2Peter1

2 Peter 1:1-3 Greeting

1 Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

² May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Peter starts off to identify himself first as a ‘servant’, from the Greek word “doulos” meaning “slave”.   That would be fitting as he was subject to the will and wholly at the disposal of his master.  Then states he is an apostle of Jesus Christ.

– To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

“of equal standing” – The position of equal to their faith and it was precious and just as sure, for it was faith in God and in Jesus Christ.    Point:  Position does not matter, but one’s faith and submission to Christ.

Peter refers to identifying God the Father and God the Son as well as Jesus Christ being God himself.

V.2 – May grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Confirms that only God can give ‘peace’ in our very souls because He gives ‘grace’ (The washing away sin to become white as snow.).

 

Robert Louis Stevenson said:  “There is nothing but God’s grace. We walk upon it; we breathe it; we live and die by it; it makes the nails and axles of the universe.”

 

LABC on “How Does Our Knowledge Grow?

Psychologists who study faith development report that strong, seasoned, vital faith passes through several stages in its move from na‹vet‚ to maturity. Unfortunately, many churches stifle believers who are developing, as if growth in knowledge were a sign of apostasy. For example:

• The first time they raise a serious question, someone (whose growth ended years ago) will charge that they are being corrupted by “secular science.”
• The first time they wonder about one of the many rules the church has created (quite apart from the Bible), someone will start to mourn their loss of piety.

“Precious faith” is not static, mechanical, rule bound, or isolated from knowledge gathered by geologists and astronomers. Precious faith grapples with doctrine, questions methods and rules, and continues to love all the people in church who worry about what’s going on. Precious faith respects traditions (while it seeks to change some of them) and yearns for closeness (conceptually and practically) to Jesus Christ, precious Lord. Make sure that your faith grows this way.^[1]

 

Confirm Your Calling and Election  2 Peter 3-09  (15)

³ His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, ⁴ by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. ⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, ⁶ and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, ⁷ and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. ⁸ For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. ¹⁰ Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. ¹¹ For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

¹² Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. ¹³ I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, ¹⁴ since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. ¹⁵ And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

 

V.3 – KNOWLEDGE OF HIM 

³ His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

When we were born again, God by his Spirit empowered us with his own moral goodness, enabling us to live for him. See John 3:6; 14:17–23; 2 Corinthians 5:21; and 1 Peter 1:22–23.  2Pet1v3

“knowledge” (epignosis – G1922 – LN28.18)  “gnosis” (knowledge – cognitive content)

 

LN 28.18 ἐπίγνωσις^b, εως f: the content of what is definitely known—‘what is known, definite knowledge, full knowledge, knowledge.’… ‘for I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but (their zeal is) not based on knowledge’ Ro 10:2.^[2]

LBAC on Gnosticism:

Many first-century false teachers emphasized a secret “knowledge” of God; such people were called Gnostics (from the Greek word for “knowledge”). Gnosticism undermined Christianity in several basic ways: (1) it insisted that important secret knowledge was hidden from most believers; (2) it taught that the body was evil; (3) it contended that Christ only seemed to be human but was not. While these false teachers spoke about secret knowledge, Peter wrote of “knowing” Jesus Christ. Pagan philosophers puzzled over “godliness” and “goodness,” deciding that these were impossible; Peter used those words to explain that the one true God’s divine power imparts godliness and goodness to those who believe in him. Philosophers also discussed at length how people could escape “corruption” of the world and instead “participate in the divine nature” (divinity belonging to the spiritual world rather than the physical world). They concluded that people had to try to get away from the material world into the spiritual realm by keeping strict laws or refusing any type of pleasure. Peter used their language to explain that all their conclusions were incorrect; people escape corruption and partake in the divine nature as God’s gift through Christ’s death and resurrection.^[3]

 

The knowledge that the universities and others offer is not what Peter is referring to in verse 3.  He is not concerned with the differences between ‘faith’ and ‘isms’.   He is concerned with genuine, honest, personal, solid, life-changing, dynamic eye-opening to the true God.  The knowledge of God, himself.

 

2 Peter 1:4 – Empowered with his own moral goodness

 

V.4 –     Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

 

The Greek word translated “Given” “Granted” is doreomai (also used in 1:3), meaning “to bestow or endow,” thus indicating the value of the promises Christ has given. To “us”—that is, all believers—Christ has bestowed his very great and precious promises, so that, through these promises, believers may participate in the divine nature.  2Pet1v4

 

How can we “participate”?

