2 Peter

Monday, 17 February 2020

…knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 2 Peter 3:3

Peter said in verse 3:1 that he wanted to stir up the mind of his readers so that they would be aware of what was spoken. This was important so that they wouldn’t wind up on a wrong path, as he now explains by saying, “knowing this first.” This is a phrase also spoken in 2 Peter 1:20. It highlights the importance of what he will next say, calling them to pay heed. From there, he says, “that scoffers will come in the last days.”

The term “last days” isn’t some point where the Christian’s of the world will suddenly realize things have gone from bad to worse. Nor are they a time by which we can say, “See the world has become just like the Bible predicted.”

The context of what the apostles mean for the last days is from the ascension of Christ until the time when He comes for His people – it is of indeterminate length. It reveals people who fit the biblical description of “scoffer” throughout its duration. One will not on a certain day in church history pick up the morning paper and come to the conclusion that things have gotten so bad that we must be in the last days. But this is what many people do.

In particular, 2 Peter 3 and 2 Timothy 3 are used to justify such a stand. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 reads –

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: ² For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³ unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, ⁴ traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵ having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!”

It seems as if this is a set point in time that suddenly calls out, “These are the last days.” But the same term is used elsewhere by the apostles, showing clearly that it is a term which speaks of the entire duration of the church age, such as in 1 Peter 1:20 and Hebrews 1:2. The phrase is also used in a passage parallel to Peter’s words now in Jude 1:18.

With this understood, that the things he will describe in the coming verses speaks of an extended period of time, he now finishes this verse with, “walking according to their own lusts.” The word “walking” signifies the conduct of one’s life. One can walk in peace with others, one can walk in harmony with God’s word, etc. The people Peter is warning against are walking in a way which pursues the carnal nature of man. They may be pursuing greed, sexual sin, sports cars, power and control over others, or some other fleshly pursuit.

Life application: If you consider the verses Peter is writing out now, and then compare them against the backdrop of history, you will see that it reflects the heart attitude of people throughout all ages. Likewise, men have been walking according to their own lusts since the time of Adam.

Know then and understand that we have been living in the “last days” since Jesus left. It is our business to be about His business. The world around us needs the knowledge of Jesus, not unsubstantiated predictions about why the world has finally arrived at “the last days.” There are other ways of discerning the timing of prophetic events from the Bible which are revealed in proper context.

Heavenly Father, give us wisdom and prudence as we walk before You, knowing that just as Christ Jesus ascended to heaven, so He will return again to earth. May we be found productively going about His business when He returns rather than sitting idly by waiting for a day which is unknown to us. Amen.

Sunday, 16 February 2020

… that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, 2 Peter 3:2

This thought is a continuation from verse 1. Peter wished to stir up the pure mind of his audience so, as he says, “that you may be mindful.” This set of words is translated from a single word in the Greek which simply means “remember” or “call to mind.” It is something that is done actively and purposefully. With this understanding, Peter then says what they are to remember, which is “the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets.”

This means in its most basic sense: “Scripture,” which to them would be – at that time – the Old Testament in particular. The words of the holy prophets are recorded in Scripture, and they had been carefully and meticulously safeguarded by the people of Israel for generations. Peter spoke of this earlier in the epistle, in Chapter 1 –

“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 interpretation, ²¹ for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”

The words of these men came through divine inspiration, and they spoke of things which were future, and which would especially direct them to the Person of Jesus Christ, and to the events which surrounded His earthly life. Naturally, these words would also speak of things which would come about after Christ’s ascension and which would comprise the church age, the completion of the time of law (meaning the tribulation), and the millennium.

Peter’s words now focus specifically on the church age and that which will occur there, as well as into the tribulation which will immediately precede Christ’s return. Thus, he then adds in, “and the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior.”

The words in Greek are cumbersome and have to be aligned in a way that the scholar feels Peter is conveying. A literal translation is “and the, the apostles of you, commandment the Lord and Savior.” Charles Ellicott seems to draw out the best sense of this by saying, “the commandment of your Apostles (or rather) of the Lord and Saviour.”

In other words, it is both a commandment of the apostles and of the Lord Jesus. Just as the holy men of God were carried along by the Holy Spirit, so the word of the Lord Jesus is brought forth through the words of the apostles. This will be confirmed as Peter continues on when he refers to Paul’s instructions in verse 3:15.

