Monday, October 18, 2010

2 Peter 3

Read 2 Peter 3 before getting into the study!

(1) This is my second letter to you, *dear friends, and in both of them I have tried to stimulate your wholesome thinking and refresh your memory.

  • *dear friends: Greek - agapetos = beloved.

(2) I want you to remember what the holy prophets said long ago and what our Lord and Savior commanded through your apostles.

  • Peter wants them to refer to and remember three sources for the truth that should keep them from the error of the scoffers.:
    1. The Old Testament prophets
    2. The Lord and Savior (Jesus Christ)
    3. The apostles

(3) Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the *last days **scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires.

  • Jude 1:17-18: But you, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ said. They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires.
  • *last days: When are the last days? In a sense, the last days began when Jesus ascended into heaven. Since that time, we haven’t rushed towards the precipice of the consummation of all things, but we have run alongside that edge - ready to go anytime at God’s good pleasure. But, we seem to be closer than ever with Israel in the land again and with so many other signs of the last days in place.
  • **scoffers: "A scoffer is someone who treats lightly that which ought to be taken seriously." (Wiersbe)

(4) They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, *everything has remained the same since the world was first created.”

  • *everything has remained the same: Their view was that God had not intervened in history at all and, therefore, would not in the future. They were totally oblivious that Jesus Christ entered into this world and intervened in history (of which Peter was an actual eyewitness as he had pointed out in 1:16-18), which had resulted in His death and resurrection and would culminate in His second coming. The Bible is mostly an account of God's intervention in history.
  • The prophets foretold he would come; he himself said he would come again, (John 14:3,28) ; the angels, at his ascension, declared he would come from heaven in like manner as he went up, (Acts 1:11) ; and all his apostles gave out that he would appear a second time to judge both quick and dead, (Acts 10:42) (2 Timothy 4:1) (1 Peter 4:5) , and that his coming was at hand, (Philippians 4:5) (2 Thessalonians 2:2) ; but where is the fulfillment of all this? They said He has not come, nor is there any sign or likelihood of it.
    • John 14:3,28: When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. ... Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am.
    • Acts 1:11: Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”
    • Acts 10:42: And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead.
    • 2 Timothy 4:1: I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom:
    • 1 Peter 4:5: But remember that they will have to face God, who will judge everyone, both the living and the dead.
    • Philippians 4:5: Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
    • 2 Thessalonians 2:2: Don’t be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun. Don’t believe them, even if they claim to have had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us.

    1. The World View of the Evolutionist and the Secular Scientist: No Creation; no special significance to man; no ACCOUNTABILITY to God.
    2. The World View of the Secular Historian: God has no plan for History; there is no second coming of Christ; no kingdom
      plan; no new heavens and new earth; History is heading nowhere; No URGENCY vs. "His Story"
    3. The World View of the Environmentalist: let’s devote our life to protecting the natural resources around us; we are one with Mother Earth; this is a world that is reserved for destruction by fire!

(5) They deliberately forget that God made the heavens by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water.

(6) Then he used the water to destroy the ancient world with a mighty flood.

(7) And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the day of judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed.

  • The point Peter is making in verses 5-7 is that God does indeed intervene in history and will yet again. The mockers say that Jesus is not coming again and that God has left us to our own devices.

(8) But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day.

  • We now know that time is not constant and we know that God "inhabits eternity". Because of our short life span, we get overly anxious and want to speed up everything.
  • Psalm 90:4: For you, a thousand years are as a passing day as brief as a few night hours.
  • Habakkuk 2:3: This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.

(9) The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

  • Ezekiel 33:11: As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die?
  • 1 Timothy 2:3-4: This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.

(10) But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.

  • Psalm 102:25-26: Long ago you laid the foundation of the earth and made the heavens with your hands. They will perish, but you remain forever; they will wear out like old clothing. You will change them like a garment and discard them.
  • Isaiah 34:4: The heavens above will melt away and disappear like a rolled-up scroll. The stars will fall from the sky like withered leaves from a grapevine, or shriveled figs from a fig tree.
  • Joel 3:15: The sun and moon will grow dark, and the stars will no longer shine.
  • Matthew 24:29-36: “Immediately after the anguish of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will give no light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from all over the world—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven. “Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know his return is very near, right at the door. I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear. “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:2-6: For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape. But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded.
  • Hebrews 1:10-12: He also says to the Son, “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundation of the earth and made the heavens with your hands. They will perish, but you remain forever. They will wear out like old clothing. You will fold them up like a cloak and discard them like old clothing. But you are always the same; you will live forever.”
  • Revelation 6:13-14: Then the stars of the sky fell to the earth like green figs falling from a tree shaken by a strong wind. The sky was rolled up like a scroll, and all of the mountains and islands were moved from their places.

