sonship in Christ – Rom 8:15-17

4-      Marriage to Christ – Eph 5:25-32

5-      Eternity with God – 1 The 4:17; John 8:35-36

 

Partakers of the divine nature…

All these promises are available by knowing how to get into Jesus. Through these promises we become part of God; as a man and woman share in one flesh in the one flesh covenant (marriage), we share the divine nature of Jesus when we become One with Him in baptism (Rom 6:3-4):

 

1-      By conforming to Him – Romans 8:29; Col 3:10

a.       Not conforming to the world – Romans 12:2

b.      By being transformed – our mind needs renewal

c.       By the word of God – our knowledge of Him – 2Tim 3:16-17

2-      By being beautified by Him – Eph 5:25

a.       In holiness – 1Pe 1:14-19

b.      Cleansed by His blood

c.       Being incorporated in Christ – Rom 6-3-4

d.      By becoming a dwelling of His Spirit – 1 Co 6:19

3-      By bringing praise, honor and worship to God

a.       Because of genuine faith – 1Pe 1:7

b.      Because of the Spirit in us and our adherence to the truth – John 4:23-24

c.       By conforming to Christ – Rom 12:1

 

We escape the corruption the world causes by being transformed by the renewing of our mind, as Romans 12:2 says. We partake of divinity by escaping the corruption of the world in Jesus Christ! The world corrupts because of sinful desires. We have been given the Spirit of Truth to overcome this desire by self-control and by being born again to freedom in Christ! How can we therefore want to imitate the world again or approve of worldly things? Will you again be misled by your passions?

 

2 Peter 2:20-22 NIV  If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.  21  It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.  22  Of them the proverbs are true: "A dog returns to its vomit," and, "A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud."

 

The following verses are offered to make sure you stay put on the narrow path that leads to life!

 

2 Peter 1:5 ESV

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,

 

The 7 supplements of faith – How to stay on the narrow path

 

Peter urges his readers to make sure they are growing in their faith. Faith is not supposed to remain stagnant. Our faith, once born from the Spirit, is to continue to grow and develop. Every effort you can give is required to supplement your faith! God expects growth and change in us until the day we meet Him! If we do not mind the growth of our faith we will be derailed by the worldly passions in us. Faith itself, which is more precious than gold as Peter told us in his first letter (1Pe 1:7) is the foundation, the root, and the base upon which to build these seven gracious attributes with the help of the Holy Spirit.

 

7 Supplements of Faith

 

1-      Virtue (goodness, integrity, moral excellence) – from the Greek, arete, meaning manliness (valor), purity and modesty. Since we’ve been called to conform to Jesus, we need to have an authentic desire to do so – to be like our husband to be.  Just like a bride ought to strive to remain pure for her future husband, we ought to supply our faith with moral excellence for Jesus. We do not want to be corrupted by the world and be rejected by Jesus on the day He is revealed! We need to want and strive to be good, through and through, particularly in the privacy of our thoughts and judgments about others. God knows our thoughts (heart) and will judge us by them and our deeds and words (Luke 6:45).

2-      Knowledge – from the Greek, gnosis, which means general intelligence and understanding (discernment); science – specifically the general and deeper (more perfect) knowledge of God and Jesus.  As we strive to add integrity to our faith that should lead us to supplement our good and virtuous faith with knowledge. We need to know our husband to be more and more deeply by knowing His will through His holy word (Mat 7:21) and by praying fervently and intimately. Knowing God and Jesus primarily will stem from purposeful Bible study and prayer – for the specific goal of becoming knowledgeable for wisdom and love – not just to be a know-it-all. For “knowledge puffs up but love edifies” (1Co 8:1).

 

2 Peter 1:6 ESV

and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,

 

3-      Self control (temperance, continence) – from the Greek, egkrateia, meaning mastery of your sensual appetites, desires and passions. Self-control is crucial to proving faithfulness and loyalty. If we are not convinced by our acquired knowledge from God's word that following our passions is fruitless then our love of the Father is empty. The Spirit gives us the heavenly power to be masters of our domain and show our love for Jesus by being obedient and holy, as He is. Those who lack self-control are caught up in some kind of idolatry that leads them to try to control others.