What was conveyed by the Lord, and what is conveyed by the Lord through the apostles, is given for believers’ edification and instruction. Peter is bringing these things to the collective mind of his audience so that they could have that mind stirred up into constant remembrance. In this, they would be actively mindful of that which is necessary for their walk in this life.

Life application: The sentiment in this verse is similar to that given by Paul in 2 Timothy 3:16 –

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”

Both the Old and New Testaments are God’s revealed word to man. It was received by the prophets and the apostles, and its words are given to us to be mindful of what God is telling us; the Bible means just what it says, and the words are our commandments.

When Peter says, “the apostles,” he is indicating that this is a privileged office that came only to the early church. There is no rite of “apostolic succession,” nor are there apostles appointed or designated for the church today. When the canon of the Bible was sealed, the apostolic office ended.

This is important to understand because it is the Bible, and not the ongoing dictates of church leaders (or supposed leaders), that governs our affairs. We have everything we need for holy living and right anticipation of salvation, glorification, and rewards and losses, right in the pages of Scripture. Please remember this and take time, each and every day, to read and meditate on the words of the Bible. God has spoken, His word is sealed, and we have no worry that something has been left out for the knowledge of pleasing Him.

Lord, we shall stand on Your word, knowing that we can trust in what it says to lead us to You, and also to lead us before You all of our days. The Bible tells us of Jesus, and Jesus is the One who allows us to know You personally and intimately. Thank You for the choice food which is the Holy Bible. Amen.

Saturday, 15 February 2020

Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2 Peter 3:1

Here the Greek reads, “This, already, beloved, a second letter to you I write.” The word “now” is an indicator of the short amount of time between the writing of the first and second epistle. His words are going out to basically the same group of people, and there is a sense of urgency in his words which is certainly based on what he said in verses 1:12-15. He could be executed at any time, and he felt it necessary to remind his audience of what was most important while he could.

The words, “this second epistle,” are an interior confirmation that he wrote 1 Peter. And then, adding in words that a forger would certainly fail to include, he says, “in both of which I stir up your pure minds.” The word “both” is inserted, but it is implied. A forger wouldn’t bother stating this, thinking that the words “this second epistle” were sufficient. But Peter did include them, showing that the intent of both letters was the same.

Next, he uses the term “stir up.” The Greek word is diegeiró. It has the intent of arousing the reader to be fully awake and attentive in his understanding. However, the word “minds” is incorrect. The Greek is a singular noun. Their individual minds may have been impure, as certainly all are, but their collective mind was pure, meaning uncontaminated.

The word he uses is only elsewhere found in Philippians 1:10. It comes from two words which indicate “the shining of the sun,” and “to judge.” Thus, it signifies that which is properly judged because it is seen in the full light. There is a divine clarity which results in true and proper discernment.

Peter wishes to stir up this pure mind as a reminder. The intent of the words is that the reminder is in the mind of the audience. They knew the information already, but to draw that forth to the forefront of their thoughts, the reminder is given. It is the same idea as is expressed in 2 Peter 1:13. A “refreshing” of the memory is the anticipated result.

This is similar to a pastor asking his congregation to continually read their Bibles. The information may be there, but it dulls over time. Eventually, it gets crowded out by all of the other things which creep in and take center stage of the mind. But highlighting that which is important, and then asking those in the church to solidify that through staying in the word, is the refreshing of the mind which brings about right thinking and right understanding of the word.

Life application: The book of 2 Peter was the last one recognized by the church as canon, meaning that which is meant for inclusion in the Bible. Other books were disputed as well, but eventually the 66 books we know as the Holy Bible were all accepted as received from God as His word to mankind.

This particular book was claimed to have been written by Peter in the first verse of Chapter 1. Then again in Chapter 1, in verses 13-18, he makes claims concerning his time spent with the Lord. Then, in this verse, he claims this to be his second letter. None of this proves it wasn’t written by an imposter, but the style of writing and the admonitions it proclaims fit into the overall theme of the Bible. It contains the power of God’s written word, and it is written in a manner which edifies the individual and the church overall. Certainly, it is an inspired text.

Peter wanted to stir up the collective mind of his audience. Likewise, we should read the entire Bible with this frame of mind. Rather than reading it in a way which helps us to sleep through our earthly lives, we should read it and take it to heart in a manner which arouses us to be active, watchful, and careful in our life and doctrine.