We have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed….  1 Peter 1:23

V.5 – For this very reason, make (pareisphero ( LN68.64) every effort to add (epichoregeo) LN59.74  to your faith goodness.

“make every effort for high moral living” –  The word translated “make every effort” is pareisenenkantes; another unique New Testament word, it means “to work alongside of.” While Christ gives the power and the divine nature,  2Pet1v5

 

LN 68.64 σπουδὴν πᾶσαν παρεισφέρω: (an idiom, literally ‘to bring every effort to’) to do one’s very best in attempting to do something—‘to do one’s best, to make every effort to, to try as hard as possible.’ ..‘do your very best to add goodness to your faith’ 2 Pe 1:5. In some languages it may be almost impossible to speak of ‘adding goodness to faith.’ However, an appropriate equivalent of this expression in 2 Pe 1:5 may be ‘do your best to be good as well as to believe.

 

Note the word “Supplement”ESV “ADD” NIV  “epichoregeo G2023 LN5974 –   to ADD…..

 The little word “add” is rich with meaning. Peter employed a form of the verb epichorego (from which we get our words “chorus” and “choreography”) common to Greek culture. A wealthy person called a choregos would pay the wages for singers in his chorus, as well as pay the expenses of lavish productions that were put on in cooperation with a poet and the state. Thus the word came to stand for generous and costly cooperation. Here the word describes the kind of generosity believers must have in giving of their own effort and in their cooperation with God in appropriating the eight characteristics mentioned below.

LN 59.74 ἐπιχορηγέω^b: to provide something in addition to what already exists—‘to add… ‘add goodness to your faith’ 2 Pe 1:5.

 

LABC:   HOW DO WE TEACH PETER’S PROGRAM?

Peter gives us a plan for moral development, but he gives us few clues for how we should present these truths to others. The only clue seems to be that the eight virtues are presented in four pairs, indicating that one virtue develops out of the other. So we know they are progressive and active. Some have explained the relationship of these virtues to each other like steps or rungs on a ladder. We must reach one in order to progress to the next. Others see them as spokes of a wheel to be developed simultaneously. Perhaps they are like Chinese boxes where each contains a smaller box inside of the other. This would indicate that to discover the next virtue, we must realize and express the prior one. We simply don’t know. But we can be certain of these principles:

• We must fully cooperate with God, using all diligence in developing each characteristic.
• We can meditate and ask God for discernment for how we should understand and apply each one.
• In areas where we are weak, we can double our efforts to exemplify the virtue.^[4]

 

Virtue – note scripture strip above –  Virtue (arete LN 88.11)

LN 88.11 ἀρετή^a, ῆς f: the quality of moral excellence—‘outstanding goodness, virtue.’ εἴ τις ἀρετὴ καὶ εἴ τις ἔπαινος ‘if there is any moral excellence and if there is (reason for) praise’ Php 4:8.. ‘one who has called us to (share in) his own glory and moral excellence’ 2 Pe 1:3. It is possible, however, that ἀρετή in 2 Pe 1:3 denotes the manifestation of (divine) power (see 76.14).

 

Faith is the first characteristic of a Christian, but they are not to stop at faith alone as faith without works is dead.

LABC:  MAKE IT GROW

Faith must be more than belief in certain facts; it must result in action, growth in Christian character, and the practice of moral discipline, or it will die away (James 2:14–17). Peter lists several of faith’s actions: learning to know God better, developing perseverance, doing God’s will, loving others. These actions do not come automatically; they require hard work. They are not optional; all of them must be a continual part of the Christian life. We don’t finish one and start on the next, but we work on them all together. God empowers and enables us, but he also gives us the responsibility to learn and to grow.

 

ADD to “goodness”, “knowledge” –

This word “Knowledge” as used here refers not to the knowledge of God that leads to salvation; rather, here gnosis is that knowledge that leads to wisdom and discernment that enables believers to live godly lives (see Ephesians 5:17; Philippians 1:9; Hebrews 5:14).  2Pet1v5c-6

 

LN 88.11  the quality of moral excellence—‘outstanding goodness, virtue.’ .. ‘if there is any moral excellence and if there is (reason for) praise…

LN28.17 γνῶσις^b, εως f: the content of what is known—‘knowledge, what is known… ‘because you have in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and truth’ Ro 2:20; .. ‘we know that we all have knowledge’ 1 Cor 8:1.

