sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure. “...servant”: doulos, bondslave. Clearly this is the same audience as his first letter. “...precious”: One of Peter’s favorite words. “...righteousness of God”: Righteousness which God imputes to the believer. It would be unrighteous of God to refuse to save anyone who desired to avail himself of the result of the work of the Cross. God desires that all men should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.) The faith of the apostles was no different from the faith of any believer. The faith given them by God was of equal honor or privilege with that of the apostles’ faith. This contrasted with the Gnostic doctrines of the false teachers who spoke of an “inner circle” of special knowledge attainable by and available only to a privileged few. 2] Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, “...knowledge of God”: A knowledge that only the Holy Spirit can give/ It is also interesting to note how frequently Peter uses mathematical terms: “be multiplied” (also in 1 Pet 1:2). 3] According as his divine power G1411 hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: “...power” (dunamis) is another one of Peter’s favorite words (cf. 1 Pet 1:5; 3:22; 2 Pet 1:16; 2:11). G1849 ἐξουσία exousia 1) power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases 2) physical and mental power one possesses; capability 3) the power of authority (influence) and of right (privilege) 4) the power of rule or government
“...knowledge”: There can be no growth without a deepened understanding of spiritual realities. “...temperance”: Self-control. Faith, goodness, and spiritual knowledge are not enough for a Christian’s walk. He must also make every effort to practice self-control (egkrateia ; used only two other times in the NT: Acts 24:25; Gal 5:23 This means to have one’s passions under control. It contrasts sharply with the anarchy and lack of control on the part of the false teachers whom Peter will expose in Chapter 2. “...patience”: To endure without complaining. Murmuring is a sin (!) “...godliness”: God-likeness; true piety. “...charity”: Love (Gal 5:6; 1 Cor 13). 8] For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. “...barren”: A better word is idle, or inactive; not unfruitful (Mt 25:14-30). [parable of the talents] Peter’s concluding benediction in this epistle—his last words to us—will be that we are to “grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior.” 9] But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. “...blind”: typhlos, and myopazon, or myopic; unable to see clearly, to discern spiritual things. 10] Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: “...diligence”: “Due diligence” is a stewardship, or investor, term. Manifestation is a confirmation.
“...sure”: The Greek word for “sure” (bebaian) was used in classical Greek to refer to a warranty deed, somewhat like those people use today on houses and other pieces of property. Proof of: ownership & Right of possession One’s godly behavior is a “warranty deed” for himself that Jesus Christ has cleansed him from his past sins and therefore that he was in fact called and elected by God. [Bebaian is rendered “secure” (Heb 6:19), “guaranteed” (Rom 4:16), “firm” (2 Cor 1:7), “courage” (Heb 3:6), “confidence” (Heb 3:14), and “in force” (Heb 9:17).] “...calling”: This refers to God’s efficacious work in salvation (Rom 1:7; 8:30; 1 Cor 1:9). Holy Spirit’s call to acknowledge Jesus Christ and serve His purposes. “...election”: God’s work of choosing some (by His grace, not their merits) to serve Him in particular places and ways (Rom 8:33; 11:5; Eph 1:4; Col 3:12; 1 Pet 1:1). A believer shows by his godly life and his growth in the virtues mentioned in 2 Pet 1:5-7 that he is called of God and His elect. “...fall”: Such a believer will not fall (or “stumble,” ptaiseìte). This word “stumble” does not suggest that a believer loses his salvation, for salvation does not depend on one’s spiritual growth. The Greek word for stumble means “to trip up” or “to experience a reversal.” Certainly one who is maturing in Christ will not trip up in his spiritual life as readily as one who is immature and nearsighted. 11] For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Constant victory is the goal.
2] That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: “ ...us the apostles”: He includes himself with Paul (2 Pet 3:15,16). Paul was committed to the uncircumcision (the Gentiles); Peter to the circumcision (Gal 2:7). 3] Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, “ ...in the last days...”: Why are we surprised at the prevalence of “scoffing” at the Word of God today? This very disparagement is a sign of our times! “...scoffers”: These were the apostates dealt with in the previous chapter! Members of churches—some, pastors “walking after their own lusts…” victims of “heart” trouble… 4] And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. “...continue as they were”: The Return of Christ questioned. Even from pulpits! Examples: Uniformitism; evolution, linked to prophecy. Is there really a God who intervenes in history? Both the beginning and the end are, thus, linked. The Lord Himself revealed that He would be coming for His own (John 14:2-3). He is preparing a place for us…We are to meet Him in the air 1 Thess 4:17. He—then—will be setting up His Kingdom on the earth… (Lk 1:32; Acts 1:6,7; 15:16, et al.). But Peter cites OT examples to prove that God does break into history.
First appears in the Epistle of Barnabas. • Setterfield hypothesis: speed of light has been slowing down. This, along with the entropy laws, may have begun as a result of the curse (Gen 3; Rom 8:22). 9] The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. “...not willing that any should perish...”: Another refutation of Calvinism. The great tragedy is, that after the entire panorama of redemption, God doesn’t get what He wants out of the deal! Not all will repent. Time is our most inelastic (and thus, precious) resource. Teach us to number our nanoseconds (Ps 90:12). 10] But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. “...as a thief in the night”: A term from Paul’s Epistle to the Thessalonians (cf. 1 Thess 5:2-5). “...day of the Lord”: [Cf. 1 Thess 4:13f (“bring with Him” v.14)] “As a thief in the night” only to those who are in darkness: 1 Thess (1 Thess 4:18 introduces). “Behold I create a new heavens and new earth.” (Isa 65:17). “...in the which”: The Day of the Lord closes at the end of the Millennium when the destruction of the heavens and the earth (Rev 20:11; 21:1). “...a great noise”: rhoizēdon. It is the word used for the swish of an arrow, the rush of wings, the splash of water, the hiss of a serpent. “...elements”: stoicheia—basic building blocks.