(11) Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live,

(12) looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames.

(13) But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.

  • Isaiah 65:17: “Look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth, and no one will even think about the old ones anymore.
  • Revelation 21:1: Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone.

(14) And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.

(15) And remember, the Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him—

(16) speaking of these things in all of his letters. Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with *other parts of Scripture. And this will result in their destruction.

  • *other parts of Scripture: Paul's writings were considered "Scripture" already.

(17) I am warning you ahead of time, dear friends. Be on guard so that you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing.

(18) Rather, you must *grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.

  • *grow in the grace and knowledge: The antidote to the false teachers is to GROW in grace and knowledge!

NOTE: Unless otherwise noted, the scripture version used is the New Living Translation.

References and sources are listed at http://epistles-of-peter.blogspot.com/2010/10/2-peter-references.html

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Sunday, October 10, 2010

Peter's Epistles - Links

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2 Peter 2

Read 2 Peter 2 before getting into the study!

Historical Context: The time of the apostles is fading; it has been over 30 years since the ascension of Christ; false teachers have crept into the church and are gaining momentum; Peter wants to go on record on these issues before he is gone.

What is the central mark of counterfeit Christianity - the acid test? What does this group (or this person) believe about Jesus Christ? The heart of Christianity is a certain belief about Jesus Christ. On that point there can be no compromise. If a person is wrong about Jesus Christ, it matters not whether he is right in a dozen other places. If he’s wrong on the central point, he’s wrong all over. A huge red flag should go up for the true followers of Jesus Christ whenever someone claims Jesus is anything other than what He claims to be.

The general subject of this chapter is stated in the first verse, and it embraces these points:

  1. That it might be expected that there would be false teachers among Christians, as there were false prophets in ancient times.
  2. That they would introduce destructive errors, leading many astray.
  3. That they would be certainly punished.

(1) *But there were also **false prophets in Israel, just as there will be ***false teachers among you. They will ****cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who *****bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves.

  • *But: The text begins with “but” (de, an adversative particle) which always serves to introduce a comparison or change. Peter had just alluded to men who “spoke from God” and were “moved by the Holy Spirit” (1:20-21). He then described those of a different character, “false teachers,” who would be reflections of certain “false prophets” who were “among” God’s people in the Old Testament era.
    • 2 Peter 1:20-21: Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.
  • **false prophets in Israel: Who were these false prophets in Israel?
    • Deuteronomy 18:20-22: But any prophet who falsely claims to speak in my name or who speaks in the name of another god must die.’ “But you may wonder, ‘How will we know whether or not a prophecy is from the Lord?’ If the prophet speaks in the Lord’s name but his prediction does not happen or come true, you will know that the Lord did not give that message. That prophet has spoken without my authority and need not be feared.
    • 1 Kings 18:22: Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only prophet of the Lord who is left, but Baal has 450 prophets.
    • Jeremiah 23:16-17, 23:21, 28:15-17: This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says to his people: “Do not listen to these prophets when they prophesy to you, filling you with futile hopes. They are making up everything they say. They do not speak for the Lord! ... “I have not sent these prophets, yet they run around claiming to speak for me. I have given them no message, yet they go on prophesying. ... Then Jeremiah the prophet said to Hananiah, “Listen, Hananiah! The Lord has not sent you, but the people believe your lies. Therefore, this is what the Lord says: ‘You must die. Your life will end this very year because you have rebelled against the Lord.’” Two months later the prophet Hananiah died.
    • Ezekiel 13:2-3: “Son of man, prophesy against the false prophets of Israel who are inventing their own prophecies. Say to them, ‘Listen to the word of the Lord. This is what the Sovereign Lord says: What sorrow awaits the false prophets who are following their own imaginations and have seen nothing at all!’
  • ***false teachers among you:

    • Matthew 24:11: And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people.
    • Mark 13:22-23: For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones. Watch out! I have warned you about this ahead of time!
    • Acts 20:29-30: I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following.
    • Romans 16:17-18: And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people.
    • 2 Corinthians 11:4: You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed
    • 2 Corinthians 11:13-14: These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
    • 1 Timothy 6:3-5: Some people may contradict our teaching, but these are the wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. These teachings promote a godly life. Anyone who teaches something different is arrogant and lacks understanding. Such a person has an unhealthy desire to quibble over the meaning of words. This stirs up arguments ending in jealousy, division, slander, and evil suspicions. These people always cause trouble. Their minds are corrupt, and they have turned their backs on the truth. To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy.
    • 2 Timothy 3:1-5: You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!
    • 2 Timothy 4:3-4: For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.
    • I John 4:1-3: Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.
    • 2 Peter 3:3: Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires.
  • ****cleverly = Privily - means secretive, but it isn’t that these liars teach in secret, it’s just that their agenda is cloaked in secrecy. Throughout the last 2,000 years, men and women have been tricked and swindled by these heretics.
  • *****bought them: Peter is asserting that Christ bought the potential for salvation even for these false teachers, but they were not saved as is clearly indicated by their habitual, continuous (present tense) repudiation of Christ their Master. In other words, their price for redemption had been paid in full (John 19:30) but they had not received the Redeemer (cp John 1:11) by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9) and therefore were still dead in their trespasses and sins.
    • If a false prophet only said false things, no one would be deceived by them. But usually what they say is ninety-five percent true. And thus they entice people and deceive people because most of what they say is true, but then they begin to interject that area of falsehood.
    • There are those who claim to be ministers who fill the pulpits in the United States who deny the deity of Jesus Christ, "even denying the Lord who bought them." Willing to put Jesus in the category of a master teacher or of a great prophet or whatever. But they deny the Lord that bought them.
    • Feel good sermons
    • denial of the virgin birth, deity, bodily resurrection, and second coming of Christ,
    • The antidote to false teachers: Ephesians 4:12-14: Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.
    • These false teachers then were twisting what Jesus and the apostles taught, claming that Jesus couldn't be God or that he couldn't have been a real man.

      1. Claim that Jesus couldn't be God or that he couldn't have been a real man.
      2. Twist the Scriptures to reflect their own beliefs.
      3. Operate in secret.
      4. Deny him as God come in the flesh.
      5. Deny that Jesus is the only way ('the way, the truth and the life').
      6. Deny the doctrine of redemption by the blood of Christ
      7. Deny the lordship of Christ.
      8. Deny the virgin birth.
      9. Deny the deity of Christ.
      10. Deny the Bible is the inerrant Word of God.
      11. Deny the Bible as the authority for right and wrong.
      12. Deny Christ's bodily resurrection.
      13. Deny the second coming of Christ.

(2) Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered.

  • People today are no longer steeped in the fundamentals of doctrine; therefore the warning signals don't go off when false doctrine is introduced; people are very susceptible to error.

(3) In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed.

  • Jude 1:16,18: These people are grumblers and complainers, living only to satisfy their desires. They brag loudly about themselves, and they flatter others to get what they want...They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires.
  • Titus 1:10-11: For there are many rebellious people who engage in useless talk and deceive others. This is especially true of those who insist on circumcision for salvation. They must be silenced, because they are turning whole families away from the truth by their false teaching. And they do it only for money.
  • Compare real Christianity to the made-up doctrines of Joseph Smith and the Mormons, Christian Science, Jehovah's Witnesses, Moon's Unification Church, David Koresh, Islam, Romanism, Ron Hubbard's Scientology, Jim Jones' People’s Temple, Unitarian Church, emergent churches,
    "faith healers", and so many
    others.
    • United Methodist Church: Polls have shown that at least 30 percent of United Methodist Church ministers do not believe Jesus Christ is God and 82% say they do not believe the Bible is the perfect Word of God. As early as 1968 a widely publicized scientific survey by Jeffrey Hadden which was published by the Washington University showed that about 60% of the Methodist clergy did not believe in the virgin birth and at least 50% did not believe in the bodily resurrection of Christ.

    • Presbyterian Church (USA): In 1980, when in the PCUSA a man was ordained a minister by his presbytery and later was approved by the denomination’s highest court, even though he explicitly denied the deity of Christ. It is not shocking that one man could express such heresy, but a majority of fellow pastors and elders across the denomination officially tolerated it!
    • Jehovah's Witnesses: They teach that Jesus was created by God just prior to creation. Jesus then created everything else. (Colossians 1:16,17 NWT inserts "other" before "things" to make the text read, "By Him all OTHER things were created". The word "other" inserted throughout the text is not in the original Greek.) Jesus is not considered to be equal to God at all but a lesser being. Jesus ceased to exist at His death for 3 days.
    • Mormonism: "As man now is, God once was...As God now is, man can become." is a saying that accurately describes Mormon view of Jesus. Mormons believe that Jesus was created by God and is a "brother" to Satan. They teach divine progression. Jesus was once just a man who lived on another planet. He eventually progressed to be equal to God and came to colonize planet earth with "gods to be" or humans. Unforeseen to Christ, Satan (Jesus' brother) put a kink in this plan when he deceived Adam and Eve. Jesus was then required to die for fallen man, His creation. Jesus therefore is a model for us and one day we will be equal to God and colonize other planets too. There are millions of other planets being colonized right now in the same way in other galaxies. What makes earth's colonizing process unique is Satan's deception of Adam. Jesus is the God of planet earth. The Mormon hope is to marry, through a Mormon Temple ceremony, as many earth women as possible for eternal celestial marriage. In the resurrection all good Mormon men will call from the dead those women they married in a temple ceremony. They will then fly off to some uninhabited planet with their many polygamous wives and populate that planet.
    • Islam: The Koran's teaching on Jesus: And for claiming that they killed the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, the messenger of GOD. In fact, they never killed him, they never crucified him - they were made to think that they did. All factions who are disputing in this matter are full of doubt concerning this issue. They possess no knowledge; they only conjecture. For certain, they never killed him. (Koran 4:157)
    • Unitarianism is a nontrinitarian Christian theology which holds that God is only one Person, in contrast to the doctrine of the Trinity (God as three Persons in the unity of one Godhead).

