Get Ready
How do you introduce yourself? Do you use your first and last name, or just a nickname? Do you use any titles or descriptors with your name (Doctor, Plumber, Counselor, Representative, Steward)? If asked, how do you describe your job or what you do?
The Word
1Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received a faith as precious as ours through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:
2 May grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
3 His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Thus he has given us, through these things, his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust, and may become participants of the divine nature. 5 For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness,
7 and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love. 8 For if these things are yours and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For anyone who lacks these things is nearsighted and blind, and is forgetful of the cleansing of past sins.
10 Therefore, brothers and sisters, be all the more eager to confirm your call and election, for if you do this, you will never stumble.
11 For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.
12 Therefore I intend to keep on reminding you of these things, though you know them already and are established in the truth that has come to you. 13 I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to refresh your memory,
14 since I know that my death will come soon, as indeed our Lord Jesus Christ has 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.
Eyewitnesses of Christ’s Glory
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 had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” 18 We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain.
19 So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21 because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. NRSV
Get into the Word
1. How does Peter introduce himself in this letter? Why do you think he used both versions of his name? What titles does he use? Why did he choose these?
2. How does he describe the folks who received this letter? What greeting does he use?What gift does he talk about in the first section? Where does the gift come from? How did the people get it. Why are they receiving this gift? What is the ultimate purpose of the gift?
3. How should the Christians respond to this gift? How are the different aspects of this gift related to each other? What is the ultimate basis for this gift? How does the gift affect the relationships among the believers?
4. How does Peter justify his repetition of “these things”?What incident does Peter write about next [See Notes]? How does he differentiate his narrative from other stories? What is different about this incident? How does he authenticate his version?
5. What image does he use to describe this message? How should the believers respond to this metaphor? Who is really speaking to the people?
Get Personal
How does God help you “support your faith?” How often do you get reminders of his grace in your life?
Notes . . .
1:1. Simeon Peter – Peter uses both his Hebrew name and his Greek name, perhaps reminding his readers of the two parts of his life.
Servant – literally “slave.”
Apostle – an “ambassador” who is fully authorized to speak on behalf of his principal.
A faith as precious as ours – “Faith” is not just the knowledge of Jesus’ life, sacrifice and resurrection, it is the ability to live a changed life – and it is the same faith that Peter (and every other Christian) has.
1:2. Knowledge – Peter reinforces the point that “knowing” God is experiential, not just a group of belief statements. Jesus said the same thing when asked about the “work” of the kingdom of God: believe in [as in “get to know” or “have a personal relationship with”] him whom he has sent, [John 6:29].
1:3. Has given – (also 1:4) God has already provided the all that a believer needs to live a Godly life through this “knowledge” of Christ.
1:5. Support your faith – literally “add to” your faith, which is the initial step in a changed life. Peter builds a “stairway” of successive virtues (verses 5-7) culminating in selfless love for God and others. The goal is to be “effective” and “fruitful” so that your life and
faith spreads to others.
1:12. Keep on reminding – championship sports teams never stop repeating the basic elements of their sport, even though they “know them already and are established” in them.
1:14. My death will come soon – Jesus had told Peter the type of death he would face (the story is in John 21:18-19). Tradition puts Peter’s death between 64 and 68 CE.
1:16. Cleverly devised myths – the “false teachers” said Christ’s return was a myth.
Eyewitnesses – Peter, along with John and James saw Jesus’ transfiguration and heard the voice say this is my Son, my Chosen. Listen to him, [Luke 9:2-8].
1:19. Prophetic message – what we call the “Old Testament,” which was codified in Greek around 250 BCE.
More fully confirmed – Jesus’ life, death and resurrection validated the writings of the prophets.
Morning star – a metaphor for Christ [check Luke 1:78, Revelation 2:28 and 22:16].
1:21. Moved by the Holy Spirit – prophecy is “speaking God’s word to people.” Before Jesus came prophets would tell the Jewish people how God felt about their actions (usually negatively) and what would happen to them if they continued to disobey him.
Memory Verse
No prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women, moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God, [2 Peter 21]
Next Lesson
7:False prophets and their punishment – 2 Peter 2:1-22