2nd Peter Chapter 2

Outline

• Greetings (1:1-2)
• Exhortation to Growth in Christian Virtues (1:3-11)
  • The Divine Enablement (1:3-4)
  • The Call for Growth (1:5-7)
  • The Value of Such Growth (1:8-11)
• The Purpose and Authentication of Peter's Message (1:12-21)
  • His Aim in Writing (1:12-15)
  • The Basis of His Authority (1:16-21)
• Warning against False Teachers (ch. 2)
  • Their Coming Predicted (2:1-3a)
  • Their Judgment Assured (2:3b-9)
  • Their Characteristics Set Forth (2:10-22)
• The Fact of Christ's Return (3:1-16)
  • Peter's Purpose in Writing Restated (3:1-2)
  • The Coming of Scoffers (3:3-7)
  • The Certainty of Christ's Return (3:8-10)
  • Exhortations Based on the Fact of Christ's Return (3:11-16)
• Conclusion and Doxology (3:17-18)

2nd Peter Chapter 2

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. 

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

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. 

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. 

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. 

6Later, 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. 

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. 

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

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. 

10He 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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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

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. 

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. 

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

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. 

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

Outline

• Greetings (1:1-2)
• Exhortation to Growth in Christian Virtues (1:3-11)
  • The Divine Enablement (1:3-4)
  • The Call for Growth (1:5-7)
  • The Value of Such Growth (1:8-11)
• The Purpose and Authentication of Peter's Message (1:12-21)
  • His Aim in Writing (1:12-15)
  • The Basis of His Authority (1:16-21)
• Warning against False Teachers (ch. 2)
  • Their Coming Predicted (2:1-3a)
  • Their Judgment Assured (2:3b-9)
  • Their Characteristics Set Forth (2:10-22)
• The Fact of Christ's Return (3:1-16)
  • Peter's Purpose in Writing Restated (3:1-2)
  • The Coming of Scoffers (3:3-7)
  • The Certainty of Christ's Return (3:8-10)
  • Exhortations Based on the Fact of Christ's Return (3:11-16)
• Conclusion and Doxology (3:17-18)

2 Peter 1 NLT

cripture Formatting

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. 

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

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. 

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. 

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, 

6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 

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. 

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

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. 

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

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 

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.” 

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. 

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

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

Summary of the Book of 2 Peter

Summary of the Book of 2 Peter

This summary of the book of 2 Peter provides information about the title, author(s), date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the Book of 2 Peter.

Author

The author identifies himself as Simon Peter (1:1). He uses the first person singular pronoun in a highly personal passage (1:12-15) and claims to be an eyewitness of the transfiguration (1:16-18 [see note on 1:16]; cf. Mt 17:1-5). He asserts that this is his second letter to the readers (3:1) and refers to Paul as "our dear brother" (3:15; see note there). In short, the letter claims to be Peter's, and its character is compatible with that claim.

Although 2 Peter was not as widely known and recognized in the early church as 1 Peter, some may have used and accepted it as authoritative as early as the second century and perhaps even in the latter part of the first century (1 Clement [a.d. 95] may allude to it). It was not ascribed to Peter until Origen's time (185-253), and he seems to reflect some doubt concerning it. Eusebius (265-340) placed it among the questioned books, though he admits that most accept it as from Peter. After Eusebius's time, it seems to have been quite generally accepted as canonical.

In recent centuries, however, its genuineness has been challenged by a considerable number of interpreters. One of the objections that has been raised is the difference in style from that of 1 Peter. But the difference is not absolute; there are noteworthy similarities in vocabulary and in other matters. In fact, no other known writing is as much like 1 Peter as 2 Peter. The differences that do exist may be accounted for by variations in subject matter, in the form and purpose of the letters, in the time and circumstances of writing, in sources used or models followed, and in scribes who may have been employed. Perhaps most significant is the statement in 1Pe 5:12that Silas assisted in the writing of 1 Peter. No such statement is made concerning 2 Peter, which may explain its noticeable difference in style (see Introduction to 1 Peter: Author and Date).

Other objections arise from a secular reconstruction of early Christian history or misunderstandings or misconstructions of the available data. For example, some argue that the reference to Paul's letters in 3:15-16 indicates an advanced date for this book -- beyond Peter's lifetime. But it is quite possible that Paul's letters were gathered at an early date, since some of them had been in existence and perhaps in circulation for more than ten years (Thessalonians by as much as 15 years) prior to Peter's death. Besides, what Peter says may only indicate that he was acquainted with some of Paul's letters (communication in the Roman world and in the early church was good), not that there was a formal, ecclesiastical collection of them.

Date

2 Peter was written toward the end of Peter's life (cf. 1:12-15), after he had written a prior letter (3:1) to the same readers (probably 1 Peter). Since Peter was martyred during the reign of Nero, his death must have occurred prior to a.d. 68; so it is very likely that he wrote 2 Peter between 65 and 68.

Some have argued that this date is too early for the writing of 2 Peter, but nothing in the book requires a later date. The error combated is comparable to the kind of heresy present in the first century. To insist that the second chapter was directed against second-century Gnosticism is to assume more than the contents of the chapter warrant. While the heretics referred to in 2 Peter may well have been among the forerunners of second-century Gnostics, nothing is said of them that would not fit into the later years of Peter's life.

Some have suggested a later date because they interpret the reference to the fathers in 3:4 to mean an earlier Christian generation. However, the word is most naturally interpreted as the OT patriarchs (cf. Jn 6:31, "forefathers"; Ac 3:13; Heb 1:1). Similarly, reference to Paul and his letters (3:15-16; see Author) does not require a date beyond Peter's lifetime.

