Source: https://adamosborne.net/blog/index.php/2016/11/2-peter-start-11-09-2016/
Timestamp: 2019-04-26 08:30:26+00:00

Document:
The Petrine authorship of 2 Peter has been challenged more than the authorship of any other book in the New Testament. Dr. William Moorehead said, “The Second Epistle of Peter comes to us with less historical support of its genuineness than any other book of the New Testament.” However, this has caused conservative scholars to give adequate attention to this epistle so that today it is well established that Peter wrote this letter. The autobiographical sections afford internal evidence of the Petrine authorship (see 2 Peter 1:13, 14, 16-18; 3:1).
THEME: This is the swan song of Peter, as 2 Timothy is the swan song of Paul. There is a striking similarity. Both epistles put up a warning sign, along the pilgrim pathway the church is traveling, to identify the awful apostasy that was on the way at that time and now in our time has arrived. What was then like a cloud the size of a man’s hand today envelops the sky and produces a storm of hurricane proportions. Peter warns of heresy among teachers as Paul warns of heresy among the laity. Both Peter and Paul speak in a joyful manner of their approaching death (2 Peter 1:13, 14; 2 Timothy 4:6-8). Both apostles anchor the church on the Scriptures as the only defense against the coming storm.
The similarity of 2 Peter to Paul’s last epistle of 2 Timothy explains the sharp contrast between Peter’s first and second letters. The subject has changed, and the difference is as great as that which exists between Paul’s letters to the Romans and to Timothy.
Nevertheless, the theme is explained on the basis of the words which Peter uses here as contrasted to his first epistle. The words are different, with the exception of the word precious, which occurs in this epistle twice in the first chapter. Likewise, the word faith occurs twice in the first chapter.
True gnosticism is not some esoteric information concerning a formula, a rite, or ritual; nor is it some secret order or password. It is to know Jesus Christ as He is revealed to man in the Word of God. This is the secret of life and of Christian living (see John 17:3).
“The [full] knowledge of God, and of Jesus, our Lord” is the foundation on which Christian character is built (see v. 2).
Scriptures give light for obedience in dark days.
Church should beware of false teachers and not false prophets.
END OF VERNON MCGEE’S INTRODUCTION OF 2 PETER….
Vernon McGee: v. 1 — “Simon Peter” — the name Simon appears here, but it does not in 1 Peter 1:1. Christ never stands alone in this epistle; Jesus is added here, elsewhere Savior and Lord are also added.
to them that have obtained = The Greek word implies that they have not won it or earned it for themselves, but that it has been allotted to them.
v. 2 — “Knowledge” occurs nine times (with cognates) in this chapter.
divine power and given unto us = God has given us everything we need to live a life of godliness. We are not dependent upon ourselves or anything or anyone else. We have everything we need through Jesus Christ.
He called us = we didn’t earn our salvation, he called us, God’s initiative, his action.
goodness = this is his basic character, he is good. His very virtue.
Vernon McGee: v. 3 — His blessings come “through the knowledge of him.” “Virtue” is excellence.
partakers of the divine nature = we are born again and made part of God’s family. Joint heirs with Jesus Christ.
that is in the world through lust = we live in a broken, fallen world. The only escape from our sinful world and sinful nature is through Jesus Christ, our Redeemer.
Vernon McGee:v. 4 — “Precious promises” come through the knowledge of Him. “Partakers of the divine nature” come through the knowledge of Him (John 17:3).
add to your faith = a verb, an action item. Pursue it, take action.
Vernon McGee:vv. 5-7 — These graces are not given in the order of their priority. One does not depend upon the other, but they are placed in orderly sequence.
“And beside this” is for this very cause.
“Add” is supply — have all the graces.
“Virtue” is excellence with energy.
“Brotherly kindness” is love of the brethren. This is enthusiasm for the knowledge of Christ.
FAITH: By faith we are born again. Until faith is present, good works mean nothing. It’s impossible to please god without faith.
GOODNESS: moral excellence. The same quality that Peter attributed to God himself.
KNOWLEDGE: “practical knowledge” … the knowledge of Him…the knowledge of truth … and being able to apply that.
SELF CONTROL: self control in all areas of your life… behavior, food, etc.
GODLINESS: We must pursue Godliness, becoming more Christlike in our nature.
BROTHERLY AFFECTION & LOVE: Phileous (like a brother love) and Agape love (unconditional love).
This is gospel transformation, your walk of sanctification. Growing in Christ, through Christ.
Vernon McGee: v. 8 — “Barren” is idle. Paul’s great desire was to know Christ (Philippians 3:10).
The person who does not grow in Christ is like being blind, making no effort to walk or grow in Christ. Shortsided.
Vernon McGee:v. 9 — Sterility and lack of enthusiasm may lead to the place where the believer will forget he has been saved.
Vernon McGee: v. 10 — Make your calling and election more sure. It is possible to believe in the security of the believer but lack the assurance of salva- tion.