LN88.83 ἐγκρατεύομαι; ἐγκράτεια, ας f: to exercise complete control over one’s desires and actions—‘to control oneself, to exercise self- control, self-control.’

 

 

LABC:  GROWING CLOSE

Tired of boring, do-nothing religion—the kind that shuffles into a pew on Sunday and stays awake by thinking about what professional sports to watch that afternoon?

Peter has a deal for you. “Off the couch,” he says. “Let’s get shakin’.” These eight qualities move us from couch-potato faith (lots of bulk, not much activity) to marathon faith (lean, mean, light, strong, and on the move).

The eight qualities (faith to love) are part of one seamless package, the total person. But you can work on them one at a time. Here’s how: Pray about one of them, talk about it, practice it. Don’t wait for perfection before moving to the next one. Plan to repeat the process soon. These are traits of growing faith, the only kind that matters.^[5]

 

2 Peter 1:6 –  ⁶ and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness,

V.6 – ADD self-control  (enkratela  G1466 – LN88.83) – 2Pet1v6

 

The word for self-control (egkrateia) is used only here and in Acts 24:25 and Galatians 5:23 (as one of the fruits of the Spirit). Self-control refers to mastery over sinful human desires in every aspect of life.

 

LN88.83 ἐγκρατεύομαι; ἐγκράτεια, ας f: to exercise complete control over one’s desires and actions—‘to control oneself, to exercise self- control, self-control.’

 

We have the Holy Spirit to help us gain that level of self-control.  Godly character demands discipline and effort to lead to self-control.

 

LABC:  –  Self Control

Whatever happened to self-control? Many books and speakers guide wandering souls to self-fulfillment, self-satisfaction, and self-awareness. Not many tackle self-control.

Self-control requires an honest look at your strengths and weaknesses, with emphasis on the latter. It means building the will to say no when a powerful appetite inside you screams yes.

• No to fatty food, choosing health instead.
• No to friends who will lead you away from Christ.
• No to casual sex, saving intimacy for marriage.
• No to laziness in favor of “can do” and “will do.”

Self-control is a long, steady course in learning attitudes that do not come naturally, and channeling natural appetites toward God’s purposes. Where are your weak points? Pray with a friend for God’s help to redirect weakness into strength.^[6]

 

 

The quality of self-control must then lead to perseverance, the ability to steadfastly endure suffering or evil without giving up one’s faith.

 

NEXT:  to Self Control Add Perseverance     or Steadfastness…to Self-control….

V.6 –  ⁶ and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness,

V.6 – ADD Perseverance, to Self-control….    The ability to steadfastly endure suffering or evil without giving up one’s faith.

V.6 – ADD Steadfastness to Self-control…..    Steadfastness (hypomone G5281 – LN25.174)

 

LN 25.174 ὑπομονή, ῆς f: capacity to continue to bear up under difficult circumstances—‘endurance, being able to endure.’….  2Pet1v6c-7a

ADD  Godliness…….(eusebeia)  (LN53.1)

V.7 – Add Godliness  –

 

Godliness (eusebeia) was the primary word for “religion” and referred to a person’s correct attitudes toward God and people, usually referring to performing obligatory duties. Here in 2 Peter the word describes an awareness of God in all of life—a lifestyle that exemplifies Christ and is empowered by him (the same word is used in 1:3). Christians must have a right relationship with God and right relationships with fellow believers. The false teachers claimed such “godliness,” but were sadly lacking in reverence toward God and in good attitudes toward others.^[7]

Godliness includes right attitudes toward others and behavior.

Godliness – LN53.1  –  53.1 θρησκεία, ας f; εὐσέβεια^a, ας f; θεοσέβεια, ας f: appropriate beliefs and devout practice of obligations relating to supernatural persons and powers—‘religion, piety.’

Mutual Affection  (Philadelphia LN25.34) –

 

Continue…2 Peter 1:7 –  with Godliness  ADD Brotherly Affection….(LN 25.34)

 

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

 

V.7 – With Godliness ADD mutual affection, (brotherly affection),  – (Brotherly Kindness)

LN25.34 φιλαδελφία, ας f: affection for one’s fellow believer in Christ—‘love for one’s fellow believer, affection for a fellow believer… ‘there is no need to write you about affection for your fellow believers’ 1 Th 4:9; .. ‘keep on loving one another as fellow believers’ He 13:1.

