- Overview of 2 Peter
- Author: see below
- Timeframe
- V14 suggests Peter will die soon (some historical data suggests 66 AD)
- Probably between 63-65 AD (both letters); some suggests a slightly later day which also moves Peter's death
- Letters may have been a year apart
- Recipients
- See below
- Purpose
- Heresies developing in the Asia Minor region
- Jude quotes 2 Peter in at least 13 places
- Who is the author?
- Simon Peter
- Who are the recipients
- Those who received a faith as precious as ours
- Believers in Asia Minor (see 2 Peter 3:1)
- Sometimes we can see the purpose or a hint at the purpose of the letter in the greeting. What would this suggest?
- Equality of all believers (laity and leadership) -- equal standing; same righteousness
- The knowledge of God, a relationship, multiplies grace and knowledge to us
- In terms of living the Christian life, what does verse 3 assure us?
- We have everything we need (through the knowledge)
- Sometimes I have felt a triteness about the statement, we just need to get into the Word of God on a regular basis … but it's not trite, it is true ...
- If we have everything we need, why do we struggle so much living out the Christian life?
- What does v4 "through them" refer to?
- Plural, so must be promises
- Apparently, philosophers of the time dwelt on topics like Godliness, goodness (virtue), divine and corruption, so there may have been some false teaching on these concepts. Do we obtain or have the divine nature?
- No, we partake
- What does it mean to partake?
- It is available but we don't own it
- What allows us to participate in the divine nature or to escape the corruption of the world (could also be a reference to worldview)?
- The promises
- What does "for this very reason" refer to?
- I think the reasons specified by the "so that"
- Why "make every effort" versus "rely on God; trust God; let go and let God; …?"
- Romans 14:19 (ESV) — 19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
- Hebrews 12:14 (ESV) — 14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
- There is requirement of our will to activate the power of the spirit. The word here for "make every effort" is diligence, also translated hurry or haste
- The word supplement (ESV) add (NIV) is epichoregeo and is the source of chorus and choreography
- It literally means to gather a chorus
- The chorus are seven qualities that are added to our faith
- Also, the qualities seem to grow out of each other
- Goodness, virtue, moral excellence
- Robertsons: moral energy, moral power, vigor of the soul
- Knowledge, knowing God better
- Insight, understanding
- Self-Control
- Holding passions and desires in hand (key is given in v3,4 (need Word))
- Perseverance, patient endurance
- Literally "remaining behind or staying"
- Godliness
- Lifestyle of holiness or patterned after God. The word is never ascribed to God
- Brotherly Kindness
- Filadelfian, fileo love
- Love
- Agape love by deliberate choice
- What does it mean "possess these qualities in increasing measure?"
- Growing
- Here we have a simple definition of growing. It is adding these 7 qualities in increasing measure to our life
- One ramification of growing out of each other: If we are weak in one, maybe we haven't progress in the former quality to the degree necessary
- And what is the promise?
- We will not be ineffective in our knowledge of Christ
- We will not be unproductive in our knowledge of Christ
- What does that mean?
- God will use us
- If we are not growing, what is the promise?
- We are nearsighted and blind
- What does it mean for a believer to be nearsighted and blind
- We don't even see what we are missing
- Our world revolves around self (since that is the closest thing around)
- In some sense, we are little like the foolish and ignorant (don't know and don't care)
- Nearsighted - see only the things near us (world)
- Blind - don't see our own shortcomings
- Why make our calling and election sure?
- Growing affirms our salvation
- Two more promises
- We won't fall (fall into what? Possible the heresies he is going to discuss)
- We will receive a rich eternal welcome (reward)
- What word or idea comes up repeatedly?
- Remind
- Refresh your memory
- Remember
- Also?
- As long as live
- I will soon put it (the tent of this body) aside
- After my departure
- Peter is going to die soon, …, so how important is what he wants to say?
- "And I will make every effort …"
- Where else do we see this phrase?
- In regard to adding the seven qualities to your faith
- What do we learn about the recipients?
- They are firmly established in the truth
- If they are firmly established in the truth and not baby Christians, why is Peter so spun up about making sure they remember these things?
- It is so easy to get blasé or laissez-faire and get off track
- What is Peter's argument?
- We didn't make it up
- We were eyewitnesses
- What is the event that Peter specifically refers to?
- Mount of transfiguration
- Appearance of Moses and Elijah
- The glory of God
- This is one of the arguments for the validity of the scriptures -- the eyewitnesses. You need to trust the eyewitnesses, the direct sources. "Johnny come-lately's" are poor sources for truth.
- And so because of what Peter has seen, what conclusion does Peter reach?
- Everything the prophets said was true as well
- Why?
- Because it was not the Prophets who said it, but they were carried along by the Holy Spirit
- Discuss "inspiration"
- Prophet's words, language, experiences under the direction of the Holy Spirit
- Even believers can stop growing
- Growing in the Word was the most important thing that Peter wanted his readers to remember after he died
- The NT and the OT are verified by the eyewitnesses and the fulfillment of prophecy
2 Peter 1:14 (ESV) — 14 since I know that the
putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to
me.
[Skip intro and
start in verse 4]
2 Peter 1:1–2 (ESV) — 1 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: 2 May grace and peace be
multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
2 Peter 3:1a (ESV) — 1a This is now the second
letter that I am writing to you, beloved….
2 Peter 1:3–4 (ESV) — 3 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, 4 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.
2 Peter 1:5–7 (ESV) — 5 For this very reason,
make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with
knowledge, 6 and knowledge with
self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with
godliness, 7 and godliness with
brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
2 Peter 1:8–11 (ESV) — 8 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. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so
nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his
former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be
all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you
practice these qualities you will never fall. 11
For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the
eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:12–15 (ESV) — 12 Therefore I intend
always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are
established in the truth that you have. 13
I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of
reminder, 14 since I know that the
putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to
me. 15 And I will make every effort so
that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.
2 Peter 1:16–18 (ESV) — 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. 17 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,” 18
we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on
the holy mountain.
2 Peter 1:19–21 (ESV) — 19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, 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.
APPLICATION:
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