Security of the believer is objective; Assurance of salvation is subjective.
brethren = we are all brothers, fellow saints in Christ.
your calling and election = God has given us the way unto salvation. He had called you out of darkness, He has elected you as his own. All you must do is accept him as your Lord, repent of your sins, and confess him.
entrance = entrance into the everlasting eternity with our Lord, in heavenly joy.
Holman commentary: His words imply that there was already a settled body of Christian teaching which the apostles and early church planters were carefully passing on. The verb rendered established (or “strengthened”) is also found in Jesus’ personal commission to Peter: “When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:32).
Vernon McGee: vv. 11-13 — Peter felt called to stir up these saints to grow in grace lest spiritual senility set in.
Holman commentary: Peter had received special information from Jesus about his impending death. Whether Peter was recalling his conversation with Jesus shortly after the resurrection (John 21:18-19), or whether he had received recent revelation from our Lord Jesus Christ, is unknown.
Vernon McGee: v. 14 — Tradition tells us that Peter was crucified with his head down because he was not worthy to die as Christ did (John 21:18, 19).
Peter knew his death was close. Soon after this writing he was martyred by Nero. But even knowing he was close to death, he was encouraging his readers to keep the faith.
Vernon McGee: v. 15 — “Decease” is exodus. In light of his approaching death, Peter calls attention to that which should be remembered.
Vernon McGee: v. 16 — “Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses” — when did this take place? The next verse explains.
Holman commentary: Peter never got over his astonishment that he (along with James and John) had the unspeakable privilege of seeing Jesus’ honor and glory revealed by God the Father. The opponents Peter was combating could claim no such eyewitness experience.
• Jesus is uniquely My…Son. Jesus alone is the eternal Son of the Father. As redeemed people, we are brought into God’s family as His adopted children (1 Pet. 1:14-17).
• The Father uniquely loves His Son. At the transfiguration, the Father reaffirmed aloud the affection He had proclaimed when His Son was baptized (Mark 1:11; 9:7).
• The Father is greatly pleased with His Son. Again, the heavenly voice declared again what had been spoken at Jesus’ baptism (Mark 1:11).
Vernon McGee: vv. 17, 18 — This is a reference to the Transfiguration and offers the explanation for Matthew’s strange statement (see Matthew 16:28). Matthew follows this with an account of the Transfiguration.
Vernon McGee::v. 20 — No prophecy of the Scripture is to be interpreted apart from other references to the same subject.
Vernon McGee::v. 21 — “Holy men” were men set apart for the task of writing Scripture. They were carried along by the Holy Spirit like a sailboat is carried by the wind.
Vernon McGee: v. 1 — “False prophets” brought in heresy to the nation Israel. “False teachers” are the bearers of heresy and apostasy into the church. One of the marks of identification is that they deny Christ’s work of redemption for them.
Vernon McGee: v. 2 — False followers will go after false teachers. God’s elect cannot be permanently deceived. 1 Corinthians 11:19 explains the rea- sons why God permits cults.
1Co 11:19 for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.
Vernon McGee: v. 3 — “Covetousness” is another mark of a false teacher. The apostle gives a list of three types of apostates in the past who will appear in the future.
Vernon McGee: v. 4 — (1) “Angels that sinned” — even some angels rebelled against God. Rebellion against God will appear in the last days (see Psalm 2:1-3).
Vernon McGee: v. 5 — (2) The ungodly of Noah’s day left God out of their lives, even in eating and drinking and in marriage (Matthew 24:37-39).
Mat 24:39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
Vernon McGee: v. 6 — (3) Gross immorality characterized Sodom and Gomorrah (see Romans 1:24-32).
Vernon McGee: vv. 7, 8 — This is enlightening. The record in Genesis does not make it clear that Lot was a righteous man; in fact, it implies the opposite.
Vernon McGee: v. 10 — These are total apostates, hopeless.
Vernon McGee: v. 12 — These apostates are like animals.
Vernon McGee: vv. 14-22 — This is a striking, frightful, and bold description of apostates.
Vernon McGee: v. 15 — “Following the way of Balaam” is being covetous, will- ing to sell his gift for money.
Vernon McGee: v. 20 — These apostates have a head knowledge. They know the truth but have not received a love of the truth.
•	Scoffers will deny the coming of the Lord (3:1-7).
•	The Lord is patient regarding His return because He wants more people to repent (3:8-10).
•	Believers are to live godly lives in light of the Lord’s return (3:11-13).
•	In conclusion, believers are to be on guard spiritually and morally at all times (3:14-18).
beloved: When I type in beloved and do a search, this word appears six times in my search. Peter shows his love for the people he is writing to here, again!
mindful: don’t forget what you have learned, think about these things, they are important.
last days – the era that began with the first coming of Christ, because the “first days” meant the Old Testament period—the centuries of preparation for the coming of the Messiah and the outpouring of the Spirit (see Acts 2:17).
scoffers – those who disdain or look with contempt. We still have those today. Self-indulgence often leads to skepticism.
