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By Roland H. Worth, Jr. © 2017
Teaching Guide to Second Peter
UNDERSTANDING 2 PETER
THROUGH TEXT, ALTERNATE TRANSLATIONS,
CROSS-REFERENCES,
PERSONAL QUESTIONS AND POINTS TO
MEDITATE UPON
by:
Roland H. Worth, Jr.
Copyright © 2017 by author
Reproduction of this book for non-profit
circulation
by any electronic
or print media means is hereby freely granted
at no cost—provided the text is not altered in any manner
and author credit
is given.
If accompanied by additional, supplemental
material
--in agreement or disagreement—
it must be
clearly and visibly distinguishable
from the original
text.
Translations Utilized
The following public domain translations have been
utilized in this volume:
American Standard Version (ASV) (1901)
Darby (1890)
Young’s Literal Translation (1898)
Two primary translations are provided of the entire
text (copyright holders reserve all rights to their text):
God’s Word: Copyight 1995 by God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society.
New King James Version: © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Individual words and phrases are quoted as alternative
translations from the following versions (all copyright holders reserve all
rights thereto):
* Contemporary
English Version: Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society.
* Holman Christian
Standard Bible: Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman
Bible Publishers.
*International Standard Version: Copyright Davidson Press, 1998.
* New
American Bible: Copyright © 1970, 1986, 1991, Confraternity of
Christian Doctrine, Inc.,
* New American Standard Bible: Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.
* New
Century Version, copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Word Publishing,
* New
International Version: Copyright © 1973,
1978, 1984 International Bible Society.
* New Living Translation: Copyright © 1996 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
* New Revised Standard
Version: copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education
of the National
Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
* Revised Standard Version: copyright © 1952, by the Division of
Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the
* Today’s English Version: Copyright © American Bible Society, 1966.
Characteristics
of
This
“Teaching” Volume
This volume brings together in one place a variety of useful tools to save the Bible student invaluable time and research—time being one of the most precious commodities in our modern world. It makes no claim to provide all that would be useful to know but to provide a quality introduction to the study of the book--one that will lay the ground work for future study if one wishes to pursue its subject matter in more detail.
This is accomplished through the use of several tools:
1. A concise commentary that emphasizes the central thought flow of the argument within each verse and how the various verses are interconnected in the development of various themes. To get maximum benefit from this tool it is recommended that you read the text in your own preferred translation and then compare it with the commentary. Although virtually any verse can be examined in far greater detail, it was thought best to zero in on a single central concept so that the reader can most quickly find something of personal value or interest in the text.
2. This is followed by the passage in two important contemporary translations. For the two full text citations, we blend the powerful strengths of the God’s Word translation (with its excellent ability to portray the intent and point of the text) and that of the New King James Version (and its effective preservation of the “word for word” approach to translation in the more traditional style).
3. Within the NKJV text, there are abundant alternative renderings from a number of other translations as well. The usefulness of the alternate translations as a commentary can not be overlooked. We become so used to a given word or phrase being rendered in a certain manner, the very fact that it has been altered (even though the substance, content, and intent are clearly identical) that the change forces our minds to work out the implications of the term that we have easily overlooked through long acquaintance with the passage.
These alternative renditions run the gauntlet from very “literalistic” to border-line (or crossing the line into) outright paraphrase. They share in common, however, the ability to goad our thinking. Very often prior acquaintance with the text causes us to “slide over” implications that a different wording brings front and center. The alternatives, in some cases, also imply interpretive possibilities as to the point being made though it is not explicit in the more traditional wording.
When multiple alternatives are given for one word or phrase they are normally given in alphabetical order based upon the first word of the alternatives: one that begins with “in,” for example, will normally occur before one that begins with “on.” In certain cases, the “flow” of the alternatives from one to the other leads to this practice being modified for the reader’s convenience. With rare exceptions, each verse contains at least two alternative translations.
When the tense in the translation does not match that which fits well with the current context it is modified with parentheses: for example, “ransom” becomes “ransom(ed).” Sometimes the alternatives are so close that they constitute virtually the same wording. In most such cases, the ultra-close alternatives are simply omitted in order to conserve space and only one representative example provided. Only when the cited part is exactly the same—with the possible exception of tense--are multiple translations referred to as the source of a specific reading.
