I forgot to talk about v. 8 – somehow it did not make my notes – (V. 8) – This KNOWELDGE - (Greek “epignosis” as also in v. 1) is not primarily mental but spiritual and personal … It is experienced as we have faith and bear good fruit in the LORD JESUS CHRIST
2 Peter 1 Study
Greeting the Faithful
1 Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who have [a]obtained like[b] precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the [c]corruption that is in the world through lust.
Fruitful Growth in the Faith
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control [d]perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither [e]barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things, you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Peter’s Approaching Death
12 For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. 13 Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this [f]tent, to stir you up by reminding you, 14 knowing that shortly I must [g]put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. 15 Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my [h]decease.
The Trustworthy Prophetic Word
16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
19 [i]And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private [j]interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but [k]holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
Notes 2Peter Study Notes
1:1: Whereas 1 Peter introduces the author as “Peter, an Apostle of Jesus Christ”, 2Peter adds SIMON, the pre-Christian name of Peter, and a BONSERVANT … God refers to Jesus Christ – (as in Titus 2:13) … What Peter is teaching in this letter is apostolic consensus: like precious faith with us … He reminds and exhorts his hearers to full Christian belief and virtue …
Titus 2:13: looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
1:2: Gnostics, who were infiltrating the church, and taught they had access to a special knowledge, unknown by ordinary people … Peter teaches the true knowledge of God, and it is in the Church – (The true Body of Christ) – where this knowledge is found …
1:3: Peter assures us we have no need for anything other than what we received … For God has given us His energy – (life) and His personal presence – (godliness, or piety, devotion), both of which we may grow in … Virtue – (Greek “arete”) may also be translated as “excellence” or “power” … It is spiritual and moral excellence attained by vigorous and courageous faith …
1:4: Being renewed by God’s power, we become partakers of the divine nature – this does not mean we become divine by nature … Further discussion tune into my video content that is posted with daily write up …
Leviticus 26:12:
12 I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people.
2Corinthians 6:16:
16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you[a] are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
“I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people
1:5-7: How do we know Christ grow in our participation in the divine nature through grace??? By the cultivation of a progression of spiritual realities … Like in v. 3, virtue refers to the vigor and courage behind attaining moral excellence … Love – (v. 7) is adjoined to brotherly kindness – (affection among Christians), for love of God cannot be perfected except through love of one’s neighbor – (see – 1 John 4:20) …
1John 4:20
Obedience by Faith
20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, [a]how can he love God whom he has not seen?
1:9: Gnostics claimed to know God without becoming godlike … Peter makes it plain this is not Christian, for we reach participation with God through the increase of spiritual virtues, not the absence of them … Here, as with all eschatological warnings in the NT, admittance to God’s Kingdom is conditioned by a faith that exhibits perseverance and holiness …
1:11: The primary truth with which Peter is dealing – (which he has only indirectly touched upon to this point) is the Second Coming of Christ and His EVERLASTING KINGDOM …
1:13: People live in a tent when on a journey or at war … If we are in this body, we live in “tents”, which bear witness to the long journey of life and to the ongoing battle against enemy forces of darkness …
1:16-18: Peter has been an eyewitness to the MAJESTY of Christ in many ways – and here reminds us especially that he was one of those present with the Lord on the Mount of Transfiguration – (Matthew 17:1-8) … What Peter is going to repeat about the Second Coming is the common apostolic tradition, which is buttressed by the eyewitness testimony of the apostles … It is not an elaborate scheme of fables, such as the Gnostics propounded … In all the Gospel accounts, the Transfiguration is a proof and foretaste of the coming of Christ in glory …
Matthew 17:1-8
Jesus Transfigured on the Mount
17 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; 2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 4 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, [a]let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. 7 But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” 8 When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
1:19-21: The testimony of the apostles both confirms prophetic word – (v. 19) concerning the second coming and shows us how to interpret prophecy … Just as SCRIPTURE – (v. 20) was not written by the mere volition of men but by the inspiration of the HOLY SPIRIT – (v. 21), so Scripture is to be interpreted by holy men guided by the Holy Spirit … Heretics – (Chapter 2), and unstable Christians – (2Peter 3:16) interpret incorrectly … The Apostles – (the we of v. 19) are guided by the Holy Spirit, trusting in the promise of true interpretation – (John 16:13) …
John 16:13:
13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
“For the apostles, like a rich man in a bank, deposited with her – (The Church) most copiously everything which pertains to the truth … And everyone who wishes, draws from her the drink of life … For she is the entrance to life, while all the rest are thieves and robbers … That is why it is surely necessary to avoid them, while cherishing with the utmost diligence the things pertaining to the church, and to lay hold of the tradition of truth” – (Iren) – St. Irenaeus …
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