(4) For God did not spare even the angels who *sinned. He threw them into **hell, in gloomy pits of darkness, where they are being held until the day of judgment.

  • *sinned: Greek - hamartano = "missed the mark"
    • Genesis 6:4: In those days, and for some time after, giant Nephilites lived on the earth, for whenever the sons of God had intercourse with women, they gave birth to children who became the heroes and famous warriors of ancient times.
    • Jude 1:6: And I remind you of the angels who did not stay within the limits of authority God gave them but left the place where they belonged. God has kept them securely chained in prisons of darkness, waiting for the great day of judgment.
    • Matthew 25:41: “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.
  • **hell: Greek Tartarus. Only used here. Homer describes Tartarus as the subterranean prison of the Titans or giants who rebelled against Zeus.
  • Interpretation: God judged the angels who sinned, so no one is too high to be judged.

(5) And God did not spare the ancient world—except for Noah and the seven others in his family. Noah warned the world of God’s righteous judgment. So God protected Noah when he destroyed the world of ungodly people with a *vast flood.

  • Hebrews 11:7: It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith.
  • *vast flood: Greek - kataklusmos
  • Symbolic of the rapture - the righteous removed before God's judgment: God preserved Noah for that 120 year period when he had to endure the mocking and ridicule of his neighbors while he obeyed God in building the ark. Eventually the worldwide flood came. Only Noah and 7 others were safe inside the ark.

(6) Later, God condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and turned them into heaps of ashes. He made them an example of what will happen to ungodly people.

  • Romans 1:27: And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.

(7) But God also rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him.

  • Symbolic of the rapture - the righteous removed before God's judgment.

(8) Yes, Lot was a righteous man who was *tormented in his soul by the wickedness he saw and heard day after day.

  • *tormented (tortured): Many Christians today have been desensitized to the sinful things they see and hear around them. Others try to deal with it by completely withdrawing from the world. It's not easy living in this present world system and its moral standards.
  • Lot's soul was tormented, but he failed to follow through with godly actions and separate himself and his family from the ungodliness of Sodom and Gomorrah. The Lord delivered Lot because of his righteous soul; yet Lot lost everything because of his too-close association with those wicked cities.
  • Maybe, Lot thought he could change the people in the city; instead, they changed him and especially changed his wife and daughters.

(9) So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment.

  • Only when God had begun judging their societies were either of these men (Noah and Lot) removed to safety. In the same way, the Christians in Asia Minor had to live in a corrupt society, being tempted to unfaithfulness, to follow false teachers and to believe the mockers who denied Christ's second coming. However Peter says, God would deliver them from the midst of temptation and personally return in power and glory to deliver them from ungodliness once and for all.

(10) He is especially hard on those who follow their own twisted sexual desire, and who despise authority. These people are proud and arrogant, daring even to scoff at *supernatural beings without so much as trembling.

  • *supernatural beings: Greek glorious ones, which are probably evil angels. How many ministers today believe in angels and demons, let alone Satan himself?
  • Why does God let so much damage be done? Look at the bad testimony resulting from the prominent downfall of TV preachers like Swaggart and Baker.
  • How can people sit in church and be taught error and not question it?
  • Jude 1:8-10: In the same way, these people—who claim authority from their dreams—live immoral lives, defy authority, and scoff at supernatural beings. But even Michael, one of the mightiest of the angels, did not dare accuse the devil of blasphemy, but simply said, “The Lord rebuke you!” (This took place when Michael was arguing with the devil about Moses’ body.) But these people scoff at things they do not understand. Like unthinking animals, they do whatever their instincts tell them, and so they bring about their own destruction.

(11) But the angels, who are far greater in power and strength, do not dare to bring from the Lord a charge of blasphemy against those supernatural beings.

