II Peter 3, The Lord's Return

Peter has denounced recent false prophets who, like false prophets of old, teach for their own gain and glory, without concern for God or spiritual truth.

2 Peter 3: 1-2, Recall the prophets
Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.

Presumably this letter follows the earlier letter of Peter, stimulated by concerns about the false teachings, most likely related to first century gnosticism.

2 Peter 3: 3-7, Where is the second coming?
First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, "Where is this `coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and  destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved  for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

One concern late in the first century was the fact that the apostles had taught that the return of Jesus was imminent.  So where was he?  Peter's answer is essentially that God has a plan and its timeline is a long one.  If the delay in Jesus's return was a question for the late first century, it is certainly one for today, two thousand years later!

2 Peter 3: 8-10, God's timing is different
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed  by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 

If a thousand years is a mere 'day' to God, argues Peter, then our own small perspective is very short and we do not see the even a small part of the great picture.

Peter suggests that God delays the Return so as to reach out to all mankind.  This is a missional statement for the early church.

2 Peter 3: 11-13, Live as part of the new heaven and earth!
Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

See the revelation of John for more details on this new heaven and new earth!

Throughout the New Testament, the future kingdom is viewed as a truly physical kingdom, with a new universe replacing the current one.  It is not a kingdom of angels sitting on clouds up in 'heaven' but a re-creation, a renewal, by God.

2 Peter 3: 14-16, Patient living (& Paul)
So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.

He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own  destruction.

Until Jesus returns, we are to live blameless, holy lives, presumably engaged in our world and community.

This mention of Paul's letters is unique and indicates that this letter is very late, that Paul's letters have widely circulated.  Peter then goes on to call Paul's letters "Scripture", equating them with the statements of the Old Testament prophets.

2 Peter 3: 17-18, Be alert and keep growing
Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

The letter ends with a final reminder to the young church about error and the importance of growing in Jesus's grace.

I have found this letter a little strange in it view of heavens, hell, angels and false prophets.  It merits more study.  But now, tomorrow, we will move on to the gospel at the beginning of the New Testament, that of Matthew, written for his brother and sister Jews.

II Peter 2, False Prophets

In this passage Peter takes on the false prophets (Gnostics?) who have been denying Jesus's role as God and Savior.

2 Peter 2: 1-3, Warning about false prophets
But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way  of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

The author is especially worried about "prophets" denying the sovereignty of Jesus.

2 Peter 2: 4-9, Judge and rescuer

For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed  by the filthy lives of lawless men (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)-- if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men  from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.

The word translated here as "hell" is the word tartarus,  a word for the abyss in Greek mythology.

It is easy to miss the fact that this passage is one long "if-then" statement: if all these things happened to ancients then ... God will rescue the godly.  The passage is a promise more than a warning.

2 Peter 2: 10-11, Slanderous accusations
This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings; yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord.

I'm not quite sure of the background for this passage. The false prophets have freely slandered others... including "celestial beings"?  (I'd look at a commentary on this ... but I'm traveling this morning.  William Barclay's commentary links this to two popular Jewish stories relating angels -- I need to dig that up.)

2 Peter 2: 12-13, Beasts at our love feasts
But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand.  They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will  perish. They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you. 

This might be a description of some gnostics who, claiming that the material universe, including their bodies, was irrelevant, might then consider themselves free to engage in any sensual activities they wished, "carousing" in their feasting and partying.  Some manuscripts call the feasts "love feasts", a term that appears in the letter of Jude.

C. S. Lewis, at the end of the seventh book in The Chronicles of Narnia, has intelligent talking beasts denying Aslan's kingship and as a result, changing back into mere brute beasts, losing the divine gift of speech and thought.

2 Peter 2: 14-17, Balaam and a donkey's speech
With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed--an accursed  brood! They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness. But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey--a beast without speech--who spoke with a man's voice and restrained  the prophet's madness.