Only a few decades ago, terms like “man” and “brethren” did double duty as both male-specific and inclusive language, depending upon the given context. In regard to “man,” where the Greek text uses explicitly inclusive language, it is now customary to find virtually all translations taking care to utilize such wording themselves. Past generations had no problem understanding the previous usage and it really ought not to cause a problem today. But ideologues of a certain type rule the day and the greater specification certainly does no harm—except when it harms the readability of the text.
A real problem arises with “brethren,” however, which is “male” language in the Greek but also clearly intended to cover both genders as well. Some translations retain the traditional usage on grounds of strict loyalty to the original text. Others feel that the broader significance of the expression can be easily missed—though earlier generations seemed to have no difficulty with the matter--and therefore substitute terms like “brothers and sisters.”
These cases, with rare exceptions, have not been noted in the comparative translations because they are so common and the true meaning immediately obvious to the user of various versions of the Bible. (Now that Communism has generally fallen into the annals of past history, perhaps translators should adopt “comrade”—which also does double gender description duty—in its place?)
4. Next comes interpreted cross references on most verses. This is based on the old adage that “the Bible is its own best interpreter.” In order to provide helpfulness to the less advanced individual and to encourage the thought of those already well versed in the scriptures, an introductory remark ties-in the cross-reference(s) with some point involved in the current text. These texts always come from the NKJV.
5. The last section on each verse or set of verses consists of observations, “thinking points,” and questions. No matter the specific form they take, they are all designed as tools to assist in the gaining of an insight into the practical meaning or application of the text. For those who are studying on their own, this provides a jumping-off point for further personal consideration of the matter.
For those who are utilizing this material in connection with their own teaching, it provides a query or remark to begin class discussion. Many teachers find that once they start talking, the rest comes far easier. This section is designed to do just that: to get the discussion going and overcome that difficult initial barrier. In many cases, one or more of the possible answers are printed in bracketed italics afterwards.
By the use of these various tools an individual is able to “self-study” at one sitting as much (or little) of this particular New Testament volume as one wishes. Bible knowledge, in the final analysis, is gained not by how much one studies at a time, but that one persists in doing so in a methodical and beneficial manner. These “self-study” volumes are intended to give the reader exactly that opportunity.
2017 Introductory Note:
My best guess is that the following manuscript was completed somewhere
in the first decade of the current century.
Originally intended for submission to a commercial publisher, it is
clear that I never did so. Rather than
let it “go to waste,” I decided it would be the easiest and most practical
thing to share this in non-print form, with the hope that a number of others
would find it useful for either personal study or as a “jumping off point” for
their own teaching of the book. I have
simply made cosmetic changes and rechecked for any missed errors.
Roland H. Worth, Jr.
Abbreviations
for Translations Utilized in This Volume
GW = God’s Word
NKJV = New King James Version
ASV = American Standard Version
CEV = Contemporary English Version
Darby = Darby New Testament
Holman = Holman New Testament
ISV = International Standard Version
NAB = New American Bible (Revised New Testament),
Roman Catholic
NASB = New American Standard Bible
NCV = New Century Version
NIV = New International Version
NLT = New Living Translation
NRSV = New Revised Standard Version
RSV = Revised Standard Version
TEV = Today’s English Version
Young = Young’s
Literal Translation
The selected translations come from varied spectrums of the religious landscape. From very conservative translations theologically (such as the NKJV and the NASB) to those self-described as mainstream by their advocates (such as the RSV and NRSV)--though considered liberal by their critics. (One of the oddities of modern scholarship is that the term “conservative” is gladly accepted but no one seems to want to be known as a “liberal.”) Because of the increasing interest in the study of the Biblical text among contemporary Roman Catholics and because of the great strides made in Catholic Biblical scholarship, we have also included one of the best representations of this tradition, the New American Bible.
Introduction
to Second Peter
Liberal scholars are distinctly
unfriendly to the genuineness of this book, but their predisposition tends to
work in that direction however weighty or modest the evidence. The difference in style with the first book
is usually attributed to a different scribe being in charge with committing the
document to writing on behalf of Peter.
A number of similarities in phrases are invoked in both epistles and it
is reasonably argued that this is good evidence for the same source being
behind them.
2 Peter 3:1 refers to the first
epistle, which argues that the recipients were the same as for that one. The subject matter, however, has clearly
shifted. In the first letter the
emphasis is on Christian living and persecution; in the second on the danger of
various false and misleading doctrines being taught (chapter two) including a
denial of the resurrection on the ground that it had not occurred yet (chapter
three).