  • So these "supernatural beings" in verse 10 are not just ordinary angels. Ephesians 6:12: For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

(12) These false teachers are like unthinking animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed. They scoff at things they do not understand, and like animals, they will be destroyed.

(13) Their destruction is their reward for the harm they have done. They love to indulge in evil pleasures in broad daylight. They are a disgrace and a stain among you. They delight in deception even as they eat with you in your *fellowship meals.

  • *fellowship meals: Jude 1:12-13: When these people eat with you in your fellowship meals commemorating the Lord’s love, they are like dangerous reefs that can shipwreck you. They are like shameless shepherds who care only for themselves. They are like clouds blowing over the land without giving any rain. They are like trees in autumn that are doubly dead, for they bear no fruit and have been pulled up by the roots. They are like wild waves of the sea, churning up the foam of their shameful deeds. They are like wandering stars, doomed forever to blackest darkness.

(14) They commit adultery with their eyes, and their desire for sin is never satisfied. They lure unstable people into sin, and they are well trained in greed. They live under God’s curse.

  • How often do we read about priests seducing choir boys or ministers running off with their secretary?

(15) They have wandered off the right road and followed the footsteps of *Balaam son of Beor, who loved to earn money by doing wrong.

  • *Balaam: Numbers 22-24. Balaam persuaded Israel to worship Baal and pursue the women of Moab. This brought God's punishment on them. In being this kind of false teacher, he accepted money from the enemy.

(16) But Balaam was stopped from his mad course when his donkey rebuked him with a human voice.

(17) These people are as useless as dried-up *springs or as mist blown away by the wind. They are doomed to blackest darkness.

  • *springs:
    • This is spoken in a culture, time and area where finding an oasis was critical for survival and where a lack of rain would bring ruin.
    • These false teachers promise something valuable but fail to deliver.
    • False teachers may look and even sound the same as teachers who proclaim the truth, but inside they are only dry wells. Water is a metaphor for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. False teachers do not have the Holy Spirit of God, they are led by the enemy of God and therefore they are, as Peter states “dried up springs”. A Holy Spirit filled teacher will not teach falsehoods. False teachers may proclaim a portion of truth in their teachings but they are all intertwined in deceptiveness, they are empty vessels.

(18) They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting. With an appeal to twisted sexual desires, they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception.

  • The special victims of these vicious deceivers are the newly converted. These new converts are just getting away from the old pagan life of their neighbors and associates.

(19) They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you.

  • How well the recovering alcoholic knows this! If only the voters in this country understood it.

(20) And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before.

(21) It would be better if they had never *known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life.

  • *known: Takes more than knowledge to be saved.

(22) They prove the truth of this proverb: “A dog returns to its vomit.” And another says, “A washed pig returns to the mud.”

  • Proverbs 26:11: As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness.
  • Philippians 3:2: Watch out for those dogs, those people who do evil, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved.
  • The sheep, however dirty it has become, always returns to its shepherd; the pig, however clean it is washed, returns to its mud.
  • We started off with a pig; scrubbed him up, put him in a seminary, gave him a degree, ordained him a "minister", put him in the pulpit; put a diploma on his wall along with some other impressive credentials; but never changed his nature.
  • Clark: "This final verse, part of which comes from Proverbs 26:11, concluding the denunciation of the false teachers, rather clearly indicates that they had never been regenerated. When it speaks of a dog's returning to his own vomit and a sow to the mire, the implication is that these acts are natural to dogs and pigs. They have never been anything else than dogs and pigs, even though for a time they might have been cleaned up externally. Hence the false teachers had never been Christians and the verse does not teach that a regenerated person can become unregenerated."
  • Believers, true Christians, are never compared to dogs or swine; they are the sheep of His flock. A sheep cannot be transformed into a dog or a swine, nor will a sheep do what a dog or a swine does. They were therefore never the true children of God.

NOTE: Unless otherwise noted, the scripture version used is the New Living Translation.

References and sources are listed at http://epistles-of-peter.blogspot.com/2010/10/2-peter-references.html

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Sunday, October 3, 2010

2 Peter 1

Above picture is the result of inputting the 2 Peter into "Wordle"

The larger the word, the more frequently in the document.

Source: http://identity33.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/2peter3.gif

Read all of 2 Peter before getting into the study!

WHO:

  • By whom:
    • Stated in the first verse to be written by Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ.
    • He also says he's an eyewitness of the transfiguration (1:16-18).
    • Some scholars have claimed that someone else wrote this epistle using Peter's name because the literary style is different from 1st Peter.
  • To whom: to you who share the same precious faith we have. Per 3:1, to the same believers to whom he wrote the 1st letter - This is my second letter to you.