4-      Steadfastness (perseverance, patience, longsuffering, endurance) – from the Greek, hupomone, meaning not swerved from your deliberate purpose and loyalty to Christ even by the greatest trials and sufferings. Practicing self-control is an awesome task. Often we pine and frustration gets us close to quitting. This is where steadfastness proves an undying love for Jesus. I like to use the word longsuffering, since it really captures what patience and steadfastness is all about!

5-      Godliness – from the Greek, eusebeia, meaning holiness. To be like God; to be holy, as He is holy. Different from the world – set apart. Like wives are to conform to their husbands as they conform to Christ, each of us individually ought to be striving to be like God in everything. After all, He is our husband!

 

2 Peter 1:7 ESV

and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.

 

6-      Brotherly affection (kindness, Christian affection) – from the Greek, philadelphia, meaning the kind of love and dedication that exists between brothers. This is the same practical and emotive conviction that exists between people who cherish each other because of filial bonds. In a world where wickedness increases because of ignorance of the truth, love grows cold (Mat 24:12) and natural love for family even disappears (Mat 10:21). This world will make you hate – the children of God need to be known for their love! How do others see the love you have for each other? True love doesn’t not remain hidden!

7-      Love (charity) – from the Greek, agape, meaning good will, benevolence and affection.  Christian love feasts (koinonia) are also associated with this type of love. But the greatest symbol of agape – undeserved love – is the cross of Christ! Free to love and free from idolatry is our goal. Once your faith matures to be able to love without the need to control others you will be exercising self-control, able to serve and be an example to many.

 

2 Peter 1:8 ESV

For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. – Phil 3:14

 

I believe these qualities are listed in a particular order. I believe they build on each other: integrity is needed to fuel the desire for knowledge of Jesus; and more knowledge should result in more self-control, etc. We must own these supplements – be active in pursuing them with every effort so they are ever increasing in our person. These supplements are how the Spirit regenerates us (Titus 3:5) and how our mind is transformed (Rom 12:2) to escape the corruption of the world caused by our passions and desires. Exposure to sin in the world causes our heart to become calloused and our faith numb, allowing for more corruption to seep in until we are sold like slaves to our passion and desires. That is the work of the devil – to obscure and veil the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ:

 

2 Corinthians 4:3-7 NIV  3  And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.  4  The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.  5  For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.  6  For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.  7  But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

 

When Jesus is not at the center of what we live and preach corruptions sets in. When we try to exalt ourselves or someone else all kinds of sins come in: greed, jealousy, impure motives – fear and guilt are the motivation.  A growing faith is crowned and motivated by the love of Jesus. When love is practiced we escape corruption and become part of the work of God to destroy the devils influence:

 

1 John 3:7-9 NIV  Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.  8  He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.  9  No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.

 

Special grouping of these "(qualities) graces":

 

a.                   Those which are necessary to form the Christian character:

1)                  Virtue,

2)                  Knowledge,

3)                  Self-control and

4)                  Perseverance.

b.                  Those which reveal the follower of Christ:

1)                  A servant of God (godliness),

2)                  A member of the family of God (brotherly kindness) and

3)                  Well deposed toward all men (love).

 

As seen by this passage, no "grace" can stand alone!  Each is possessed only as it is able to produce and make permanent the other graces without which the Christian character cannot exist. – World Video Bible School Commentary

 

By actively incorporating these supplements in our lifestyle we will be effective and fruitful in our knowledge of Jesus. Our faith will result in the Gospel seed being planted in other soul’s hearts and minds. Our example will result in praise and worship of God.  We will be effective peace makers, just like Jesus. This will allow other to see the cross of Jesus – a necessary step for us to be able to take them to the foot of the cross so they may be converted by the love of Jesus.

 

This is how you prove your knowledge of Jesus fruitful. You apply His words and not forget to allow them to constantly change you and work on you through the Holy Spirit.

 

James 1:22-27 ESV  But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.  23  For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.  24  For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.  25  But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.  26  If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.  27  Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

 

Ineffective and unfruitful knowledge is a stagnant knowledge. This kind of knowledge is more trivial than anything. It is neither practical nor dynamic. It is ineffective – it won't change you and it is unfruitful – you will not mature and reproduce. Most of all, it is demonic wisdom, as James teaches:

 

James 3:13-18 ESV  Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom.  14  But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.  15  This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.  16  For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.  17  But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.  18  And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

 

I don’t think you want earthly and demonic wisdom working in you!