 

LABC:  If godliness includes right attitudes toward others, then to godliness believers must add brotherly kindness (also translated “mutual affection” nrsv). In non-Christian circles, this word referred to affection between family members. Peter extended its meaning in this letter to include the family of believers. It is an especially intense love (see 1 Peter 1:22; Hebrews 10:24) that considers others as brothers and sisters. John explained the connection between godliness and brotherly kindness this way: “Those who say, ‘I love God,’ and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also” (1 John 4:20–21 nrsv). This “brotherly kindness” (philadelphia) refers to a concerned caring for others.

 

V.7  to ‘brotherly kindness’ –  LN25.34   Add Love LN25.43 – to Mutual Affection…. 2Pet1v7

 

While Christians must exhibit “brotherly kindness” in their dealings with others, their love must also go deeper. To brotherly kindness, they must add love that always puts others first, seeking their highest good. The Greek word agape refers to self-sacrificial love. It is the kind of love God demonstrated in saving us. Such love among believers allows for weaknesses and imperfections, deals with problems, affirms others, and has a strong commitment and loyalty. Such a bond will hold the believers together no matter what persecutions and suffering they may face.^[8]

 

LOVE (agape  LN25.43)

LN 25.43 ἀγαπάω^a; ἀγάπη^a, ης f: to have love for someone or something, based on sincere appreciation and high regard—‘to love, to regard with affection, loving concern, love.^[9]

 

 

V.8 – For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

LABC:

The eight qualities mentioned above (these things) ought to be part of every believer’s life, but they are not static. Believers don’t merely “have” these qualities; instead, they are increasing in these qualities. To grow in these qualities, we must practice them in the rough-and-tumble of daily life. As these characteristics increase, they keep believers from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. “Ineffective” means idle and slothful, literally “out of work,” and parallels James 2:20, “Faith without works is dead” (nkjv). “Unfruitful” means barren, unproductive, and refers to the life crowded with pleasures and cares (see Matthew 13:22). The false teachers exemplified these qualities (see chapter 2 and Jude 11).

… This can happen when believers rest on past achievements, stagnate, and cease to grow, or when other priorities dampen our desire and service to Christ. The false teachers sought knowledge for its own sake, but Peter explained that we must go beyond knowledge. Our knowledge must bear fruit.

Our faith must go beyond what we believe; it must become a dynamic part of all we do, resulting in good fruit and spiritual maturity. Salvation does not depend on positive character qualities and good works; rather, it produces those qualities and works. A person who claims to be saved while remaining unchanged does not understand faith or what God has done for him or her. Faith in and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ that leads to growth in these qualities causes believers to make a difference in their world and persevere to the end.

Bearing fruit was important to Jesus’ teaching (see John 15:1–8). Fruit growing on a tree describes genuine disciples of Jesus. There’s no fruit on broken branches, and there’s no life without fruit. Fruit harbors the seed, which perpetuates the life of the species.

A true disciple has life flowing from Jesus, and his own character and power shape the disciple’s attitudes and behaviors. True disciples become fruitful by God’s power. Does your moral life result in fruitful impact on those around you? Is your spiritual knowledge producing greater moral integrity?^[10]

 

V.9:  ⁹ But whoever does not have them is nearsighted (myopazo) and blind (typhios) , forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

 

The word “nearsighted” is also translated “shortsighted.”

The word muopazo (shortsighted) can also mean “to blink” or “to shut the eyes.”  2Pet1v9

 

At baptism, believers professed their cleansing from past sins and their break with old, sinful lifestyles. A believer who is “forgetful” of this and refuses to grow becomes unfruitful for God.  THUS, communion service to regularly remind us of this promise we made to God when baptized.

 

V.10   ESV: ¹⁰ Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort (spoudazo G4704 LN68.63)  to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble,….

 

LN 68.63– to do something with intense effort and motivation—‘to work hard, to do one’s best, to endeavor.’

The words “To confirm your call and election” is also translated “make your calling and election sure.”

 

NASB – Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;

 

NLT – 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.