An autobiographical touch is found in his short discussion of the Mount
of Transfiguration (
Introduction (1:1) --
Greetings from the Author:
Commentary and Thought Flow
1:1 Peter conveys the idea that an apostle was not one with arrogant power over others by describing himself as being “a bondservant” (= slave) as well. Hence he not only was a man with power over others, he himself was subject to the power of others--in this case Jesus Christ. Peter provides no indication of what geographic area he was writing to and he address the epistle in terms that would make it relevant anywhere and everywhere.
(1:1)
GW: From Simon Peter, a servant and
apostle of Jesus Christ. To those who have obtained a faith that is as valuable
as ours, a faith based on the approval that comes from our God and Savior,
Jesus Christ. –
NKJV: Simon Peter, a
bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who
have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and
Savior Jesus Christ.
Alternative
Readings: Simon Peter, a bondservant [slave, Homan, NAB] and
apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained [received, Darby, NASB] like precious faith [a faith of the
same kind, NASB; a faith of equal privilege, Holman; a faith of equal standing,
RSV; a faith . . . as valuable as ours, ISV, NCV] with us by [through, Darby, Holman, NAB, NIV, NRSV, Weymouth; in,
ASV, BBE, Rotherham, RSV, Young] the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Cross-references: Although they all shared “like precious faith,” there is always room for faith to grow, “And the apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith’ (Luke 17:5).
Thinking points and questions: Rank can go to a person’s head. As a leading apostle, Peter could easily have
let it swell his ego. What other term
does Peter use to show that he recognized that even being an apostle should not
go to his head? [He calls himself “a
bondservant (i.e., a slave) and apostle of Jesus Christ.” He recognized the paradox that he could be at
the “top of the heap” by being an apostle but simultaneously “at the
bottom” by being a mere “bondservant”—the lowest of the low in the society that
existed.]
The Divine Blessings of
Grace and Peace
Worked in Them through the
Knowledge of
God’s Will and the
Embracing of His Promises (1:2-4):
Commentary and Thought Flow
1:2 Neither Divine “grace” nor “peace” are static things. They can either decrease (by our willful ignoring of God’s will) or they can grow (“be multiplied”) . . .
1:3 by our increased knowledge of the will of
God and His Son. The reason that
we can grow in these divine blessings through exposure to God’s revelation lies
in the fact that God has given us a total revelation of all things pertaining
to Christian living. This was not
granted due to some peculiar insight we might have but because Jesus was the
divine intermediary to provide us with those insights.
1:4 To partake of the divine blessings
God has for us required that we be freed from the evil and degradation in the
world that comes through self-centeredness (“lust”)—and, by implication, to
continue to pursue what is right and God-orientated rather than to live by the
standard of what makes us feel better and satisfies just our personal
self-interest.
(1:2)
GW: May
good will and peace fill your lives through your knowledge about Jesus, our God
and Lord! --
NKJV: Grace
and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
Alternative
Cross-references: The purpose of Scripture is to give us
knowledge of right and wrong . . . of good and bad. If you wish to know with a certainty these
things, then you go to the Scriptures, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly
equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Thinking points and questions: It is through our “knowledge of God” that both “peace” and Divine favor (= “grace”) from God can grow—by ever learning more of His will we are able to conform ourselves better to His standards. That produces these results.
Life is
never at a stand still: Either you are
getting better or you are getting worse or . . . you are “treading water” and
simply wasting your time.
(1:3)
GW: God's divine power has given us everything we
need for life and for godliness. This power was given to us through knowledge
of the one who called us by his own glory and integrity. --
NKJV: As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain
to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and
virtue.
Alternative
Readings: As His divine
power has given [granted, NASB, RSV;
bestowed, NAB] to us all things
[everything, Holman] that pertain to
[necessary for, BBE; relate to, Darby] life
and godliness [piety, Young; righteousness, BBE; to serve God, NCV], through the knowledge of Him who called
us [appealed to us, Weymouth] by [added: His own, ASV, Holman, ISV, NAB, NASB, NRSV,
RSV, TEV] glory and virtue
[goodness, Holman, NCV, NIV, NLT; excellence, ISV].
Cross-references: Jesus had promised the apostles that they
would be given a complete revelation of the Divine will—about “life and
godliness” and everything else--to share with fellow believers, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth,
has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak;
and He will tell you things to come. He
will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and
declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I
said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you” (John
Thinking points and questions: We have two key words here to consider. The first is “life.” What does that refer to? [Assuming these not to be synonyms for the
same thing . . . Eternal life refers to obtaining it and gaining happy entry
into the next world--since the word that comes next describes the proper
lifestyle to follow in this current world.]