The word "adultery" need not refer to a sexual acts but a general watering down of morality and ethics.  Peter's words here are sharp and strong, equating this attitude with ancient examples of wickedness.  I am again reminded of C. S. Lewis's play with animal speech in Narnia.

2 Peter 2: 17-19, Slaves promising freedom
These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity--for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered  him.

Again, Peter harshly condemns these false prophets as deliberate dishonest manipulators. While promising freedom from any ethical restraints, they are themselves slaves.

2 Peter 2: 20-22, Worse off at the end
If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn  their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Of them the proverbs are true: "A dog returns to its vomit," and, "A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud."

The quote in verse 22 about a dog and its vomit is from Proverbs 26:11.

Peter, like the author of Hebrews, has the strongest condemnation for those who understand who Jesus is but then still turn their backs to that knowledge.

II Peter 1, Precious Promises

The "second" epistle of Peter is an interesting and unusual letter. Its authenticity was challenged in ancient times for a number of reasons, as its style and tone are different from that of the first letter. Some have suggested that Peter simply had a different amanuensis, that is, a different secretary who wrote the letter into Greek. 

2 Peter 1: 1-6, Power for life

Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

The writer identifies himself as Simon Peter, not just "Peter", and also identifies himself as an apostle. This is a strong statement. The writer emphasizes that Jesus, the Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), is all we need for life.

2 Peter 1: 7-9, The results of faith
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his  past sins.

We see a litany of good characteristics, a ladder where each rung is a good attribute based on a previous rung, all based on confirmation of Jesus as Savior.

2 Peter 1: 10-15, Some final teachings
Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things. 

Peter anticipates soon leaving his "tent" behind but wants to remind his readers of the most important pillars of the faith, before he moves on from this life.  Some suspect Peter is preparing for martyrdom.

2 Peter 1: 16-18, Eyewitness to the Transfiguration
We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you  about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. 

The author of the letter was an eyewitness of Jesus, seeing his majesty, present at the transfiguration scene in which both Elijah and Moses appeared. The quotation in verse 17 is from the New Testament: Matt 17:5, Mark 9:7, Luke 9:35.  (This is one of the few cases in which a New Testament letter quotes the New!)

2 Peter 1: 19-21, Following the Prophets
And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 

Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

God has a planned described in the prophets, guided by God, "carried along" by the Holy Spirit.

I Peter 5, Shepherds Under a Shepherd

Peter continues to give advice regarding persecution.

1 Peter 5: 1-5, Shepherds representing the one true Shepherd

To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving  as overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace  to the humble."

Peter makes an appeal to other elders as a fellow elder, not as an "apostle" or head of the church.

The quote in verse 5 is from Proverbs 3:34.

1 Peter 5: 6-7, Humble and dependent on God
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Humility and trust are important characteristics of followers of the Good Shepherd.

1 Peter 5: 8-9, Alert and ready
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

This is similar to a statement of James in James 4:7.

1 Peter 5: 10-11, Eternal glory, short suffering
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Everyone enduring persecution relies on promises like this, that their suffering is "short" and is part of an eternal plan, with God still active overall.

1 Peter 5: 1-5, Greetings and final blessing
With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in  it.

She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

In verse 12 the Greek Silvanus is a variant of Silas.  Silas possibly wrote the letter under the guidance of Peter.  Mark is probably John Mark.

Where is Babylon?  Possibly Rome, the home of Nero, the one providing the current persecution? It is apparently clear to the readers but is not named here.

There are similar questions about "She" -- who is the woman described here? Two reasonable suggestions from two thousand years later: (1) This could be the church in Rome, since the church was identified by Paul as the bride of Christ or (2) this could be Peter's wife, who traveled with him. Either way, the readers of the letter don't need a description.

I Peter 4, Suffering & Honor

Peter has given guidance on living as a Christian.  The letter continues to base the guidance on theological principles about the identity of Jesus.

1 Peter 4: 1-6, Arm yourself with Christ's suffering.
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do--living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you.