The previous chapter – dedicated almost exclusively to false teachers – is a clear indication of the importance of sound doctrine, right living, and proper focus. Let us be ever attentive to the words of Scripture and let us keep our minds pure by continuously referring to it in our daily lives. And further, let us return praise and honor to the Lord for so tenderly caring for us that He sent Jesus for our sins, the Holy Spirit for our comfort, and His word to build us up until we meet Him face to face.

Hallelujah Heavenly Father! Thank You for the pages of the Bible which inform us, correct us, instruct us, and lead us to a fuller and more intimate relationship with You. Stir up our minds to be pure, and to help us to be cleared of defilement as we pursue You through its pages. To Your honor and glory we pray. Amen.

Friday, 14 February 2020

But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.” 2 Peter 2:22

The chapter now finishes with Peter going back to the Old Testament to cite a taste of wisdom from the book of Proverbs to establish the truth of what he has been saying. He is still speaking of those who had known the way of righteousness and turned from it. As he says, “But it has happened to them according to the true proverb.” In other words, just as the wisdom of the proverb proclaims, so man follows the pattern set down in it.

From there, Peter cites Proverbs 26:11, saying –

“As a dog returns to his own vomit,
So a fool repeats his folly.”

Peter next speaks of “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.” This second example may be from an ancient story about a pig that went to a public bath with people of high status. Later when coming out of the bath, he saw a stinky drain and went and rolled in it. The moral of both of these is that just as a perverse person hears the message of the gospel, maybe even taking it to heart and half-heartedly participating in it, there is no acceptance of it. When he sees what he at first left behind, even though it is disgusting and far less acceptable, he returns to it.

The words of Peter here in no way speak of a person who was saved and regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Rather, they speak of a person who follows his unchanged degenerate nature. Albert Barnes gives a long, but insightful, commentary on this –

“This passage is often quoted to prove ‘the possibility of falling from grace, and from a very high degree of it too.’ But it is one of the last passages in the Bible that should be adduced to prove that doctrine. The true point of this passage is to show that the persons referred to never ‘were changed;’ that whatever external reformation might have occurred, their nature remained the same; and that when they apostatized from their outward profession, they merely acted out their nature, and showed that in fact there had been ‘no’ real change. This passage will prove – what there are abundant facts to confirm – that persons may reform externally, and then return again to their former corrupt habits; it can never be made to prove that one true Christian will fall away and perish. It will also prove that we should rely on no mere external reformation, no outward cleansing, as certain evidence of piety. Thousands who have been externally reformed have ultimately shown that they had no religion, and there is nothing in mere outward reformation that can suit us for heaven. God looks upon the heart; and it is only the religion that has its seat there, that can secure our final salvation.”

It is interesting that Peter takes the two unclean animals, and he places them side by side in a single verse, just as he heard Jesus do many years before –

“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.” Matthew 7:6

Peter carefully contemplated the words of Jesus and used what he had learned to instruct us in sound theology using examples similar to those Jesus had chosen.

Life application: Dogs often eat excitedly and too quickly. Their system can’t handle the load, and so they vomit up what they’ve eaten. However, this doesn’t deter them from going back and reengaging their meal.

Pigs can be bathed, showered with perfume, painted with lipstick, and given a soft pillow to lie on, but a pig is still a pig. If it looks to the left and sees a hole of mud, it will immediately head for it. There is no sense in either of these beasts as to what is clean or unclean – they are merely unreasoning animals.

Peter says the same is true of false teachers. Other animals participate in equally disgusting habits, but by using these two animals in particular, he is showing an additional level of uncleanliness in them. Dogs and pigs are both considered unclean animals under the Law of Moses. By using them as examples, he is implying that false prophets are unclean in their very nature and have no redeeming qualities at all.

When evaluating spiritual leaders, don’t look at the soft coat or the fancy perfumed persona. Rather, look at the whole person and evaluate them based on their adherence to God’s word.

Lord, please keep us from the false appearances of wayward teachers. May we not be deceived by those who are outwardly showy, but who are inwardly unreasoning and unclean animals bent on the consumption of filth. Also, please direct us to leaders who speak the truth in righteousness and who exalt You with their lives, both in public and in private. Amen.

Thursday, 13 February 2020

For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. 2 Peter 2:21

Peter is referring to those who “have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” of the previous verse. Here, he says of them, “For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness.” This is connected to the words of verse 2 where Peter calls the path of right pursuit of Christ “the way of truth.” Here, that path it is called “the way of righteousness.”