 

NKJV: Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;

 

The problem in Peters day was:
LABC:  For if you do this, you will never stumble.  The believers to whom Peter wrote were in danger of turning to the doctrine of false teachers who were teaching that immoral living incurred no judgment. These false teachers said that once people were “saved,” they could live any way they pleased. Peter countered this teaching, explaining that Christians must match their calling and election with holy living. If they did this, they would never stumble (see Colossians 1:22–23; 2 Timothy 2:12–13). The word “stumble” means more than merely to “trip.” It means to come to grief or ruin, referring to the Day of Judgment, when sin takes the unbeliever and rebel into eternal damnation.

 

V.11  – For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

All God’s people will be welcomed into  their true home, the eternal Kingdom of the Lord and Savior.

New American Commentary:

1:11 The NIV omits the connecting words “for thus” (houtōs gar). The NRSV’s “for in this way” is far superior to the NIV rendering. The “way,” of course, is the pathway of virtue, the keeping of the qualities in vv. 5–7, which were mentioned again in v. 10. Those who have such virtues and abound in them will find that their entrance into the kingdom is “richly provided for” (NRSV).⁸³ Some scholars suggest that Peter contemplated a reward above and beyond eternal life, but we should note that he was speaking of “entrance” (eisodos) into the kingdom. Unfortunately, the NIV completely changes the reading of the Greek text here, so that readers cannot appreciate precisely what Peter said. Note the NRSV’s use of the term “entry.” This fits what Peter just said in v. 10, where those who practice the virtues are assured that they will never commit apostasy. Conversely, v. 11 says that those who continue in such godly qualities will enter into heaven. Furthermore, the interpretation proposed here makes sense of the book as a whole. Peter warned his readers, lest they succumb to the influence of the false teachers and abandon the church. In 2:20–22 those who have come to know the way of truth and turn back Peter likened to a dog that returns to its vomit and a pig to its mud pile. Peter was not concerned here about rewards but whether people will enter the kingdom at all. He insisted that people cannot enter it without living in a godly way, but this is not salvation by works but salvation with works. These are the works that God, after all, accomplishes in his people. Identifying the “eternal kingdom” as that of the Lord Jesus Christ is unusual. Usually the kingdom is God’s in the New Testament (but cf. Luke 22:30; John 18:36; Eph 5:5; Col 1:13; 2 Tim 4:1; Heb 1:8; Rev 11:15). The kingdom is clearly eschatological here, designating what believers will enter on the day of the Lord. Since the kingdom here is Christ’s, he is the one who will provide entrance into the kingdom for believers. Furthermore, believers will have a “rich welcome,” and the word “rich” (plousiōs) indicates that the eschatological reward is gracious, that believers receive much more than they ever deserved.^[11]

 

LABC – Quote – and a questionable phrase made by the author that is underlined below:

And you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Those who live fruitful and productive lives for God, who do not disastrously stumble along the path to the eternal kingdom (heaven) will receive a rich welcome. This pictures the type of welcome Stephen experienced as he was martyred, “‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God’” (Acts 7:56 niv). All believers will experience a wonderful welcome into their true home, the eternal kingdom of the Lord and Savior.   —-   Those who have been called and chosen, but have been unfruitful and have stumbled much along the way, will still reach the kingdom and receive their salvation, but it will be, as Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 3:15, “only as through fire” (nrsv). Whether this welcome will be any different is unknown; but Peter encouraged his readers to confirm their calling and election (1:10) and to ensure a rich welcome by living to please God during their time on earth. Looking toward our future eternal life provides the motivation for right living now. We must be centered on heaven’s priorities, not those of this world. We can face hardships and still be faithful to God because we know the bright future he has for us. How wonderful it is to contemplate that God wants, expects, and waits for us.^[12]

 

 

LIVING FOR THE FUTURE – God promises us a rich welcome. Unless God’s promise of eternal life with him is true, morality makes no sense at all. We might as well get what pleasure we can each day until death does us in.

Everywhere the Bible points to history’s culmination when all believers will live with God forever. God’s character defines the future. God’s love wants to share that future with you.

Today may have been tedious, humdrum, discouraging, or hurtful, but God promises a bright tomorrow when all his holiness will shine and all your devotion to him will be rewarded. You’re almost there. Keep up the pace. Never even think about quitting. Jesus welcomes you at the finish line.

 

2 Peter 1:12 – Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have.

 

The reminding was for them not to allow their salvation to become a license for immoral living.  They were not just to learn the knowledge of the Gospel, but to apply it to their lives by living it.