What
does “godliness” refer to? [A moral, ethical, God pleasing lifestyle.]
(1:4)
GW: Through his glory and integrity he has given
us his promises that are of the highest value. Through these promises you will
share in the divine nature because you have escaped the corruption that sinful
desires cause in the world. –
NKJV: By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious
promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having
escaped the corruption [that is] in the world through lust.
Alternative
Readings: By which have been given to us exceedingly great [magnificient, NASB; marvelous,
CEV; wonderful, ISV, NLT] and precious
promises, that through these [by them, BBE, NASB; by means of, TEV] you may be partakers of [participate
in, ISV, NIV] the divine nature, having
escaped [after escaping, NAB] the
corruption [decadence, NLT; destruction, BBE; ruin, NCV] that is in the world through [by,
NASB] lust [desires of the flesh,
BBE; earthly cravings, Weymouth; evil desires, Holman, ISV, NAB, NIV, NCV, NLT;
passion, RSV].
Cross-references: This verse speaks of how we have been transformed by escaping the evils that are in the world. This goes hand-in-hand with a new inner “us” being created by our embracing a new set of priorities. An Old Testament prophet worded it this way, “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them (Ezekiel 36:25-27).
Thinking points and questions: What are some of the “precious promises” that
God has given us? [Eternal life if
we are faithful--Revelation
[A way of escape out of temptation . . . but it is
up to us to actually choose to use it--Revelation 10:13: “No temptation has overtaken you except such
as is common to man; but God is faithful,
who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the
temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”
Because of What God Has
Done for Us,
We Should Cultivate the
Right Lifestyle
(1:5-11):
Commentary and Thought Flow
1:5 Because of the great blessings God has
promised us, we need to grow in our Christian character, adding to ones we
already possess additional ones and growing in strength and depth those we
already have. The beginning point is
“faith:” even
the believer who has just begun the journey of discipleship has at least that
much. But to what we believe must be
added positive attributes that collectively can be called “virtue.” Even having both faith and character leaves
us incomplete without adding “knowledge” as well, for it is through knowledge
that we can determine what we need to be and how we ought to behave. Without knowledge our faith may be delusional
and our character only half-formed.
1:6 Peter’s world and ours often considers “knowledge” the end all and be all, but knowledge is actually only a tool to be used. In this context, it is a tool to encourage us to further development of our character, beginning with “self-control:” the “do your own thing” concept of the modern world was anathema to the apostle and rightly so. Doing the right thing is what “self-control” is about.
“Perseverance” needs to be cultivated because there is a natural human tendency to give up in frustration and hopelessness if we can’t accomplish our dreams “now”—or sooner! “Godliness” has to be added because a person can be a good virtuous human being (at least in the eyes of most) without ever quite reaching the standards of behavior and attitude demanded of a believer.
1:6 In psychoanalytical thinking there is the assumption that if you can come to grips with the root of your problem and understand it—if you can gain knowledge—of what has bent your life--that the solution to your difficulties will inevitably occur. Peter recognized that however useful “knowledge” is in any field, that unless you do something with it, it is empty and futile. In the area of moral behavior this meant that to one’s knowledge had to be added “self-control” over our behavior. We are not predestined by genetics or behavior to continue a self-destructive course and the beginning of the change for the better is to recognize that control is possible and to start exercising it.
Yet “perseverance” must be added to self-control because “failure is inevitable:” somewhere, sometime, we are going to let down our guard and on one point or other fall short of what we know is our ideal. This totally devastates some people. Hence Peter wisely enjoins the need for “perseverance” so that we won’t let those lapses bounce us back into our self-destructive lifestyle of the past.
What we have seen so far would produce “a good moral person”—but not necessarily a person who has met God’s standards of behavior, which go significantly beyond those minimums. Hence “godliness,” the imitation of God’s character and behavior demands that may go significantly beyond those of a society at any particular point in time.
1:7 Of all the characteristics involved
in the “godliness” of the previous verse, Peter selects two to emphasize. First is “kindness”--gentleness, a treatment
of the other person with both respect and concern for their well-being. Out of that can grow “love” in the full
significance of the term (such as Paul discusses in 1 Corinthians 13), for we
have “plowed the field” of our heart and prepared it for the wide range of constructive
behaviors that grow out of our relationship as brothers and sisters in the
Lord.