2 Peter and Jude

There are conspicuous similarities between 2 Peter and Jude (compare 2Pe 2 with Jude 4-18), but there are also significant differences. It has been suggested that one borrowed from the other or that they both drew on a common source. If there is borrowing, it is not a slavish borrowing but one that adapts to suit the writer's purpose. While many have insisted that Jude used Peter, it is more reasonable to assume that the longer letter (Peter) incorporated much of the shorter (Jude). Such borrowing is fairly common in ancient writings. For example, many believe that Paul used parts of early hymns in Php 2:6-11 and 1Ti 3:16.

Purpose

In his first letter Peter feeds Christ's sheep by instructing them how to deal with persecution from outside the church (see 1Pe 4:12); in this second letter he teaches them how to deal with false teachers and evildoers who have come into the church (see 2:1; 3:3-4 and notes). While the particular situations naturally call for variations in content and emphasis, in both letters Peter as a pastor ("shepherd") of Christ's sheep (Jn 21:15-17) seeks to commend to his readers a wholesome combination of Christian faith and practice. More specifically, his purpose is threefold: (1) to stimulate Christian growth (ch. 1), (2) to combat false teaching (ch. 2) and (3) to encourage watchfulness in view of the Lord's certain return (ch. 3).

Outline

• Greetings (1:1-2)
• Exhortation to Growth in Christian Virtues (1:3-11)
  • The Divine Enablement (1:3-4)
  • The Call for Growth (1:5-7)
  • The Value of Such Growth (1:8-11)
• The Purpose and Authentication of Peter's Message (1:12-21)
  • His Aim in Writing (1:12-15)
  • The Basis of His Authority (1:16-21)
• Warning against False Teachers (ch. 2)
  • Their Coming Predicted (2:1-3a)
  • Their Judgment Assured (2:3b-9)
  • Their Characteristics Set Forth (2:10-22)
• The Fact of Christ's Return (3:1-16)
  • Peter's Purpose in Writing Restated (3:1-2)
  • The Coming of Scoffers (3:3-7)
  • The Certainty of Christ's Return (3:8-10)
  • Exhortations Based on the Fact of Christ's Return (3:11-16)
• Conclusion and Doxology (3:17-18)

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From the NIV Study Bible, Introductions to the Books of the Bible, 2 Peter
Copyright 2002 © Zondervan. All rights reserved. Used with permission

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Some Things That Are Not Faith

E. W. Kenyon

Some Things That Are Not Faith

"Claiming the promises" is not faith. Faith already has it. "Claiming - proves that one does not have it yet. It is unbelief attempting to act like faith. As long as one is trying to get it, faith has not vet acted. Faith says. "Thank you Father." Faith has it. Faith has arrived. Faith stops praying and begins to praise. Notice carefully, Doubt says. "I claim the promises." "I am standing on the promises.' This is all the language of doubt. Unbelief quotes the Word, but does not act upon it. We call this Mental Assent. I can remember in those early days how we used to "plead the promises and claim them as ours." We did not know that our very language savored of unbelief. You see, believing is simply acting on the Word. We act on the Word as we would act on the word of a loved one.

We act on the Word because we know that it is true. We do not try to believe it. We do not pray for faith, we simply act upon it. One said to me the other day, "I am trying to make the Word true." I said, "I do not see why you need to do that, because it has always been true." People do not know the Word until they begin to practice it and let it live in them. They may have sat under one of the finest teachers or preachers in the country for years, yet it has never become a part of their lives. Using the Word in your daily life is the secret of faith. The Word abides in you and enables Him to express Himself through you. You draw on the Vine life for wisdom, love and ability. You are never without resources.

The Word is the Master speaking to you. When you act on the Word, you are acting in unison with Him. You and He are lifting the load together. He is fellowshipping with you, sharing with you. You are sharing His ability and strength. Now you can understand that all that faith is is acting on the Word. We are through with Sense Knowledge formulas.
Now we are walking with Him, realizing that His ability has become ours.

THE HIDDEN MAN
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1 Peter 5 NLT

Outline

• Greetings (1:1-2)
• Praise to God for His Grace and Salvation (1:3-12)
• Exhortations to Holiness of Life (1:13;5:11)
  • The Requirement of Holiness (1:13;2:3)
  • The Position of Believers (2:4-12)
    1. A spiritual house (2:4-8)
    2. A chosen people (2:9-10)
    3. Aliens and strangers (2:11-12)
  • Submission to Authority (2:13;3:7)
    1. Submission to rulers (2:13-17)
    2. Submission to masters (2:18-20)
    3. Christ's example of submission (2:21-25)
    4. Submission of wives to husbands (3:1-6)
    5. The corresponding duty of husbands (3:7)
  • Duties of All (3:8-17)
  • Christ's Example (3:18;4:6)
  • Conduct in View of the End of All Things (4:7-11)
  • Conduct of Those Who Suffer for Christ (4:12-19)
  • Conduct of Elders (5:1-4)
  • Conduct of the Young (5:5-11)
• The Purpose of the Letter (5:12)
• Final Greetings and Benediction (5:13-14)

1 Peter 5 NLT

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: 

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. 

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

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

5In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 

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

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

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

9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are. 

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. 

11 All power to him forever! Amen. 

12I 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. 

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

14 Greet each other with a kiss of love. Peace be with all of you who are in Christ.