Where is the promise of his coming: (Mal 2:17, “Where is the God of judgment?”). The Lord had prophesied of his coming; St. Paul had spoken more than once as if that coming were very near at hand (1Co 15:51; 2Co 5:4; 1Th 4:15). Yet he came not. Already men were beginning to mock, and to question whether the long-delayed promise would ever be fulfilled.
fathers – He may have meant the Old Testament patriarchs (such as Abraham and Isaac). Or he may have had in mind the first generation of Christians who already fell asleep; that is, they had died (such as Stephen and James; Acts 7:60).
The scoffers were deliberately ignoring important, unassailable truths from the Book of Genesis. First, it was the word of God that had brought about the original creation of the heavens and the earth. Peter’s emphasis on the place of water in the creation is similar to the emphasis found in Genesis (1:6-10).
Thus, the original creation and the flood of judgment in the days of Noah are two obvious examples of God’s intervention in the world. For the scoffers to overlook these two, Peter thought, was a matter showing that they willfully ignored the facts of history.
The same word of God that brought the world into existence and then judged the world is now sustaining the present heavens and earth.
But God’s preservation is not indefinite; it will not last forever.
The current state of affairs will last only until God is ready to judge the world again, this time with fire.
As surely as the flood resulted in the destruction of ungodly men, so in His return the Lord Jesus will unleash the day of judgment.
The references to fire and destruction should not be understood to refer to an annihilation of the wicked. Peter and the other writers of the New Testament understood that a literal hell lies ahead for the unrepentant.
Now Peter showed the reasons why God seemed to be delaying the second coming.
The first reason is that God has a different perception of the passing of time than we humans do.
He created space and time, and we humans are locked into a narrow sliver of time (seventy or so years, if we have a typical lifespan).
God sees all times equally, and this fact must not escape us.
In the light of God’s eternal perspective one day is no different than a thousand years and vice versa (Ps. 90:4).
Thus, we as humans often seethe with impatience at God’s timeline, but He sees everything in the light of eternity.
The second reason that God seems to be delaying the second coming is not His indifference but rather that He is patient with people.
He is waiting so that all who will come to repentance and faith in Christ will do so.
As the God of creation and judgment, He is not wanting any to perish.
He provided the Savior and offers salvation.
Yet He will not force salvation on those who refuse Him.
Just as surely, however, as God’s patience finally ran out in the days of Noah and the judgment waters of the flood destroyed the world, so too will God’s patience finally run out and the judgment fire connected with Christ’s return will fall.
Amo 5:18 Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light. Amo 5:19 As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. Amo 5:20 Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?
It will come suddenly. Just as a thief breaks in without warning, so Christ’s return will be (1 Thess. 5:2). His coming is certain, yet its time will be unexpected.
It will come universally. No person will escape (just as in the flood of Noah). Peter described a cataclysmic event: the heavens will pass away and the elements will burn and be dissolved. Ultimately, there will be a new heaven and new earth (Rom. 8:18-25; Rev. 21:1-8).
It will come as a final evaluation. Not only will the earth itself be exposed, so will the works that people have done. Everything at last will be disclosed. Again, Peter was not teaching the obliteration of the wicked; rather, he was teaching the certainty of judgment.
v. 10 — “Noise” (Greek rhoizedon) is the word used for the swish of an arrow, the rush of wings, the splash of water, the hiss of a serpent.
“Elements” refer to basic material, atoms, the building blocks of the universe.
As believers, we are to live for that which is eternal, not for that which is destined to be demolished. Peter noted two moral qualities—near synonyms—that will enable us to (1) avoid the devastation of the last judgment and (2) last for eternity.
We are to live with a stance of anticipation.
We wait for and earnestly desire the time when we will finally attain the goal for which we have been longing.
The heavens will be permanently changed, as they will be on fire and be dissolved.
God will at last bring these things about, and we are to be expectant.
What makes this worth waiting for are the new heavens and a new earth.
Peter’s main point is that our final destination—as those who have been born again and lived lives of holiness and godliness—will be where righteousness will dwell. Just think about it: at last all the marks of sin and evil will be gone, and we will enjoy God’s holy presence forever and ever.
Patient waiting is mental adjustment to the present world situation. Paul also wrote of these things.
Peter admits that Paul wrote of truth in depth — but so did Peter.
The coming of Christ should make for a stable and steadfast life.
Vernon McGee: This is the all-important program for the child of God now. Paul said, “Study.” Peter said, “Grow.” Both refer believers to the Bible and the study of it.
Avoid error in the Christian life.
Grow in grace and grow in knowledge.
The gospel is best expressed in one word: grace (God’s unmerited favor).
God receives all the praise now, perfectly in heaven (Isa. 6:1-3; Rev. 4–5) and imperfectly on earth.
Isa 6:1-3 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
Yet we look forward to the time when God will be unendingly and perfectly praised throughout all eternity. Peter concluded his song of praise with a hearty Amen.

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