 

V.13-14  –  ¹³ I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, ¹⁴ since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.

 

The eternal realm maters, not the temporal bodies we now have.

68. 15 – ¹⁵ And I will make every effort (spoudazo – G4704 LN68.63) so that after my departure (exodos) you may be able at any time to recall these things.

 

Peter understood that he would be just departing this world and joining Christ in His.

 

The phrase: And I will make every effort (spoudazo – G4704 LN68.63) is from the one Greek word, spoudazo.

2Pet1v15

LABC:   WILL GRANDCHILDREN BELIEVE?

How can we get future generations to remember Christ and how important he is to us? Will the faith you hold precious survive in your family after you’re gone? Here are six things you can do:

1. Talk with your grandchildren. Many grandparents fail to connect with younger ones, especially as grandchildren become teenagers. Talk about God. Keep it simple.
2. Start a scrapbook that tells the story of faith in your family. Include important dates and records (baptisms, funeral announcements, etc.).
3. Make an audio or video tape of the real you—your struggles and God’s work in your life. Explain how you became a Christian.
4. Talk about God in your Last Will and Testament.
5. Plan your Christian funeral, so that everyone will know where your hope lay.
6. Demonstrate assurance that your future with God in heaven is a source of real happiness.^[13]

 

Christ’s Glory and the Prophetic Word –  Verses16 -21 Are a strong statement about the inspiration of Scripture.

V.16 – ¹⁶ For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

 

Jesus had revealed some of his most unusual demonstrations of “power” to his disciples alone. He had stood up in their partly swamped boat and had taken command of the wind and the waves. He had walked on water. He had given three of them an incredible glimpse of his glory. The disciples later relied on what they had seen and experienced. At first, most of it was hard to understand. Even after the Transfiguration, Jesus had ordered the three amazed disciples “not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead” (Mark 9:9 niv). Everything became more clear after Jesus’ resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit. The apostles made these demonstrations of Jesus’ power known to the believers, and also made known Jesus’ “coming,” his return, when the kingdom would be displayed. Jesus’ “power” will also be seen when he raises the dead (John 5:28), brings judgment (John 5:27), destroys the lawless one (2 Thessalonians 2:8) and his evil accomplices (Revelation 19:11–16), and consummates his kingdom (Revelation 11:15–18).

 

We do NOT follow cleverly devised myths that denies the Gospel.

 

V.17 – ¹⁷ For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,”

 

Jesus received honor and glory from God the Father.  Matt. 17:2 – His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light”…

Referring to the transfiguration account by James and John who had been eye witnesses.  Matt. 17:2

“Honor” refers to Jesus’ exalted status conveyed by the voice. It was God’s public announcement of Jesus’ sonship. “Glory” refers to Jesus’ shining moral splendor as light radiating from his Person (see 1 Peter 1:7).

 

LABC:  The Transfiguration was a brief glimpse of Jesus’ true “glory from God the Father.” This was God’s divine affirmation of everything Jesus had done and was about to do. The Transfiguration assured the disciples that their commitment was well placed and their eternity was secure. Jesus was truly the Messiah, the divine Son of God. On earth, Jesus appeared as a man, a poor carpenter from Nazareth turned itinerant preacher. But at the Transfiguration, Jesus’ true identity was revealed with the glorious radiance that he had before coming to earth (John 17:5; Philippians 2:6) and that he will have when he returns in glory to establish his kingdom (Revelation 1:14–15).

During the Transfiguration, a cloud appeared and enveloped the group on the mountain (Jesus, Elijah, Moses, Peter, James, and John). God’s voice came by the Majestic Glory, singling out Jesus from Moses and Elijah as the long-awaited Messiah who possessed divine authority. The “Majestic Glory” is a name for God (see Exodus 16:10; Numbers 14:10) and means that God himself exalted Christ. As he had done at Jesus’ baptism (Mark 1:11), God gave verbal approval of his Son. The voice spoke to the three disciples, saying, “This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”^[14]

2 Peter 1:18 – V.18 – And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.”    God, himself, tells about Christ’s honor and glory.  The Transfiguration obviously had had a profound impact on Peter. As he prepared for his death, his last words of assurance to future believers focused on the reliability of the gospel. Peter knew that his eternal glory was sure, for he had seen it with his own eyes. Thus he could assure all believers that they too would one day share in this glory.

