Unlike many of my posts, I am simply going to upload my notes from my study in 2 Peter 1:1-4.
2 Peter Bible Study
Background: Simon Peter is the writer who claims to have
been present during the transfiguration (2 Peter 1:16-18). The object of this epistle is to guard the
reader against false teaching and to exhort them to grow in the “knowledge of
our Lord and Saviour” (2 Peter 3:18).
The emphasis in this epistle is of Jesus future reigning, present power
and future kingdom. It was most likely
written by Peter in Rome before Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A.D. sometime
around 66 A.D..
2 Peter 1:1-4
Peter describes himself both as a bond servant and also an
apostle. The word bond servant is doulos
which means a servant, metaphor for someone who gives himself up to another’s
will. Paul and Peter both referred to themselves in that manner. They had died to the world and their own
desires and were seeking His. The word
apostle is the word “apostolos” which means a delegate, a messenger, one sent
forth with orders.
Verse 2-Peter wishes for them to have grace and peace multiplied to
them. Grace is the word charis which
means a lovingkindness, favour. God has blessed up with an unmerited favour due to His own great power and goodness and not our own.
Verse 3- His
power is what grants to us everything pertaining to life and godliness. It is not by our own wisdom or goodness. It is not by our own power or ability to live out the Christian life. It is through a true knowledge of him This might be in contrast to the gnostics who
claimed to have knowledge, but had a false knowledge. He calls us by his own glory and excellence,
not our own. The word “true knowledge”
is epignosis which means precise and correct knowledge.
Verse 4- He has
granted us promises epaggelma, a promise, in order to escape the corruption of
this world by its lusts. The idea of
corruption includes the perishable nature of this world. As Peter has stated in 1 Peter several times
that the world is perishing and fading away compared to the things of God which
are uncorruptible. (1 Peter 1:18, 23)
