Day 355: 2 Peter

(This second epistle from Peter was written to the same readers as his first epistle, and for the same purpose: present Doctrine from an emotional perspective in order to exhort believers to suffer well. While it was assumed that Peter wrote this letter also from Babylon, this was not known for sure. Also, the date of this letter could be anywhere between 61 to 65 AD, from one to five years after Peter's first letter. One theme that was different from Peter's first letter was the foretelling of a great apostasy in the last days, which made this letter similar to 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Jude, and Revelation.)

2 Peter 1
¹ Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and the Saviour Jesus Christ:

(Peter wrote this letter to believers.)

² Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;
³ seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue;

(God's divine power has given us all things that pertain to life (ability to repair) and godliness (Righteousness by grace) through the knowledge of Him.)

⁴ whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in that world by lust.

(We are given great and precious promises so that we might be partakers of God. This is by faith. The promises have not happened yet.)

⁵ Yea, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply virtue; and in your virtue knowledge;

(Peter began a progression of maturity which began with faith. Romans 12:3 stated that God gave to each person a measure of faith. Peter stated that believers ought to add virtue (moral excellency, which is embracing and living the causes of Right and Just) to faith. This was a commitment to finish this progression. Next, we ought to add knowledge = information = what. Notice, information could deceive people (take them off course) if they did not have moral excellency.)

⁶ and in your knowledge self-control; and in your self-control patience; and in your patience godliness;

(Self-control was the ability to determine the right amount of a behavior. This was a why. Self-control was an expression of the will of the individual and ought to help the information that was received not take us off course. Having this why would allow us to have a profitable how.

Patience was having a good attitude while you were waiting. Patience was not the waiting, you were going to wait whether you had a good attitude or not. Patience was how you waited.

Notice, self-control was necessary to demonstrate patience. Having the right what, why, and how led to godliness, which was being like God: Right and Just. You would think this would be the ultimate effect. However, God's Nature (Right and Just) are causes. What are the ultimate effects of God's Nature?)

⁷ and in your godliness brotherly kindness; and in your brotherly kindness love.

(Brotherly kindness was love to the believers. Being like God ought to immediately result in loving believers: the Second Command. The ultimate effect was love...loving everyone, even unbelievers who caused us to suffer unjustly. Love required the most maturity: giving without expecting anything in return from those to whom you gave.)

⁸ 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.

(…because if these things were in you, they would make you profitable in the knowledge of Christ. You would be more like Christ.)

⁹ For he that lacketh these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins.

(Those who did not have these things in them were blind and had forgotten the work of Christ. They did not have faith because they could only see things that were near.)

¹⁰ Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble:

(Give diligence (work towards) to make your calling and election sure (stable, firm). This was an exhortation to make an effort towards these things. This made it clear that our election (Salvation) was our responsibility. If God unilaterally chose people ahead of time, without their consent, there would be no way a person could make their election "more sure." Making our election "more sure" was sanctification, something in which we continually made progress. If we did these things (verses 5-7) we would never fall.)

¹¹ for thus shall be richly supplied unto you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
¹² Wherefore I shall be ready always to put you in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and are established in the truth which is with you.

(Peter said he would continue to make them aware of the things they needed to focus on, regardless if they knew them already, so they could be established in truth. Again, these were the things in which we ought to continue to work making progress in.)

¹³ And I think it right, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;
¹⁴ knowing that the putting off of my tabernacle cometh swiftly, even as our Lord Jesus Christ signified unto me.

(Peter was still aware of the words Jesus spoke to him that were recorded in John 21:18-19.)

¹⁵ Yea, I will give diligence that at every time ye may be able after my decease to call these things to remembrance.

(Peter wanted the people to remember these things forever, especially after he was dead.)

¹⁶ For we did not follow cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
¹⁷ For he received from God the Father honor 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:
¹⁸ and this voice we ourselves heard borne out of heaven, when we were with him in the holy mount.

(Peter referred to the transfiguration of Christ (Matthew 17:2) that he had witnessed, contrasting it with those who spoke about things they had made up. Peter continued this contrasting presentation with the topic of prophecy...)

¹⁹ And we have the word of prophecy made more sure; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts:
²⁰ knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of private interpretation.
²¹ For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit.

(Doctrine: Prophecies were not by the will of man but by the Holy Spirit through holy men of God. No prophecy is from the person's own mind. Peter showed that prophecy was not made up, like the fables that other religions followed.)

(Theme of Chapter 1: Peter presented an explanation for the process of sanctification: faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, patience, brotherly kindness, and love.)