 

V.19 –  ¹⁹ And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star (Phosphoros –(G5459 – LN 1.32 – “Morning Star”) rises in your hearts,

 

The Greek term phosphoros (literally meaning “light-bearer” or “morning star”) was commonly used by Greek writers to describe Greek divinities and kings. Christ is the true deity and king because he is the unique bearer of light, “the light of life” (John 8:12). (For more on Christ as the morning star, see Luke 1:78; Ephesians 5:14; Revelation 2:28; 22:16.)  2Pet1v19

 

 

What God had said on the mountain made the word of the prophets even more certain.  This meaning the Transfiguration verified and validated all that the prophets had foreseen.  It confirmed that God would come to earth as a human; Jesus Christ was that person, human but glorious, who would save people from their sins. Confirmed in OT and Matthew 5:17  (“…I have come to fulfill them…”)

 

LABC:  Until the day comes when Christ returns to dispel all darkness, believers have Scripture as a light and the Holy Spirit to illuminate Scripture for us and guide us as we seek the truth. But when Christ is completely revealed, Scripture will no longer be needed. The phrase “rises in your hearts” could mean that at Christ’s return, believers will receive an illumination that will dispel all previous doubts and misunderstandings. There will be instant recognition of Christ when he returns (Mark 13:21–26).^[15]

 

 

2 Peter 1: 20&21: ²⁰ knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. ²¹ For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

 

Note above in Bible Strip -1^st word – “knowing (Ginosko – G1097 “to know (experientially)) this first of all,

 

This verse tells us that the Scripture (specifically the Old Testament prophecies) did not originate with any man nor was it interpreted by the prophets themselves as they delivered the message. False prophets produced false prophecies from their own inspiration (see Ezekiel 13:2, 17 nasb), but genuine prophets did not interpret the message as God gave it to them; they simply spoke what was spoken to them and recorded the God-originated, Spirit-motivated words…

Ezekiel 13:2 (ESV)
²  “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel, who are prophesying, and say to those who prophesy from their own hearts: ‘Hear the word of the LORD!’
Ezekiel 13:17 (ESV)
¹⁷  “And you, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people, who prophesy out of their own hearts. Prophesy against them

 

It was the same God that spoke to the prophets that spoke at the ‘transfiguration’.

LABC:  The process of “inspiration” makes Scripture completely trustworthy because God was in control of its writing. The Bible’s words are entirely accurate and authoritative for our faith and for our lives. Through knowledge of the Scriptures, believers would be able to recognize and stand firm against false teaching; through the knowledge of the Scriptures, believers would have all the tools and guidance they would need to live for God.^[16]

 

^[1] Barton, B. B. (1995). 1 Peter, 2 Peter, Jude (p. 160). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Pub.

^[2] Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, pp. 335–336). New York: United Bible Societies.

^[3] Barton, B. B. (1995). 1 Peter, 2 Peter, Jude (p. 163). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Pub.

^[4] Barton, B. B. (1995). 1 Peter, 2 Peter, Jude (p. 164). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Pub.

^[5] Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 751). New York: United Bible Societies.

^[6] Barton, B. B. (1995). 1 Peter, 2 Peter, Jude (p. 166). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Pub.

^[7] Barton, B. B. (1995). 1 Peter, 2 Peter, Jude (p. 167). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Pub.

^[8] Barton, B. B. (1995). 1 Peter, 2 Peter, Jude (p. 167). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Pub.

^[9] Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 292). New York: United Bible Societies.

^[10] Barton, B. B. (1995). 1 Peter, 2 Peter, Jude (p. 168). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Pub.

^[11] Schreiner, T. R. (2003). 1, 2 Peter, Jude (Vol. 37, p. 306). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

^[12] Barton, B. B. (1995). 1 Peter, 2 Peter, Jude (pp. 170–171). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Pub.

^[13] Barton, B. B. (1995). 1 Peter, 2 Peter, Jude (p. 173). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Pub.

^[14] Barton, B. B. (1995). 1 Peter, 2 Peter, Jude (pp. 175–176). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Pub.

^[15] Barton, B. B. (1995). 1 Peter, 2 Peter, Jude (p. 178). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Pub.

^[16] Barton, B. B. (1995). 1 Peter, 2 Peter, Jude (p. 179). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Pub.