 

2 Peter 1:9 ESV

For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

 

Discipleship – being a faithful disciple of Jesus – is all about constant change. The only thing that should be the same about you is that you are constantly conforming to Jesus.  The 7 supplements of Peter should be part of your daily training at work, at home and wherever you go. Lacking these supplements in your life will be evident. The fruit will show in your blindness to the truth and your reckless words and actions indicative of forgetfulness of your cleansing in Jesus.

 

Think of the opposite of each of the Seven Supplements mentioned above:

 

1-       Depravity, dishonesty

2-      Ignorance,

3-      Incontinence, excess

4-      Cowardice, intolerance

5-      Worldliness, wickedness

6-      Dislike, hatred, coldness

7-      Idolatry

 

Nearsightedness (Gk, muopazo) is not to be able to see far off. You can easily crash into objects. This makes you be slow to go forward. But Peter says here that you are so nearsighted that you are blind. Jesus said you will try to take the speck out of someone’s eye without being able to see the log in your own (Mat 7:3-5). You can become so slow that you don’t move at all. You become so critical that you won't change. You are blind, you forgot what you look like, like James says about the man who looks into the word and does not remember what it says. Most importantly you forgot who you belong to. You forgot you were cleansed and you will slide back into the world and its ways. Once you lose your connection and motivation from above (your relationship with Jesus) you will experience disconnect and discouragement with your brothers and sisters. Not because they are at fault, but because you are blind!

 

Those who are blind:

1-      Don’t think they need to change

2-      Are always pointed the finger at others who need change

3-      Are biased and unable to judge rightly

4-      Do things out of convenience

5-      Are usually motivated by fear or guilt

6-      Demand and go to extremes

7-      Do not recognize godly love

 

The 7 supplements are an antidote to backsliding and falling away. This is what Peter will guarantee by the Spirit in the next verses:

 

2 Peter 1:10 ESV

Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

 

Be all the more diligent…

To be diligent is to be studious and laborious in your work – to be purposeful and deliberate – not aimless and not leaving it up to chance. These 7 supplements mentioned by the Holy Spirit are not to be taken lightly and are taught to insure our salvation and therefore our confidence, as John says here:

 

1 John 3:18-22 ESV  Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.  19  By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him;  20  for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.  21  Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;  22  and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.

 

Even if Satan tries to accuse us and make us feel guilty, if we know we are obeying the Lord and being deliberate in our faithful work we will have confidence. Being saved is not about feeling saved but about knowing we obey the Lord. Paul also speaks of testing ourselves to be sure of our election and calling:

 

2 Corinthians 13:4-5 ESV  4  For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God.  5  Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

 

We know we live in the power of God by our obedience and by how we love one another. If we disobey and fail to love each other we live by our weakness.

 

Practice these qualities…

It is clear that for the 7 supplements to be effective we need to practice them. That is how we own them – by putting them to practice daily. This will prevent us from being derailed and from falling! This passage makes it very clear that disciples can lose their salvation. Some say “once saved always saved”, but that human interpretation is at odds with the revealing of the Spirit in this passage.

 

2 Peter 1:11 ESV

For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

In this way…

The way to be able to be richly welcomed is by faith and works. That is what the supplements of faith are all about. Faith and works. Faith is understanding and being convicted – love is work:

 

Galatians 5:6 ESV  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

 

James 2:17-18 ESV  So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.  18  But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

 

James 2:22 ESV  You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works…

 

Remember that faith always implies work. Not that we are saved by works but we are saved to work:

 

Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV  For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,  9  not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

 

2 Timothy 2:21-23 ESV  Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.  22  So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.  23  Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.

 

That being the case we need to be diligent to be a good worker for the Lord!

 

Matthew 25:20-23 ESV  And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.'  21  His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'  22  And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.'  23  His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'

 

2 Peter 1:12 ESV

Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have.

 

Purpose and aim of the church leader; the mature Christian     

 

Most of the reminders we give the church, as leaders, have to do with developing these qualities and exhorting the brethren to actively pursue them. That is what we should always do. This is the love the shepherds (leaders) show to the church.  Of course, that implies the leaders are themselves actively pursuing these qualities as well.

 

Peter clarifies that he does this not because his audience is failing to practice them, although there may always be some that need the reminder more than others; but because it is his job and intention to remind them. Even though the brethren may know these things and are established in the truth we always need these reminders that we may not grow weary and lose heart!