2 Peter 2
¹ But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.

(Peter concluded the previous chapter contrasting believers with those outside the faith who believed in fables. In this chapter, Peter brought these concepts together by stating that there were people who appeared to be believers, but actually believed in fables. Paul called these people "reprobates/castaways.")

² And many shall follow their lascivious doings; by reason of whom the way of the truth shall be evil spoken of.

(Peter prophesied that many believers would be deceived by these false teachers.)

³ And in covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose sentence now from of old lingereth not, and their destruction slumbereth not.

(The false teachers would use believers for their own gain, but their judgment was not far away.)

⁴ For if God spared not angels when they sinned, but cast them down to hell, and committed them to pits of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

(Doctrine: The angels that sinned were cast down to hell and delivered into chains of darkness to be reserved to judgment. In this verse, the word for hell was tartarus. We saw in 1 Peter 3:19 that Jesus preached the Gospel to the angels in tartarus while His physical body was in the grave. Those angels were the ones who sinned before the Flood because the subsequent verse (1 Peter 3:20) spoke of Noah and how eight souls were saved by the ark through water. Likewise, Peter led immediately into Noah...)

⁵ and spared not the ancient world, but preserved Noah with seven others, a preacher of righteousness, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;

(Noah, a preacher of righteousness, was saved and the ungodly world was not spared during the time when some angels sinned (Genesis 6) and were condemned to tartarus.)

⁶ and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, having made them an example unto those that should live ungodly;

(Peter also mentioned Sodom and Gomorrah during this explanation. Notice, these were the only two mentions in the Bible of angels and sex. During Noah's time, the angels had intercourse with women. During Lot's time, some men attempted to have sex with angels: Genesis 19:5. Peter used both incidents of examples of the coming judgment. Jesus also referenced both circumstances (Luke 17:26-30) to explain what it would be like prior to His return.)

⁷ and delivered righteous Lot, sore distressed by the lascivious life of the wicked
⁸ (for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their lawless deeds):

(Lot was delivered from the filthy conduct of the wicked, just like Noah. Eight were saved with Noah. God said He would spare Sodom if ten righteous were found: Genesis 18:32.)

⁹ the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment unto the day of judgment;

(God knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and how to reserve future punishment of the wicked. Verses 4-7 were examples of this truth, and they showed us what will happen to false teachers and false prophets.)

¹⁰ but chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement, and despise dominion. Daring, self-willed, they tremble not to rail at dignities:
¹¹ whereas angels, though greater in might and power, bring not a railing judgment against them before the Lord.

(Doctrine: The angels do not bring their opinion about people to God. The angels only report the facts to God.)

¹² But these, as creatures without reason, born mere animals to be taken and destroyed, railing in matters whereof they are ignorant, shall in their destroying surely be destroyed,

(False teachers are deceivers. Those who walk after the flesh and corruption are creatures without reason who speak evil of the things they do not understand. They speak a right what without a right why/how. They will perish in their own corruption. It is their fault that they have no eternal life. Notice, animals do not have understanding. Animals only have knowledge. Peter continued by giving examples of destructive behavior from these false teachers...)

¹³ suffering wrong as the hire of wrong-doing; men that count it pleasure to revel in the day-time, spots and blemishes, revelling in their deceivings while they feast with you;
¹⁴ having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; enticing unstedfast souls; having a heart exercised in covetousness; children of cursing;
¹⁵ forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the hire of wrong-doing;
¹⁶ but he was rebuked for his own transgression: a dumb ass spake with man's voice and stayed the madness of the prophet.

(Peter compared these false teachers to Balaam (Numbers 22). Balaam wanted to speak what God told him to speak, however, he had a different reason and different way from God. Balaam had a right what with a wrong why/how.)

¹⁷ These are springs without water, and mists driven by a storm; for whom the blackness of darkness hath been reserved.

(Peter gave word picture examples of having a right what (appearance) without a right how/why. Springs/wells were a right what, however, these springs/wells did not have water.)

¹⁸ For, uttering great swelling words of vanity, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by lasciviousness, those who are just escaping from them that live in error;
¹⁹ promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he also brought into bondage.

(They said the right what (promising liberty), but actually had a wrong how/why: they actually did not have liberty, but their goal was to deceive others.)

²⁰ For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the last state is become worse with them than the first.
²¹ For it were better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

(This spoke about people who knew the way of Righteousness but turned from it. It was better for these people if they had never known it. The more a person knows, the more destructive they can become if they become evil. Lucifer is the most destructive because of the beings who are destructive, he knew the most. Peter then referenced Proverb 26:11...)

²² It has happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog turning to his own vomit again, and the sow that had washed to wallowing in the mire.

(Theme of Chapter 2: Peter prophesied about, described, and warned believers about false teachers.)