1:8 Many of us are “minimalists” and think in
terms of what is the least we can get away with. Peter is not going to permit his readers to
think that is anything less than a delusion when it comes to Christian
character: not only is it necessary for
the virtues of the preceding verses to be present in a person’s life they must
also “abound” in amount and quality. The
reward for this is that one can be assured that one’s knowledge of and about
Christ will abound rather than being stagnant in a “barren” and “unfruitful”
quagmire.
1:9 The believer who thinks these truths can be ignored does not only have spiritual eyesight problems, he may even have reached the point of moral blindness. This condition arises when one forgets that we are a forgiven people and therefore stand in need of a lifestyle fitting for those who have learned the lessons from their past sins and changed for the better.
(1:5)
GW: Because of this, make every effort to add
integrity to your faith; and to integrity add knowledge. –
NKJV: But also for this
very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue
knowledge.
Alternative
Readings: But also for this
very reason, giving [applying, NASB] all diligence [make every effort, RSV], add to [supplement, Holman, NAB] your faith virtue [goodness, CEV, NCV,
NIV, NRSV, TEV; moral character, ISV; moral excellence, NASB, NLT; noble
character, Weymouth; worthiness, Young],
to virtue knowledge [understanding, CEV].
Cross-references: In a very real sense, verses 5-9 elaborate
at greater length what Peter sums up in a few words in the closing verse of the
book: “but
grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. . .” (
Thinking points and questions: Developing these virtues, Peter tells us,
requires “diligence.” What does that
mean? [You have to work at it. You can’t take it for granted. You can’t work at it today and put it aside
till next year at the same time. It’s
like growing in knowledge of a secular subject:
You work at it persistently . . . not out of a grudging bitterness (“I have
to!” mindframe) . . . but because you know the result
will be something to be proud of.]
(1:6)
GW: To knowledge add
self-control; to self-control add endurance; to endurance add godliness. --
NKJV: To knowledge
self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness.
Alternative
Cross-references: Paul describes self-control as like an
athlete who becomes full master of his body and its actions: “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run,
but one receives the prize? Run in such
a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable
crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body
and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become
disqualified” (1 Corinthians
Thinking points and questions: Knowledge gives us the facts about how we
should act and control ourselves. How
does “self-control” affect all the rest that is mentioned—perseverance,
godliness, kindness, love? [To be able
to do these, we have to be in control of our thoughts and our actions. If we aren’t, these positive virtues are
going to be sporadic and plagued by our going out and acting in the opposite
manner.]
(1:7)
GW: To godliness add
Christian affection; and to Christian affection add love. --
NKJV: To godliness
brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
Alternative
Cross-references: There is a very thin line between
brotherly kindness and love.
Specifically in regard to the latter, Jesus spoke of how our practice of
this virtue proves that we are genuinely His disciples: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have
loved you, that you also love one another.
By this all will know that you are My
disciples, if you have love for one another” (John
Thinking points and questions: How is “brotherly kindness” different
from simple “kindness?” [The
“brother” language shows that we are thinking in terms of the one receiving our
assistance as our kin. It is hard to
imagine any culture that does not think of our kin as being due special help
above and beyond anyone else. After
all—“we are family.”]
(1:8)
GW: If you have these
qualities and they are increasing, it demonstrates that your knowledge about
our Lord Jesus Christ is living and productive.
--
NKJV: For if these things
are yours and abound, [you will be] neither barren nor unfruitful in the
knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Alternative
Cross-references: Jesus spoke on the importance of our
bearing fruit/fruitful behavior: “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much
fruit; so you will be My disciples” (John 15:8)
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me” (John 15:1-4).
Thinking points and questions: If we manifest the values that go with being
a Christian—the attitudes and actions he’s discussed in verses 5-7—then that
will show that we are “neither barren nor unfruitful” in our knowledge of
Christ. That’s wording it with a
negative. Take the negative out and word
the idea in a positive sense. . . .
[We are bearing fruit—the fruits of the gospel embodying Christ’s
teaching. Cf. the cross-reference
section above.]
(1:9)
GW: If these qualities
aren't present in your life, you're shortsighted and have forgotten that you
were cleansed from your past sins.
--
NKJV: For he who lacks these things is shortsighted,
even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
Alternative
Cross-references: If we blind ourselves to our actual
moral weaknesses we rate ourselves as far superior to what we really are and
avoid making the changes that are essential:
“I know your works,
that you are neither cold nor hot. I
could wish you were cold or hot. So
then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I
will vomit you out of My mouth.
Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of
nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and
naked” (Revelation
Thinking points and questions: These previous verses have been emphasizing
that the mere fact that we are a Christian is never enough. We need to be a spiritually and morally growing
Christian who does not confuse “not being bad” with “being what we ought to
be.” Because we can’t be accused of being
a mass murderer doesn’t prove that we are honest men and women! Mediocrity is not success!
(
GW: Therefore, brothers
and sisters, use more effort to make God's calling and choosing of you secure.
If you keep doing this, 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.
Alternative
Cross-references: If one has the mind frame of cultivating
these Christian virtues, not only will he not stumble himself he will also
minimize doing things that will cause someone else to stumble: “He who
loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in
him” (1 John
“Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but
woe to that man by whom the offense comes!” (Matthew 18:7).
Thinking points and questions: If our home had a big yard and had a number
of big rocks sticking out of the ground that it would be easy to stumble over,
especially at night, what would be one of our top priorities? [Getting rid of those
rocks! We’d work at it and
work at it even if it took a lot of time and effort. Similarly, the “rocks”—the weaknesses—we have
as Christians can’t all be gotten rid of easily. Some will only take modest
effort. But some we will really have to
work at . . . and maybe even have to come back and do it again. We are human and we can backslide. But we don’t have to continue to
backslide.]
(
GW: Then you will also
be given the wealth of entering into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ. --
NKJV: for so an entrance will be supplied to you
abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Alternative
Cross-references: Christ’s kingdom will never end. Even when the this-world / current-world
aspect of it does, it will continue on in eternity as the Son returns it to the
Father in ultimate triumph over everything temporal: “Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the
Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He
has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. For ‘He has put all things under His
feet.’ But when He says ‘all things are put under Him,’ it is evident that He who
put all things under Him is excepted. Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the
Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God
may be all in all” (1 Corinthians 15:24-28).
Thinking points and questions: What reward does this verse tell us is ours
for undertaking the job of self-improvement?
[An entrance into the eternal kingdom of heaven.]
The Importance of This
Lifestyle
Explains Why the Author Is
Determind
to Emphasize It Repeatedly
Until the Day He Dies (
Commentary and Thought Flow
(
GW: Therefore, I will
always remind you about these qualities, although you already know about them
and are well-grounded in the truth that you now have. --
NKJV: For this reason I will not be negligent to
remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the
present truth.
Alternative
Readings: For this reason I
will not be negligent to [always persist
in, Weymouth] remind you [keep on
reminding you, ISV; help you remember, NCV] always of these things, though you know and are established [firmly
grounded, TEV; steadfast, Weymouth; well based, BBE] in [holding firmly to, CEV] the
present truth [the truth that you have, Holman, NAB, NIV, RSV, TEV].
Cross-references: This element of reminding them is something so important to Peter that he mentions it no less than four times in this one epistle. Here’s the other three: (1) In the very next verse: “Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you.” (2) 2 Peter 1:15: “Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease.” (3) 2 Peter 3:1: “Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder).”
Thinking points and questions: As human beings, we are forgetful—and
sometimes we can get really angry about “How in the world did I forget . . .
[fill in your own blank]?” We’ve all
done it. And sometimes it’s more subtle
. . . like we’ve put it on the “back burner”—we haven’t exactly forgotten it,
but we are really paying as much attention to it as we might. And that is the kind of situation
Peter is depicting.
(
GW: As long as I'm
still alive, I think it's right to refresh your
memory. --
NKJV: Yes, I think
it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you.
Alternative
Readings: Yes, I think it
is right, as long as I am in this tent
[body, CEV, NCV, NIV, RSV, Weymouth; earthly dwelling, NASB], to stir you up [arouse you, RSV; keep
your minds awake, BBE; refresh your memory, ISV, NIV, NRSV] by reminding you.
Cross-references: In the previous verse he had just mentioned his intention to remind them of these things. The double repetition—one immediately after the other—just makes it that much more emphatic. It is as if he were shaking them and saying, “Pay attention!”
Thinking points and questions: There are some things it is right to make a
habit of—of continuing to do throughout our life. Can you think of some in regard to our
spiritual life? [(1) Study of the Bible: “Be diligent
to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy
(2) Self-examination of our spirituality: “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ
is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified” (2 Corinthians 13:5). In connection with the Lord’s Supper: “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the
bread and drink of the cup” (1 Corinthians
(
GW: I know that I will
die soon. Our Lord Jesus Christ has made that clear to me. --
NKJV: Knowing that shortly I must put off my tent,
just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me.