 

Galatians 6:9-10 ESV  And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.  10  So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

 

2 Thessalonians 3:13 ESV  13  As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.

 

Hebrews 12:3 ESV  Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

 

Jesus, as always, should be the central motivation for our faith and work. After all, we were baptized to be joined to Him and to be forever with Him!

 

2 Peter 1:13 ESV

I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder,

 

Peter's intentions are clear; as long as he was on earth he knew what he had to do as a shepherd of the church.  I like how he uses the phrase “to stir you up”. The Greek phrase means “to wake you fully; to fully arouse; to awaken; to stir up.” Here's what Jesus has to say about this:

 

Mark 13:35-37 ESV  Therefore stay awake--for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning--  36  lest he come suddenly and find you asleep.  37  And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.

 

I believe it is sin and the heart of man that can cause us to fall asleep at the wheel, so to speak:

 

1 Thessalonians 5:2-10 ESV  2  For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.  3  While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.  4  But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.  5  For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.  6  So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.  7  For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night.  8  But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.  9  For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,  10  who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.

 

What a great encouragement! Paul was doing the same thing in this letter that Peter is talking about: reminding the brethren of the supplements of faith so they could escape the corruption of the world and partake of the divine nature.

 

1 Corinthians 15:34 ESV  34  Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.

 

Ephesians 5:13-14 ESV  But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible,  14  for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."

 

Light and dark are contrasted as is sinning and being sober minded – asleep and awake. We are of the light, sober, awake and working through love! Always receive any encouragement from the work for it is designed to keep you awake!

 

2 Peter 1:14 ESV

since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.

 

Peter is all the more determined to do his job since he believed his death to be imminent. This may give us a clue to the dating of the epistle, as we discussed at the beginning and/or could also be a reference to what Jesus said to Peter:

 

John 21:18-19 NIV  Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go."  19  Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"

 

2 Peter 1:15 ESV

And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

 

How were the brethren able to recall these things? Through the word we have written long ago by the apostles and prophets! This is what Peter will make clear in this last section of this chapter.

 

One important thing to notice is that Peter left no instructions on who they were to follow or accept reminders, other than the written word he and the other apostles/prophets provided, considered scriptures (2Pe 3:15-16)! Peter was not naming a successor to his apostleship or eldership, claiming some sort of special title or work that needed to be perpetuated! This is why the proponents of the papacy need to make up legacy of Peter’s successors since none was recorded or witnessed by the first century church.

 

2 Peter 1:16 ESV

For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

 

Authentication of Scripture

 

Peter reiterates to his audience what most of them probably knew already, but like he said his job is to remind them. The story of Jesus, His passion, death and resurrection is neither a myth nor a tale, but it is the reality. The apostle emphasizes the power and coming of Jesus, probably because that is the most fantastic aspect of the story.

 

Many were witnesses of Jesus’ power displayed in the miracles He did and mostly in the way He chose to give Himself to us as atonement for our sins. The part that has not happened yet, His coming, is what we all expect and can count for sure because of His promise. Peter will proceed to say why we can be sure of these things and “take them to the bank”.

 

I believe the majesty (glory, splendor, magnificence) Peter was exposed to happened during the transfiguration (Matthew 17:2-8). He was an eyewitness of His majesty as was James and John:

 

John 1:14 ESV  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

 

They witnessed His majesty when the Father acknowledged Him as His Son:

Mark 9:7 ESV  And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son; listen to him."

 

Many others had witnessed this as well when Jesus was baptized by John the baptizer:

 

Matthew 3:13-17 ESV  Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.  14  John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"  15  But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented.  16  And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;  17  and behold, a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."

 

Some may have been proposing these things are a myth, but Peter, being an eyewitness clearly sends the message: “I was there, I saw these things happen.” Many in the order of mysterious and heathen religions who were so called “eyewitnesses” had attained the highest degrees possible within the ranks of their religions by claiming to have seen the beginnings of their fables and concoctions. Peter assures his readers he has a high ranking as an apostle of the Lord Jesus, and not only he, but all the apostles who witnessed these things. We know, in fact, that is what apostle means.

 

2 Peter 1:17-18 ESV

For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased," we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.

 

Peter, James and John’s own eyewitness testimony on the holy mountain, during the transfiguration, confirms the event as fact, not fiction (Mat 17:1-13; Mark 9:2-13; Luke 9:28-36). Jesus was at the center of this revelation, clearly indicating his elevation over Moses and Elijah, over the law and the prophets.