But they will have to give account to him who is ready to  judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

Peter offers a difference: leave a life of hopelessness and focus on shortterm pleasure for a life of longterm purpose (including suffering), as a member of Christ's family.

This passage indicates that the readers of the letter are likely Gentiles. Peter makes no attempt to appeal to Jewish upbringing or morality.

1 Peter 4: 7-8, Prayer and love

The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

Peter believed the "end of all things" was near and that was 2000 years ago!

I love the proverb, "Love covers a multitude of sins", for it indicates a fundamental principle: focus on love and the rest begins to fall in place.

1 Peter 4: 9-11, Using our gifts
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve  others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be  praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

The brief emphasis on spiritual gifts and appropriate use of them echoes Paul.

Some suggest that this epistle glues together two letters.  If so, this is the break, as the past paragraph ends with an announcement of praise and the next passage starts anew.

1 Peter 4: 12-18, Be proud & grateful of the name you bear
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to  you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of  Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will  become of the ungodly and the sinner?"

The quote in verse 18 is from Proverbs 11:31.

William Barclay suggests that Peter is instructing Christians suffering under persecution from Nero.

1 Peter 4: 19, Suffering
So then, those who suffer according to God's will should  commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to  do good.

Suffering (according to God's will) is included in our training.

Peter concludes with final advice in the next chapter.

I Peter 3, True Beauty

Peter has been discussing the citizenship of those in the "holy nation", following God. He now spends time on secondary, more pragmatic aspects of this citizenship.

1 Peter 3: 1-6, True beauty, submission
Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 

Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their  hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not  give way to fear.

I won't comment on the "submissive" and "called him her master" phrasing other than to say that the Genesis account certainly has Sarah speaking back to Abraham and also shows Abraham as a weak and vulnerable man who probably needed Sarah's backbone.

From the context, one would assume that some of these believing women are married to men who are not followers of Jesus; these husbands may not be followers of God in any manner.

I will endorse the instructions that one's beauty should be "that of your inner self". Although this is good instruction to both genders, every culture has encouraged women to be outwardly beautiful and so "inner beauty" might be an easy thing to forget.

1 Peter 3: 7, Husbands, in the same way
Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

What does "weaker" mean here?  Physically weaker?  Peter was married so he would presumably have realized that his wife was only physically weaker but not weaker in others ways?  (I speak as one happily married for 40 years -- my wife is very strong mentally and in other important ways... smile.... I hope she reads this someday.)

1 Peter 3: 8-9, Summary: harmony & love
Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

A good summary; both wife and husband owe submission, support, sympathy to each other.

1 Peter 3: 10-12, Live in righteousness
For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and  pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

This entire passage is from Psalm 34: 12-16.

1 Peter 3: 13-14, First priority: what is right
Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are  blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened."

Verse 14 echoes Isaiah 8: 12.

1 Peter 3: 15-16, Citizens of the true king
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

As ambassadors from another kingdom, with an eternal king, we should always be eager to (gently, gently!) explain why we love that king and kingdom.  However, this must be done with respect and understanding. Too much so-called "evangelism" is a mixture of bullying and used-car-salesmanship, from individuals who are a little worried that they bought a bad product.

Part of any persecution will include allegations of misconduct.  Peter warns his readers to be careful with their words and actions so that those allegations are truly slanderous.

1 Peter 3: 17-20a, Suffer for doing good
It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. 

He was put to death in the  body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days  of Noah while the ark was being built. 

The last half of this passage is strange and there have been many attempts to interpret it.  Does it teach that somehow Jesus went to a place (Hades? Sheol?) and spoke to those of the past?  Some have claimed this....

1 Peter 3: 20b-22, Eight saved through water
In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you  also--not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the  resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand--with  angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

Peter alludes to Noah here, passing through water.  Some suggest that this letter was intended as an instruction on church citizenship, to go with a baptism ritual of entrance to the church.