WHAT:

  • To remind them of what they have and to encourage them to grow so they won't fall prey to the coming false teachers. Peter’s second letter is intended to be a follow up to his first letter (2 Peter 3.1).

WHEN:

  • Probably not too long before his death. Posssibly in Rome around 64-67 A.D.

WHERE:

  • He says he's writing from Babylon in 1st Peter chapter 5. But, we're not sure if he's referring to the physical Babylon or to Rome.

WHY:

  • His death is approaching and he's warning them of false teachers that will arise.

KEY VERSES: 2 Peter 3:17-18: I am warning you ahead of time, dear friends. Be on guard so that you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing. Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.

(1) This letter is from Simon Peter, a *slave and apostle of Jesus Christ. I am writing to you who share the same precious **faith we have. This faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness of Jesus Christ, our **God and Savior.

  • *slave (Greek doulos): The order of these titles is important. Peter considers himself first a slave (bondservant) and then an apostle. Once again, as in 1 Peter, he is not elevating himself above others as does the pope who claims that Peter was the first pope. Peter is nothing like the modern day Roman popes!
  • **faith: used 7 times in Peter's epistles.
  • ***God: Jesus is both God and man (Savior). Peter had no doubt about Christ's divinity.

(2) May God give you *more and more grace and peace as you grow in your **knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.

  • *more and more: Here's Peter's hope and prayer for them!
  • *knowledge: Greek - epignosis = precise, true, thorough and complete knowledge.
    Occurs 7 times in 2 Peter.

(3) By his divine power, God has given us *everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.

  • *everything: God has supplied unto us everything that we need to live a successful Christian life; so, we have no excuse for not growing. We've been given the tools - what are we going to do with them?

(4) And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to *share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

  • *share his divine nature: As we mature spiritually, we become more like Christ.
  • In the next few verses, notice the progression of growth based on faith and leading to usefulness in responding to God's promises:
    1. Moral excellence
    2. Knowledge
    3. Self-control
    4. Patient endurance
    5. Godliness
    6. Brotherly affection (philadelphia)
    7. Love for everyone (agape)

(5) In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with *knowledge,

  • *knowledge: Greek - gnosis = knowledge acquired by experience, learning or effort.
  • Philippians 1:9: I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.

(6) and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with *godliness,

  • *godliness – This word literally means, "Walking in view of His greatness."

(7) and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

(8) The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your *knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

  • *knowledge: Greek - epignosis = precise, true, thorough and complete knowledge.

(9) But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.

  • Many Christians have forgotten how much God has forgiven them, or they have appreciated His forgiveness only superficially. James called this dead faith (James 2:17, 26).

(10) So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away.

(11) Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.



(12) Therefore, I will always remind you about these things—even though you already know them and are standing firm in the truth you have been taught.

(13) And it is only right that I should keep on reminding you as long as I live.

  • Greek - as long as I am in this tent [or tabernacle]. The idea is that he is "tabernacling" through life as did Abraham, awaiting his true home. Our more permanent place to live is heaven, and we should invest more in heaven than in our tent.
  • 2 Corinthians 5:1: For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands.

(14) For our Lord Jesus Christ has shown me that I must soon leave this earthly life,

  • Greek - "I must soon put off my tent [or tabernacle]."
  • John 21:18-19: “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”

(15) so I will work hard to make sure you always remember these things after I am gone.

(16) For we were not making up *clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We saw his majestic splendor with our own eyes

  • *clever stories: Greek - mythos (myths). One of the falsehoods the false teachers will teach is that the story about Jesus was just a myth. How many preachers and seminar leaders now teach that the Bible is mostly a collection of myths?

(17) when he received honor and glory from God the Father. The voice from the majestic glory of God said to him, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”

  • Matthew 17:1-5: Six days later Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus. Peter exclaimed, “Lord, it’s wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I’ll make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.”

(18) We ourselves heard that voice from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.

(19) Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the *Morning Star shines in your hearts.

  • *Morning Star: Greek - phosphoros. Only here.
    • Revelation 2:28: They will have the same authority I received from my Father, and I will also give them the morning star!
    • Revelation 22:16: “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this message for the churches. I am both the source of David and the heir to his throne. I am the bright morning star.”

(20) Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding,

  • Or "is a matter of one’s own interpretation."

(21) or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.

  • All the Old Testament Scriptures that pointed to Christ were inspired by the Holy Spirit.
  • 2 Timothy 3:16: All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.
  • Hebrews 1:1-2: Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe.

NOTE: Unless otherwise noted, the scripture version used is the New Living Translation.