 

The event was not a figment of their imagination – it was a factual event. Peter's account was objective, citing what he saw and heard.

 

2 Peter 1:19 ESV

And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,

 

What is surer than eyewitness testimony? The word of God! Peter will explain why in the following verses. Peter is taking the faith that had been based on Old Testament prophecy and transitioning it unto the recent factual events that had occurred during Jesus’ visit to earth. It was no longer a faith based on words or a promise but a faith based on factual hard evidence. It was a faith based on real events and actual occurrences – something made more sure!

 

I like the comparison he makes with a lamp shining in a dark place. After all didn’t David and Solomon also describe God’s commands in a similar way?

 

Psalms 119:105 ESV  Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

 

Proverbs 6:23 NIV  For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life,

 

In the same way your eyes are drawn to light when you are in darkness your soul needs to be drawn to the Word of God. You need to pay close attention to the Bible as if it’s the only light I your life, because it is!

 

Until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts…

This is an awesome word picture of what God’s promises are to accomplish in us. In many instances the Bible teaches us that the day is nearing, that the night is far spent (Rom 13:11-14; 1John 2:8) …soon will be morning. Peter alludes to that here – that the word of God, the Bible, is that light that will guide your path into the new morning when the day will dawn and that morning star, the SON, will rise and shine forever (Rev 21:23-25)!

 

Even though we live in a dark world we are children of the day:

 

Romans 13:10-13 ESV  Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.  11  Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.  12  The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.  13  Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.

 

1 Thessalonians 5:2-6 ESV  2  For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.  3  While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.  4  But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.  5  For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.  6  So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.

 

2 Peter 1:20 ESV

knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation.

 

Peter makes it a point to emphasize that whatever prophecy we see in the Bible doesn’t come from someone’s imagination or interpretation. This is a crucial point to correctly interpret scripture.

 

Many false prophets that have come into the world have claimed sole authority in interpreting scriptures or knowing the truth:

 

1-      Catholicism – the Holy See – the Pope supposedly is the only one who can correctly interpret scripture (Paragraph 100 in the Catholic Catechism)

2-      Mormonism – Joseph Smith was the only one who had the seer stones that could decipher the Nephi plates (written in reformed Egyptian) and translated them into the book of Mormon. Not that we car anything about this book since it totally indicates it is a figment of someone’s vivid imagination! See http://www.bible.ca/mor-questions.htm

3-      Jehovah’s witnesses claim they (The Watchtower) are the only ones who can correctly interpret scripture since Charles Russell had correctly interpreted the scriptures as a prophet himself.

a.       Followers had been taught that Russell himself was the "faithful and wise servant" of Matthew 24:45 and "the Laodicean Messenger," God's seventh and final spokesman to the Christian church. But he lived to see the failure of various dates he had predicted for the Rapture, and finally died on October 31, 1916, more than two years after the world was supposed to have ended, according to his calculations, in early October, 1914. – from the book "Worse Than Waco: Jehovah's Witnesses Hide a Tragedy" copyright © 1993 by David A. Reed

b.      For more see http://www.bible.ca/jw-history.htm

4-      Mary Baker Eddy claimed to also have sole authority for imparting correct interpretation of scripture.

a.       "Your dual and impersonal pastor, the Bible, and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, is with you; and the Life these give, the Truth they illustrate, the Love they demonstrate, is the great Shepherd that feedeth my flock, and leadeth them 'beside the still waters.'" Mary Baker Eddy (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 322)

b.      In 1903, Mrs. Eddy extended the authority of "The Christian Science Pastor" to the whole world. She wrote in the Manual of The Mother Church, "I, Mary Baker Eddy, ordain the Bible, and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Pastor over The Mother Church,- The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Mass.,-and they will continue to preach for this Church and the world" (Manual, Art. XIV, Sect. 1).