Alternative
Readings: Knowing that
shortly [soon, CEV, Holman, ISV, RSV, TEV;
is imminent, NASB] I must put off [leave
behind, CEV] my tent [earthly
dwelling, NASB; body, NCV, Weymouth; mortal body, TEV], just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me [made clear to me, BBE,
NASB, NIV, NRSV, Rotherham; told me, CEV, TEV].
Cross-references: Peter wasn’t the only apostle who knew
when his death was coming soon. So did
Paul: “For
I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure
is at hand” (2 Timothy 4:6).
Thinking points and questions: What was on Peter’s mind as he faced
death—judging from what we are reading in these verses? [Their welfare; their
spiritual well being. It’s
hardly likely that he was particularly looking forward to dying. What he was concerned with was those
who would remain behind and how they would act and live. They were his “living heritage” and he did
not want to see it go to waste.]
Peter’s Message Can Be
Trusted
Because He Was an
Eyewitness
of the Things He Discusses (
Commentary and Thought Flow
(
GW: So I will make
every effort to see that you remember these things after I die. --
NKJV: Moreover I will be careful to ensure that
you always have a reminder of these things after my decease.
Alternative
Readings: Moreover I will
be careful [be diligent, NASB; do my best,
Weymouth; make every effort, ISV, NAB, NRSV] to ensure that you [to enable you, NAB] always have a reminder of these things [remember these matters,
TEV; remember these things, NIV, NCV; be able . . . to recall these things,
Holman, NRSV, RSV] after my decease
[departure, Holman, NASB, NIV, NRSV].
Cross-references: Like the Psalmist of old, he wanted to
emphasize these things and by that repetition do his part in assuring that they
take it seriously and with respect: “But I will
hope continually, and will praise You yet more and
more. My
mouth shall tell of Your righteousness and Your
salvation all the day, for I do not know their limits. I will go in
the strength of the Lord God; I will make mention of Your
righteousness, of Yours only. O God, You have taught me from my youth; and to this day I declare Your wondrous works. Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not
forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation,
Your power to everyone who is to come” (Psalms 71:14-18).
Thinking points and questions: What causes us to remember things? [Because we consider
them important. Yet time
passes on and the human tendency is for things to imperceptibly start to
“slide” from the front of our memory. Hence the need to“self-remind” ourselves
of gospel truths through our study of the Scriptures. We can repeatedly hear Peter and Paul and
James teach us its truths and since it
may have been awhile since we have thought about the particular point they are
raising, it reinforces in our mind what had slipped to the “backburner.”]
(
GW: When we apostles
told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, we didn't base our
message on clever myths that we made up. Rather, we witnessed his majesty with our own
eyes. --
NKJV: For we did not
follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
Alternative
Readings: For we did not
follow cunningly [cleverly, Darby, Holman,
NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV, Rotherham, RSV; Weymouth] devised [contrived, Holman; imagined, Darby; invented, NCV, NIV] fables [myths, Holman, ISV, NAB, NRSV;
legends, Weymouth; tales, NASB; stories someone had made up, CEV] when we made known to you the power and
coming [presence, Young; return, CEV] of
our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses [spectators, Rotherham] of His
majesty [majestic splendor, NLT; glory, BBE; greatness, CEV, NCV, TEV].
Cross-references: This is a reference to Jesus’
transformation because the spectacularness of it was
so great and because Peter was one of only three people present to observe
it: “Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John
his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured
before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as
the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah
appeared to them, talking with Him. Then Peter answered and said
to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You
wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one
for Elijah.’
“While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!’ And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. But Jesus came and touched them and said, ‘Arise, and do not be afraid.’ When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only” (Matthew 17:1-8).
Thinking points and questions: Peter describes himself as an eyewitness of
Jesus’ life. Why do we think eyewitness
testimony—of any event—is so important?
[The person was there. They
saw it firsthand. So we are far more
likely to be getting the information accurately than if it is only something
handed along to us through a dozen intermediaries.]
(
GW: For example, we were eyewitnesses when he received honor and
glory from God the Father and when the voice of our majestic God spoke these
words to him: "This is my Son, whom I love and in whom I delight.” --
NKJV: For He received from God the Father honor and
glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
Alternative
Readings: For He received
from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the
Excellent [Magnificent, Rotherham; Majestic, Holman, ISV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV,
RSV; great, BBE; Supreme, TEV] Glory:
"This is My beloved [dear, CEV, TEV; dearly-loved, Weymouth] Son, in whom I am well pleased [take
delight, Holman]."