It is certain that if one believes that salvation can be lost, this will be interpreted as meaning the individual was a true believer at one point. Likewise, if a person believes that salvation cannot be lost, it will be argued in the opposite way. From there, logical arguments are made to defend the position. Cambridge ties Peter’s words in with actual belief –

“The ‘way of righteousness’ is like the ‘way of truth’ in 2 Peter 2:2, a comprehensive description of the religion of Christ as a whole, regarded here in its bearing on life, as there in its relation to belief.”

However, there is no reason to tie this knowledge in with belief. One can know that Jesus died on a cross, and that Christians believe it was for the sins of man, and yet he can fail to believe that himself. Head knowledge does not necessarily equate to heart knowledge. With this understanding, Peter then says, “than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.”

Such a person, with full head knowledge, can say, “I just cannot accept this premise.” From there, he fails to believe, and he turns from the knowledge he possesses. This is true with people trained in seminaries. Countless masses have been provided all the theology they need to believe the message of Christ, and yet they fail to do so.

Many of them become the finest scholars in biblical languages and even write detailed commentaries on the Bible. And yet, they do not believe the Bible is inspired by God. Nor do they accept that Jesus died for their sins. In this group are those who even comment on whether salvation can be lost or not, as if they believed in one doctrine or another.

Tying the two ideas – the way of righteousness and the state of belief – is a common sentiment of those who accept that Peter’s words are speaking of true believers, and that salvation can thus be lost. But following the progression of the life of Judas – a person who knew both the way of truth and the way of righteousness – one can see the flawed thinking presented in such a stand. First, Judas had all the knowledge he needed to accept Christ’s ministry (the way of truth and that of righteousness), and yet he did not believe –

“‘The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. ⁶⁴ But there are some of you who do not believe’ For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him.” John 6:63, 64

Secondly, Jesus then says the same type of thing that Peter says in this verse –

“The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” Matthew 26:24

Peter says it would have been better for them to not have known the way of righteousness, and Jesus says it would be good for that man if he had not been born. The ideas are comparable in intent.

Thirdly, Peter acknowledges that Judas had a part in the ministry, even though he did not believe (as noted by Jesus in John 6) –

“…for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry.” Acts 1:17

Finally, using a living parable, Jesus shows that in his unbelief, Judas was also not cleansed (implying “saved” in the typology presented) –

“Jesus said to him, ‘He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.’ ¹¹ For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, ‘You are not all clean.’” John 13:10, 11

Therefore, there is no reason to assume that “knowledge” in this verse equates to “belief.” Taking this in light of the other verses and concepts which speak of eternal salvation, it is clear that those who use this verse as a justification for loss of salvation have improperly used both their logic and Scripture in the process of doing so.

Life application: Peter, speaking of the false prophets, may have been thinking of those who received the Law at Mount Sinai, but who later turned from it at the cost of their lives. They had been delivered from Egypt, taken through the Red Sea, brought safely to Mount Sinai, and received the Ten Commandments as the Lord spoke to them from the awesome display – thundering, lightning, thick clouds, and the trumpet blast. However, after all of this, they turned their hearts away from the Lord and back to Egypt. They rebelled against Moses and began an open insurrection.

In the end, those who rebelled were destroyed and the people were held accountable – their bodies perished in the wilderness. Likewise, the people who have heard and simply not believed may see the gospel as a tool of opportunity to manipulate others. Just because someone preaches the gospel, this is no indication that he really believes it.

The world is full of people who have learned to use Christianity to increase their wealth and position. This is why it is so very important to always fix our eyes on Jesus. When we trust the message of a mere man and follow him, we are setting ourselves up for disappointment. Churches crumble and close around men who appeared godly but who are bent on serving their own appetites. Families have been destroyed by pastors who have manipulated women in the congregation. Life investments have been handed over to ungodly preachers who have taken the money and left the donors disillusioned and penniless.

All of this temporary gaining of wealth, position, sex, or power will lead only to their destruction. What they feel they have gained will be taken from them, and they will perish in their wickedness. It would have been better for them to have never known the truth or the way of righteousness.

Lord Jesus, You have shown us the way which is right and have given us the truth of Your word. Give us wisdom to follow You and not be led astray by manipulative and self-seeking people. Keep us from such people and provide us with godly leaders who have only Your gospel as their chief aim and purpose. Amen.