References and sources are listed at http://epistles-of-peter.blogspot.com/2010/10/2-peter-references.html

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Sunday, August 22, 2010

1 Peter 5

(1) And now, a word to you who are *elders in the
churches. I, too, am an elder and a **witness to the sufferings
of Christ. And I, too, will share in his glory
when he is revealed to the whole world. As a *fellow elder, I appeal to
you:

  • *elders: Acts 20:28: “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as elders.

    The word "elders" translates presbyteros, from which we derived the English word "presbyters." So Peter is addressing church leaders here.
  • **witness:
    • Matthew 17:1-3: Six days later Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus.
    • Luke 24:45-48: Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ You are witnesses of all these things.
    • Acts 3:12-15: Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness? For it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of all our ancestors—who has brought glory to his servant Jesus by doing this. This is the same Jesus whom you handed over and rejected before Pilate, despite Pilate’s decision to release him. You rejected this holy, righteous one and instead demanded the release of a murderer. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. And we are witnesses of this fact!
    • 2 Peter 1:16-18: For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We saw his majestic splendor with our own eyes when he received honor and glory from God the Father. The voice from the majestic glory of God said to him, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” We ourselves heard that voice from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.
  • *fellow elder: Is Peter really the first Pope? No, he's a "fellow elder", not a "pope". The apostle Peter does not command, but exhorts. He does not claim power to rule over all pastors and churches.

(2) Care for the flock that God has entrusted to
you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will
get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God.

  • John 21:16: Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.

(3) Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good *example.

  • Ezekiel 34:2: “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds, the leaders of Israel. Give them this message from the Sovereign Lord: What sorrow awaits you shepherds who feed yourselves instead of your flocks. Shouldn’t shepherds feed their sheep?
  • *example: The word for "example" (tupoi) originally meant the mark left by a blow. Our lives should be such that we visibly reflect the unmistakable impact Christ has had on our lives. Titus 2:7: And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching.
  • Since one of the husband's primary roles is that of shepherd of his family, it is worthwhile to read verses 2 and 3 from this perspective. A husband should shepherd his family flock by caring for their needs. He should consider this a privilege, he should make his family a priority and he should be a model of integrity - an example. Certainly he should tell the members of his family that he loves them. It might be profitable to read Psalm 23 and put your name in the place of

    the shepherd if you are a husband.

(4) And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a *crown
of never-ending glory and honor.

  • *crown (Greek - stephanos - garland):
    There are FIVE identified CROWNS for Christians:
    1. CROWN OF LIFE:

      Revelation 2:10:       Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.

      James 1:12: God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
    2. INCORRUPTIBLE CROWN:

      1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (KJV): Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
    3. CROWN OF REJOICING:

      1 Thessalonians 2:19 (KJV): For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
    4. CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS:

      2 Timothy 4:8: And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.
    5. CROWN OF GLORY:

      1 Peter 5:4: And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.
    • The crown of glory is given to those who willingly shepherd God’s people, not because they are paid for it or because they are “lords” over a group of people, but because they are eager to serve and help people maximize their spiritual potential. Christians can be quite ungrateful and dissatisfied. Almost every leader has at one time or another been at his wit’s end as to how to keep people godly and blessed. More than one pastor, elder, or overseer has resigned, not because he or she did not love God, but because it just seemed too difficult to work with people in the Church. There are even Old Testament records of God Himself being disgusted with His people’s attitudes and behaviors. At points He was on the verge of abandoning them altogether. God recognizes that it is hard and often thankless work to shepherd people, so He offers a crown to those who will carry out the task in a godly manner.
  • Rewards:
    • Matthew 25:21: “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’
    • 1 Corinthians 3:12-15: Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.
    • 2 Timothy 2:3-5: Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them. And athletes cannot win the prize unless they follow the rules.
    • Hebrews 11:26: He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward.
    • 1 Peter 1:4: and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.
    • 2 John 1:8: Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward.
    • Revelation 3:11: I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown.
    • Revelation 4:10-11: the twenty-four elders fall down and worship the one sitting on the throne (the one who lives forever and ever). And they lay their crowns before the throne and say, “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.”

(5) In the same way, you younger men must accept
the authority of the elders. And all of you, serve each other in humility,
for “God opposes the proud but favors the humble.”

  • Contrast this with the "pomp and circumstance" of the pope!
  • Proverbs 3:34: The Lord mocks the mockers but is gracious to the humble. Greek version reads The Lord opposes the proud but favors the humble.
  • James 4:6: But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but favors the humble."

(6) So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the
right time he will lift you up in honor.

  • Philippians 2:3: Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.

(7) Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares
about you.