5-      Ellen G White also claimed special inspiration.

a.       One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is prophecy. This gift is an identifying mark of the remnant church and was manifested in the ministry of Ellen G. White. As the Lord's messenger, her writings are a continuing and authoritative source of truth which provide for the church comfort, guidance, instruction, and correction. - Ellen G. White, 1975 paperback edition

b.      SDA SABBATH SCHOOL QUARTERLY: "THE BIBLE AND THE WRITINGS OF ELLEN WHITE ARE INERRANT..." -- Feb. 11, 1978, Sabbath School-Quarterly; teacher's Edition, p. 112

6-      Anyone else claiming special knowledge like the Gnostics did.

a.       Are usually delusional

                                                              i.      Motivate by fear or guilt

                                                            ii.      Have tunnel vision

                                                          iii.      Man dependent

                                                          iv.      No faith or fear of God

b.      Are not motivated by love

                                                              i.      Sacrificial love is absent

                                                            ii.      Selfishness is rampant

                                                          iii.      No true freedom

c.       Follow worldly guidelines akin to political manipulation

d.      Resort to lording over others

e.       This can also happen in the Lord's church – wasn’t Judas the precursor?

 

The point Peter makes is that true prophecy is available to all and no one can claim special understanding since it is not to be interpreted or opinionated upon. It is to be obeyed!

 

Since the prophets did not write what they thought about something or their own viewpoint on something, we should not try to interpret scripture from our own understanding or interpretation of current events either. The context of scripture is centered on God's holiness and being, not on our limited understanding of our surroundings. The scope of the scriptures deals with issues of morality and other spiritual things that generally supersede man-made artifacts like technology, culture and history. To interpret scripture according to these temporary things will cause us to misinterpret the prophetic word.

 

Most liturgy and culturally dependent religion nowadays can be attributed to manmade invention. There was a brief and temporary time for that during the days of the Old Testament, and that being guided by the very words of God. Jesus told the Samaritan woman and everyone who reads His words:

 

John 4:21-24 ESV  Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.  22  You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.  23  But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.  24  God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

 

True worshippers don’t worship according to what they feel or what they see fit, but according to the revealed word of God. It is not about creating atmosphere or making people comfortable or attracting attention. It is about worshipping God by His Spirit and by His truth found in the revealed words of prophecy in the Bible.

 

It is amazing how little liturgy, rules and regulations you find in the New Testament. Knowing Jesus and the Father is eternal life (John 17:3); it is about obeying God, serving, doing good and loving one another.

 

John 13:34-35 ESV  A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  35  By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

 

1 John 3:7-11 ESV  Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.  8  Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.  9  No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.  10  By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.  11  For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

 

John puts it plain and simple. You don’t need a theology degree. You don’t need to be part of a large and influential man centered organization. If you sin and harbor bitterness and envy in your heart you are doing the works of the devil. You won't be saved even if you go to church every day and sing songs and pray and or follow blindly whatever doctrine you’ve been sold. If you have been born of God (born again by being baptized in Jesus’ name) you are born to love one another, to know your Lord and savior and to love the Father by obeying Him. If you keep being renewed and cleansed by the Spirit in humility and through the encouragement of those who love you, you will be forever welcome into the kingdom of heaven! Simple right!  Well, didn’t Jesus say:

 

John 8:31-32 ESV  So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,  32  and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

 

Freedom is the fruit of truth. Guilt and fear are the fruit of manmade interpretation, religion, legislation and promises.

 

2 Peter 1:21 ESV

For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

 

This verse is really an explanation of the previous point Peter makes about prophecy. Prophecy did not come from men’s minds: another crucial point. The prophecies we read in the Bible are from the Holy Spirit. Men did not will these words; they were merely carriers of the will of God through the Spirit’s inspiration. The sureness of the prophetic word lies in the fact that the truth it tells is timeless, objective and clear-cut as a double edged sword:

 

Hebrews 4:12 ESV  For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

 

Its truth it tells does not depend on intelligence, wisdom, insight or the cleverness of man. To understand it does not require a degree, an interpreter, or a special anointing: only common sense. This is because it came from heaven, from our God who understands our mind and our deceitful heart.

 

So to understand the subject of the Bible’s inspiration we need to remember:

 

1-      Prophecy did not come from man’s interpretation of theology or current events

2-      Prophecy was not produced by the will or imagination of man

 

What some say about this subject:

 

1-      Prophets wrote their own take of things as God moved them

2-      Prophets mostly wrote what they thought except when they quote God directly

3-      Scripture is tainted by the prophet’s opinion

4-      Scriptural integrity has eroded over time like the “telephone game”

5-      Scriptures only address the audience in the time it was written. It speaks only to them and in order for us to understand it we need to interpret it in keeping with our modern times.