2 Peter 3
¹ This is now, beloved, the second epistle that I write unto you; and in both of them I stir up your sincere mind by putting you in remembrance;

(In this verse, the Greek word for "mind" was dianoia. It was composed of two Greek words that meant "the channel through which the Mind/Soul operates"...which is the conscious brain! The word "brain" is a relatively new word and was created more than a thousand years after the New Testament was written. Peter's objective was to stir up their pure conscious brains by helping them remember what to focus on to stay godly, which was the same objective in Peter's first epistle. Peter used this same word very early in his first letter (I Peter 1:13) when he wanted believers to prepare our conscious brain, be sober, and hope (faith) to the end for the grace that will be brought to us at the revelation of Christ in our conscious brain. Peter stated this was the second epistle he wrote to these people, so there was not an epistle in between that we are missing.)

² that ye should remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and the commandments of the Lord and Saviour through your apostles:

(Peter wanted them to remember the words of the holy prophets and the commandments of the Apostles.)

³ knowing this first, that in the last days mockers shall come with mockery, walking after their own lusts,
⁴ and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

(Peter stated prophecy: In the last days there will be scoffers of the promises of God, literally saying that since Jesus had not come back yet, He would not come back.)

⁵ For this they willfully forget, that there were heavens from of old, and an earth compacted out of water and amidst water, by the word of God;
⁶ by which means the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
⁷ but the heavens that now are, and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

(The heavens and earth we have now are being "kept in store" and reserved unto judgment. Revelation 21:1 stated the heaven and the earth will pass away, the heaven and earth will dissolve. Peter stated the first judgment (Noah's Flood in Genesis 7) came by water, while this final judgment would come with fire. Throughout the Bible, we have seen that the final judgment was a refiner's fire: everything that was dross would be burned up, while everything that was a precious metal would be purified.)

⁸ But forget not this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

(A day to the Lord is as a thousand years are to us. A thousand years are 365,000 days, so the ratio was not 1000:1, but 365,000:1. One way to look at this was the amount we go through in a thousand years was about the same amount the Lord goes through in one day. The point was that we ought to be patient because God's view was much bigger than ours, He has much more to account for than any one man!)

⁹ The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to you-ward, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

(Doctrine: God does not equal out Justice immediately because He is giving everyone enough time to repent because His Will is that none perish and that all would come to repentance.)

¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come as a thief; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

(Peter blatantly described the details of Revelation 21:1, the earth and heavens will dissolve with fervent heat. Peter linked these events with the coming of the Lord.)

¹¹ Seeing that these things are thus all to be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy living and godliness,

(Peter used a rhetorical question to encourage us to be ready for that day in holy living and godliness.)

¹² looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, by reason of which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

(Peter stated believers ought to desire that day...)

¹³ But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

(Righteousness will dwell in the new heavens and new earth. The Kingdom of God/Jesus only consists of good. Evil will be in the lake of fire.)

¹⁴ Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for these things, give diligence that ye may be found in peace, without spot and blameless in his sight.

(Paul stated in Ephesians 5:27 the church ought to present itself as a Bride without spot or blemish. Peter stated the same thing for believers.)

¹⁵ And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote unto you;
¹⁶ as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; wherein are some things hard to be understood, which the ignorant and unstedfast wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

(Peter was aware that Paul wrote epistles to the people whom Peter was writing: Jews. This may have been what we know as the Book of Hebrews. Peter was aware of other epistles and even said that some of Paul's writings were hard to understand. This was not a reason to not try to understand because the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth.)

¹⁷ Ye therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, beware lest, being carried away with the error of the wicked, ye fall from your own stedfastness.
¹⁸ But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and for ever. Amen.

(If grace meant "unmerited favor," how would I "grow in grace"? I would need to increase the amount of areas in my life where I could be considered "unmerited"! This means I would have to get worse and progressively live unjustly, in order for me to grow in grace!

Grace is "the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life." Growing in grace does mean that I increase in my ability to hear God's Voice and allow that Voice to come through in my words/actions.)

(Theme of Chapter 3: Peter warned the day of judgment would come with the earth and heavens being dissolve with fire.)

(This second epistle from Peter was written to the same readers as his first epistle, and for the same purpose: present Doctrine from an emotional perspective in order to exhort believers to suffer well. While it was assumed that Peter wrote this letter also from Babylon, this was not known for sure. Also, the date of this letter could be anywhere between 61 to 65 AD, from one to five years after Peter's first letter. One theme that was different from Peter's first letter was the foretelling of a great apostasy in the last days, which made this letter similar to 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Jude, and Revelation.)

Day 356