  • Worry is a form of pride because it involves taking concerns upon oneself instead of entrusting them to God. Believers can trust God because, as their Father, he cares for them.
  • Psalm 55:22: Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.
  • Matthew 6:25: “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?
  • Philippians 4:6: Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
  • Hebrews 13:5: Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”

(8) Stay alert! Watch out for *your great enemy, the devil. He prowls
around like a **roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

  • **your great enemy, the devil (Greek - Ho antidikos diabolos). Diabolos means "false accuser, slanderer".
  • roaring lion: He is deceptive and hidden, but "roaring" in the sense of being ready to destroy.
  • Job 1:7: “Where have you come from?” the Lord asked Satan. Satan answered the Lord, “I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on.”

  • 2 Corinthians 2:10-11: When you forgive this man, I forgive him, too. And when I forgive whatever needs to be forgiven, I do so with Christ’s authority for your benefit, so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes.
  • James 4:7: So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
  • Revelation 2:10: Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.
  • Revelation 12:10-11: Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, “It has come at last— salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth— the one who accuses them before our God day and night. And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.

(9) *Stand firm against him, and be strong
in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters
all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering
you are.

  • *Stand firm against: The Greek word translated "stand firm" or "resist" means to defend oneself against as opposed to attacking.
  • Ephesians 6:11-13: Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.
  • The Christian's 3-fold enemy:
    1. The World (1 John 2:15-17): Lust of the flesh, Lust of the eyes, Pride of life - We are to FLEE.
    2. The flesh (Romans 7:18-24) - We are to DENY.
    3. The devil (1 Peter 5:8) - We are to resist.

(10) In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal
glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered
a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will
place you on a firm foundation.

  • From God's perspective, one's time in this world is notably brief. Thus, no matter how long or intense one's suffering may be, it will be short compared to the joys of eternity.
  • 1 Peter 1:6: So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.
  • 2 Timothy 3:12: Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

(11) All power to him forever! Amen.

(12) I have written and sent this short letter to you with the help
of *Silas, whom I commend to you as a faithful brother.
My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that
what you are experiencing is truly part of God’s grace for you.
Stand firm in this grace.

  • *Silas:
    • Acts 15:22: Then the apostles and elders together with the whole church in Jerusalem chose delegates, and they sent them to Antioch of Syria with Paul and Barnabas to report on this decision. The men chosen were two of the church leaders - Judas (also called Barsabbas) and Silas.
    • Acts 15:40: Paul chose Silas, and as he left, the believers entrusted him to the Lord’s gracious care.
    • Acts 18:5: And after Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul spent all his time preaching the word. He testified to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah.
    • 2 Corinthians 1:19: For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” He is the one whom Silas, Timothy, and I preached to you, and as God’s ultimate “Yes,” he always does what he says.
    • 1 Thessalonians 1:1: This letter is from Paul, Silas, and Timothy. We are writing to the church in Thessalonica, to you who belong to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. May God give you grace and peace.
    • 2 Thessalonians 1:1: This letter is from Paul, Silas, and Timothy. We are writing to the church in Thessalonica, to you who belong to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

(13) Your sister church here in *Babylon sends you greetings, and so does my son **Mark.

  • *Babylon: We know so little of Peter’s later activities that there is no reason why we should not take this as literally meaning Babylon in Mesopotamia. We know that initially he ministered in Jerusalem and the surrounding area (Acts 1-12), that later he was found at Syrian Antioch (Galatians 2:11) and possibly for a short time at Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:12), and we know from this letter that he had at least some ministry in north west Asia Minor (1:1). It is certainly not therefore against the balance of probability that he then ministered in Mesopotamia, and wrote from there. The majority, however, see ‘Babylon’ as symbolic of Rome. The issue is not, however, of great importance, apart from for those who try to make a big thing of Peter having been in Rome for some years.
  • **Mark is the same John Mark who traveled with Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey (see Acts 12:25; 13:5, 13; 15:36–39). Though he left Paul and Barnabas, he was later restored to his former usefulness (Colossians 4:10; 2 Timothy 4:11; Philemon 24). Peter would have known Mark from the earliest days, because the church met in his mother's home (Acts 12:12). In addition, this verse shows a close relationship between Peter and Mark (my son) and is one indication of the validity of the early church tradition that Mark wrote his Gospel at Peter's direction (see Introduction to Mark: Author and Title).
  • Acts 12:11-12: Peter finally came to his senses. “It’s really true!” he said. “The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders had planned to do to me!” When he realized this, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many were gathered for prayer.
  • Colossians 4:10: Aristarchus, who is in prison with me, sends you his greetings, and so does Mark, Barnabas’s cousin. As you were instructed before, make Mark welcome if he comes your way.
  • Philemon 1:24: So do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my co-workers.

(14) Greet each other with Christian love. Peace be with all of you who are in Christ.

NOTE: Unless otherwise noted, the scripture version used is the New Living Translation.

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