2 Peter 1

2 Peter 1:1-21

Teacher’ s Notes on SECOND PETER Chapter One 1. To whom is this letter addressed? (Verse 1). To those who have obtained like precious faith with us. a. How does Peter say we obtained this faith? By the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ. b. How does this correspond with Romans 10:17? Romans 10:17 tells how God’ s righteousness is conveyed to us through His inspired word: “ Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Only through the teaching of His revealed word does God instill within us saving faith. Therefore, the more study one does, the more knowledge they gain, and the stronger in faith one becomes. Peter will close this letter with a plea to this end (2 Peter 3:18); “ but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…” . 2. What has God’ s Divine power given to us? (Verse 3). “ all things that pertain to life and godliness.” a. What does the thought of “ life and godliness” cover? i. It would surely cover God’ s plan for salvation. Telling mankind how to be reconciled to his Creator through His only begotten Son, thus receiving spiritual life. He has given us that information in the following: FAITH John 8:24; RE- Acts 17:30; Romans 10:9-10; BAPTISM Acts 2:38). Through these one is born again into God’ s spiritual family (John 3:3-5). We thus take within ourselves the mind that was first in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5). b. It would also cover God’ s desire as to how He wishes His children to honor Him in their worship. Thus we read, “ God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). A godly spirit will cause one to assemble with the saints every Sunday (Hebrews 10:25) to PARTAKE OF THE LORD’ S SUPPER Acts 20:7; SING PSALMS AND HYMNS Colossians 3:16; LISTEN TO GOD’ S WORD TAUGHT Acts 20:17; GIVE AS ONE HAS BEEN 1 Corinthians 16:2; JOIN HEARTS IN GOD Acts 2:42. c. In the letters of the New Testament, from Romans to Jude, we have instructions as to how to live lives in faithfulness to Christ d. Now, a very important question must be asked: If God had already given “ all things” that pertain to our being saved and living godly lives when Peter was inspired to write this letter, what was left to be revealed through 21st Century televangelists? 3. What great and precious promise is mentioned in verse 4? That through these things which God had already revealed, and is now recorded in the New Testament, “ you may be partakers of the divine nature.” a. God’ s divine nature is Spirit (John 4:23-24), thus this speaks of our being His spiritual children, having His divine, spiritual nature. b. This corresponds to that which Paul said at Mars Hill in Acts 17:28” “ For in Him we live and move and have our being. ‘’’ For we are His offspring.” 4.

What does partaking of Christ’ s Divine nature allow us to do? (Verse 4). Escape the corruption that is in the world. a. Jesus prayed in John 17:1-26 for His disciples. That which He said concerning the apostles should be applied to every believer: “ I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one” (John 17:15). Through our obedient lives God is able to keep us from Satan’ s clutches. “ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:6). 5. To what are we to give diligence? (Verses 5-7). “ Add to you virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control (temperance KJV), and to self-control, perseverance (patience KJV), to perseverance godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness love” (charity KJV). 6. “ For if THESE THINGS are YOURS and ABOUND, you will be NEITHER BARREN nor in the of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.” (2 Peter 1:8). a. What does it mean to “ abound?” It means these things are ever increasing. Growing and making one’ s faith stronger. b. What does it mean to be barren? In this context it is just the opposite of abounding. From the scriptures we usually think of a woman being unable to bear children. c. Can you name two women from scripture of whom it was said she was barren? Sara, the wife of Abraham was barren for many years. As was Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist (Luke 2:1-52). And Rachel was also barren for many years (Genesis 29:31), and there was Hannah, the mother of Samuel who prayed to God that her condition would change and she would bear a son (1 Samuel 1:1-28). d. However, in our text the thought of not being barren has to do with bearing fruit for the Lord Jesus. i. “ You will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of the Lord.” What does knowledge of the Lord have to do with our bearing fruit? Knowing the will of the Lord, we must then know that He expects us to use our abilities in His service. And we all have some ability or abilities which we may use scripturally for our Master. e. This would relate to John 15:1-27 where Jesus speaks of Himself as the true vine and we Christians as being branches attached to Him to bear fruit. f. What did Jesus say would happen to that branch that does not bear fruit? He is cast out as a branch and is withered, and then cast into the fire and burned (John 15:6). “ Therefore my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord…” (1 Corinthians 15:58). 7. What has a Christian who does not grow in these graces done? (Verse 9). He has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. a. OLD SINS were those committed before obeying the gospel. Peter here implies that if we do not add these Christian graces to our life we become guilty of new sins that cut us off from the true vine. IT IS MOST THAT EVERY CHILD OF GOD FIND AND USE THEIR IN GOD’ S KINGDOM! i. Jesus spoke a very compelling parable in Luke 11:24-26 about replacing the old sinful things with new godly things lest we become even more sinful than before we obeyed the gospel. He uses the analogy of an unclean spirit going out of a man, but the man doesn’ t replace it with the things of God. In the parable the unclean spirit returned with seven more wicked than himself. 8. To what are we to be even more diligent? (Verse 10). To make your call and election sure. a. How are we going to make our call and election sure? By adding these 8 things to our lives. 9. What promise does God give to those who add these virtues to their lives? (Verse 10-11). “you will never fall; and an entrance will be supplied to you into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” a. This tells us that we can know, without any doubt, that we are saved. But it also informs us that to refuse to grow in these things will condemn us to eternal torment. 10. What did Peter say he knew? (Verse 14). He knew he must soon die. a. What had Jesus shown to Peter, and where is it found in Scripture? Not only did Peter know he would die, he also knew exactly how death would come to him. In John 21:18-19 Jesus said to Peter, “Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” … This He spoke, signifying by what death he (Peter) would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said, Follow Me.” i. Tradition says Peter was crucified upside down on a cross, thus fulfilling Jesus’ prophesy that he would stretch out his hands and another would gird him, or bind him in a way which Peter would not wish to be bound. ii. In this we see that Peter did not only follow Jesus in life by teaching the glorious gospel, which Paul said is “ God’ s power unto salvation” (Romans 1:16), but he also followed Him in death. We recall how Peter once said he would die before he would deny Jesus (Matthew 26:35), yet at that time his bold-ness failed as he denied his Lord three times (Matthew 26:69-75). We also remember that Jesus told Peter that Satan would sift him like wheat (Luke 22:31). He then told him that He had prayed for him, that his faith would not fail, and when he was converted (KJV), that is when he returned to being faithful to the Lord, he was to strengthen his brethren (Luke 22:32). 11. How could Peter be sure that his readers would always have a reminder of these Christian virtues? (Verse 15). By carefully writing them down for future generations to read. This he did both through his preaching and the writing of these letters. 12. To what was Peter an eyewitness? (Verses 16-17). He and the other apostles were eyewitnesses to Christ’ s majesty or divinity. 13. To what event does Peter refer in verses 17 & 18, and where is it recorded? The transfiguration recorded in Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-8; and Luke 9:28-36. a. Does Peter quote all that the voice from heaven had said? NO! God had told Peter, James and John to listen to His Son. “ This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear ye Him!” 14. To what is the Word of God likened by Peter? (Verse 19). A light that shines in a dark place. a. It is by this Word that shines in a dark place that we are to shine forth as well. Paul said, “ that you may become blameless and harmless children of God with-out fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, … holding fast the word of life,” (Philippians 2:15-16 a). 15. How were the Scriptures given to man? (Verse 21). Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. This is inspiration. “ All scripture is given by inspiration of God…” (2 Timothy 3:16 a). For a more complete explanation of inspiration read 1 Corinthians 2:7-13.