Cross-references: The Old Testament prophesied that the Messiah would have this kind of stature in the Father’s sight: “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. He will not cry out, nor raise His voice, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth. He will not fail nor be discouraged, till He has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands shall wait for His law” (Isaiah 42:1-4).
Thinking points and questions: The fact that the Father was quite happy with
the Son tells us what important fact about the Son? [That He took great care to do what His
Father wanted done. In earthly
father-son relations the situation is the same.]
(
GW: We heard that voice
speak to him from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain. --
NKJV: And we heard this voice which came from
heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
Alternative
Cross-references: That the last thing the apostles expected was to hear God speak is obvious from their reaction to it: “While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!’ And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. But Jesus came and touched them and said, ‘Arise, and do not be afraid.’ When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only” (Matthew 17:5-8).
Thinking points and questions: Why was the mountain the transfiguration took
place on called “holy”? [“Holy”
conveys the idea of sacredness, of specialness, of
being “set apart for a Divine purpose.”
In this case that Divine purpose was the transfiguration of Jesus. It was also a “holy” mountain because God
chose to speak there and, by definition, He is the ultimate expression of
holiness.
Through the Christ Peter
Preaches,
the Ancient Prophecies Have Borne
Earthly Fruit (
Commentary and Thought Flow
(
GW: So we regard the
words of the prophets as confirmed beyond all doubt. You're doing well by
paying attention to their words. Continue to pay attention as you would to a
light that shines in a dark place as you wait for day to come and the morning
star to rise in your hearts. --
NKJV: 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.
Alternative
Readings: And so we have
the prophetic word confirmed [made more
sure, NASB, RSV; made more certain, BBE, NIV], which you do well to heed [pay attention, Holman, ISV, NASB, NIV,
TEV, Weymouth; pay close attention, CEV; follow closely, NCV] as a light [lamp, CEV, NASB, RSV, TEV] that shines in a dark [dismal, Holman;
gloomy, ISV; dimly-lighted, Weymouth]
place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises [is seen, BBE] in your hearts.
Cross-references: Jesus Himself had spoken of how the Old
Testament spoke about Him: “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you
have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me”
(John
“Then He said to them, ‘O foolish ones, and slow of heart to
believe in all that the prophets have spoken!
Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His
glory?” And beginning at Moses and
all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things
concerning Himself” (Luke 245:25-27).
Thinking points and questions: Peter has been talking about Jesus Christ in
the preceding verses—the Mount of Transfiguration in particular. And here he stresses that it is through
Christ that the Old Testament prophecies are fulfilled. In past generations, they spoke of the
future. Now they spoke of what
was happening among them. The longed for
time of fulfillment had arrived.
(
GW: First, you must
understand this: No prophecy in Scripture is a matter of one's own
interpretation. --
NKJV: Knowing this first, that
no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation.
Alternative
Readings: Knowing this first,
that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private [one’s own, NASB, RSV; special sense, BBE; the prophet’s
own, NCV, NIV, Weymouth] interpretation.
Cross-references: We need to handle scripture with the idea
of getting the truth out of it rather than reading into it the meaning
we’d prefer to get out of it. Most
translations render 2 Timothy
Thinking points and questions: This verse can be interpreted in two
different ways. It could refer to the
fact that since prophecy was inspired no prophet was speaking his own opinion;
he was simply relaying what God had given him.
If referring to us, it shows that scripture can not be interpreted in
contradictory directions—be of my own “private,” individual interpretation. Truth doesn’t contradict. So if we come up with contradictory
interpretations, at least one of us has to be wrong.
(
GW: No prophecy ever
originated from humans. Instead, it was given by the Holy Spirit as humans
spoke under God's direction. --
NKJV: For prophecy never
came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the
Holy Spirit.
Alternative
Cross-references: Since it originated with the Godhead,
prophecy was inevitably going to be fulfilled.
On the day of Pentecost the writer of this very epistle had this to say
about prophecy: “But those things which God foretold by the mouth of
all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled” (Acts
The apostle Paul spoke of how whatever the Father
spoke through the Spirit was right and reliable: “And some were
persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. So when
they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one
word: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers”
(Acts 28:24-25) and then proceeds to quote what the prophet had warned.
Thinking points and questions: Any human being can err. I bet you can think of more than one time
when you have, can’t you? [Slight pause.]
In contrast, God is infallible--what He chooses to reveal is
unerringly accurate and right.