THE INITIAL THEME OF 2 PETER. The initial theme of 2 Peter is found in 2 Peter 1:1. It is that our God and Saviour Jesus Christ has come into the world, and that thereby: · He has called us _by His own glory_ and virtue (2 Peter 1:3) · So that we may enjoy _life and godliness_ (2 Peter 1:3).... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ.' ‘Simeon Peter.' Early manuscripts divide as to whether it should be Simeon (aleph, A) or Simon (B). But in view of the propensity... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,' The combined greetings of ‘grace' (a Greek greeting) and ‘peace' (a Jewish greeting) again reflect the unity of God's people. But to the Christian ‘grace' reflects more than just ‘well-being', it reflects the unme... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Seeing that his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and virtue (vibrant excellence),' The divine power of God (2 Peter 1:3) and the power and coming of Christ (2 Peter 1:16; 2 Peter 3:4; 2 Peter 3:... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD HAS MADE FULL PROVISION FOR US TO LIFE A GODLY LIFE (2 PETER 1:3). Having greeted the recipients, and having reminded them that they had a like precious faith with all God's people, Peter now reminds them of the huge benefits that that faith has brought them. They should recognise that the divi... [ Continue Reading ]
‘By which he has granted to us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.' Because we have been called in His glory and in virtue of His powerful excellence, and because... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Yes, and for this very reason, adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply virtue; and in your virtue knowledge; and in your knowledge self-control; and in your self-control patient endurance and in your patient endurance godliness; and in your godliness brotherly kindness; and in your... [ Continue Reading ]
WE ARE THUS TO CULTIVATE ALL THAT IS GOOD AND PURE IN LIFE (2 PETER 1:5). Because of our participation in His divine nature, we are therefore to become an example of all that is good and pure.... [ Continue Reading ]
‘For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful unto the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.' The importance of these ‘virtues' is now brought out. Those who abound in them will neither be idle nor unfruitful with regard to the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Chris... [ Continue Reading ]
‘For he who lacks these things is blind, seeing only what is near (shortsighted or blinking), having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins.' In contrast those who neglect these things are short-sighted, they are ‘blinking'. They are virtually blind. The idea is of limited vision. They see only d... [ Continue Reading ]
A PLEA THAT THEY MAKE THEIR CALLING AND ELECTION SURE (2 PETER 1:9). Peter now points out that those whose lives fail to be continually fruitbearing in the way that he has described reveal that they are blind to Christian truth. Thus he calls on his readers in contrast to make their calling and ele... [ Continue Reading ]
‘For which reason, brothers and sisters, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure, for if you do these things, you will never stumble, for thus will be richly supplied to you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.' Rather, therefore, than b... [ Continue Reading ]
‘For which reason I will be ready always to put you in remembrance of these things, though you know them, and are established in the truth which is with you.' ‘For which reason.' Because of His glory and excellence (2 Peter 1:3), and because He has granted us those great and precious promises which... [ Continue Reading ]
PETER EMPHASISES HIS WILLINGNESS TO CONTINUE EXHORTING THEM, AND THE RIGHTNESS OF DOING SO, AND HE PROMISES THAT HE WILL PURSUE IT WITH TRUE DILIGENCE (2 PETER 1:12) Peter now stresses his readiness and eagerness to fulfil Jesus command to him to ‘Feed My sheep' (John 21:15). Compare 1 Peter 5:1. He... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And I think it right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance, knowing that the putting off of my tent comes swiftly, even as our Lord Jesus Christ signified to me.' Indeed as long as he is in his earthly tent he considers it right to continually stir them up, by... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Yes, I will give diligence that at every time you may be able after my exodus to call these things to remembrance.' He is concerned that after his death they would still continue to have in remembrance: 1) The divine power received through the knowledge of the One Who had called them by His glory... [ Continue Reading ]
‘For we did not follow cunningly devised fables (myths), when we made known to you the power and coming (parousia) of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.' He wants them to know that unlike his opponents he had not been inventing cunningly devised myths (stories conveying... [ Continue Reading ]
PETER CONFIRMS THAT WHAT HE HAS SAID ABOUT THE GLORY OF JESUS OUR LORD IS BASED ON HIS OWN FACTUAL EXPERIENCE (2 PETER 1:16). They have been called by His own glory and excellence (2 Peter 1:3), and have been promised abundant entry into His eternal kingdom (2 Peter 1:11). Here is the essence of the... [ Continue Reading ]
‘For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there was borne such a voice to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased,” ' For he wants them to know that the disciples themselves had been witnesses and had seen Him receive honour and glory from God... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And this voice we ourselves heard borne out of heaven, when we were with him in the holy mount.' And what was more the voice had been heard by them all. They had heard it borne to them out of heaven, when they were with Him in the holy mount. And it had been a real voice heard and decipherable by... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And we have more sure the word of prophecy, to which you do well that you take heed, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts,' The words and experience on the holy mount had made more sure the word of prophecy, spoke in earlier days by the pr... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS HONOUR AND GLORY IS ALSO WITNESSED TO BY THE PROPHETS (2 PETER 1:19). And all this had been previously confirmed by the prophets which had prophesied of His coming and His glory. This was no Hellenistic myth.... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of that person's own explanation, for no prophecy ever came by the will of man, but men spoke from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit.' For they must primarily recognise that no prophecy of Scripture was ever but the personal opinion of the pro... [ Continue Reading ]