SERVANT AND APOSTLE OF JESUS CHRIST
Peter, like, Paul was not ashamed to be called a bond-servant, that is a slave, of Jesus Christ. Nobody would, naturally, want to be a slave but Peter was happy to be Christ’s slave.
As 2 Peter is a short book, it might be worth looking at the other name Peter calls himself, “apostle.” It is a term Paul also uses of himself and a few other leaders in the early church; especially, but not only, the 12 disciples. An apostle means someone “sent forth” with the Lord’s authority to do what He would do if he was here on this earth. When Jesus sent his apostles he gave them authority over evil spirits, gave them the power to heal, to bring his peace, to preach repentance and forgiveness of sins, to make disciples, to baptise them, pass on the Holy Spirit and teach them to obey Him. In Hebrews 3v1 Jesus is called apostle, presumably in the sense that he came to earth with the divine authority of the heavenly Father. The apostles of the new testament were certainly instrumental in the foundation and growth of the early church and Christians today are divided whether there are modern-day equivalents.
PRECIOUS FAITH
Like his first letter, Peter repeats in verse 1 how precious their faith was. Notice it is a faith “received” (v1); it does not have to be worked for and is, rather, an experience of God’s grace and peace in abundance (v2), through knowing God.
PARTICIPANTS IN THE DIVINE NATURE
His divine power has given use everything we need for life and godliness (v3) and ”precious “ promises (v4). These promises enable us to participate in the divine nature. We should not stop at faith but add to it in increasing measure starting with goodness, continuing with knowledge and ending in love (v5-7). Once these things increase in our lives we become more fruitful for the Lord (v8). New life is possible because of Christ’s cleansing of our past sins (v9) and if we don’t grow, we could become ineffective, unfruitful and prone to stumble (v10).
Peter was keen to keep on reminding them about these things so that after his departure they would be able to remember (v15). By departure, Peter does not mean departure on a journey, rather a departure from this earth; his death (v14). Like Paul he was soon to lose his life for the Gospel’s sake.
Remember Peter, James and John, were the only three disciples to see the transfiguration of Jesus on a high mountain (Matthew 17 1-9). This was when they saw the honour and glory of Jesus and heard the voice from heaven which said “this is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased” (v17). This revelation was so wonderful that Jesus forbade them from mentioning it until after his resurrection. Peter was now free to speak about his own experience of Jesus Christ in His glory. In fact, all true prophecies do not come from people’s minds but from an experience of God; through men and women moved by the Holy Spirit (v21).
FALSE PROPHETS AND TEACHERS
Peter reminded them (chapter 2), as Paul did, to watch out for false prophets and false teachers who, secretly, bring in “destructive opinions” (v1), These people will be dealt with by God, just like the angels were at the time of Noah (v4), just like the ancient world was by flood and Sodom and Gomorrah at the time of Lot. Alongside their destructive opinions, they have deceptive words (v3), depraved lust (v10) and they despise authority; even slandering angels. They have an insatiable appetite for sin and sadly entice others (v14). With words they offer people freedom (v19) while they are slaves to the sin that masters them. It is not good that they tasted of Jesus Christ but then, like a dog, returned to their own vomit (v22). They are like pigs who have been washed by Jesus, then decide to wallow in the mud of their old life again.
RECEIVE THE TRUE WORD
In Chapter 3 Peter encourages them to remember the words of the prophets in the old testament and those of Jesus, spoken by the apostles, in the new (v2). People will come scoffing at these things and disputing the second coming of the Lord (v3,4). The truth is that, just as there was a time when the world at that time was destroyed by water, there will one day come another destruction of the godless (v7), this time with fire.
CREATION IN THE BIBLE
There is a very interesting view, held by some, which I think is worth consideration if you have problems with normal creationist ideas. In these verses, you may think (verse 6) that the water deluge is talking about Noah’s flood; but maybe not, because it talks about a world that was deluged and perished. It may not refer to Noah because, strictly speaking, the world did not perish then because Noah and his family survived. Notice in verse 5 it talks of the earth being formed out of water and by means of water. Lets turn to Genesis chapter 1 verse 2 when it mentions the waters already existing and in verses 6, 7 God separating the waters. Perhaps there was a pre-Adamite world, even possibly with people, which could explain the earth being a lot older than Bible scholars have sometimes thought.
GOD WANTS MORE PEOPLE TO COME TO HIM
The Lord may seem slow in keeping his promise (3 v 8,9); 2000 years later we are still waiting for His return but you need to know God’s heart (v9) because He is patient, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance. When it comes, the end will be unexpected but what we do know, the destruction will be complete and the elements will be dissolved with fire (v10). Peter was waiting for a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness was at home (v13). Some believe His people will still live on the existing earth. It is clear from these verses that, if we are to live on earth, God will have to re-create it, first.
HOW SHOULD WE LIVE WHILE WE ARE WAITING
Peter encourages us to wait for the Lord and live our lives at peace, without spot or blemish (v14), so that when He comes, that is how He will find us. The patience of our Lord is salvation (v15) for future generations.
Peter supports the writings of Paul who he calls a beloved brother. He calls Paul’s letters “scriptures” (v16) but warns that some of them are hard to understand and people use them to twist their own ideas. Notice Paul wrote because of the wisdom given to him (v15) and not his own wisdom.
Peter summarises the whole book, really, in the final verses (v17 and 18) and warns them lest they should become unstable in their faith and carried away by error. Rather he encouraged them to grow. “To grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.”