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2 Peter

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2 Peter

The Epistles of Peter 2 Peter

Key theme: Spiritual knowledge

Key verse: 2 Peter 1:3

2 Peter 1:1–11 Knowing and Growing2 Peter 1:12–21 Wake Up and Remember!2 Peter 2:1–9 Beware of Counterfeits2 Peter 2:10–16 Marked Men2 Peter 2:17–22 False Freedom2 Peter 3:1–10 Scoffing at the Scoffers2 Peter 3:11–18 Be Diligent!

HISTORICAL TIMING

KEY WORDS

I. EXPLANATION: THE KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST (1)A. The gift of knowledge—1:1–4B. The growth in knowledge—1:5–11C. The ground of knowledge—1:12–21

Statistical Probability

II. EXAMINATION: THE FALSE TEACHERS (2)A. Their condemnation—2:1–9B. Their character—2:10–17C. Their claims—2:18–22

III. EXHORTATION: THE TRUE CHRISTIAN (3)A. Be mindful—3:1–7B. Be not ignorant—3:8–10C. Be diligent—3:11–14D. Beware—3:15–18

BibliographyOutline

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2 PeterHISTORY

-8 The Census Decree of CAESAR AUGUSTUS.

-6 The Annunciation to MARY in Nazareth.

JOHN THE BAPTIST was born about September to ZACHARIAS and ELISABETH. Judea became a sub-province of Syria.

-5 Our LORD, JESUS the CHRIST was born in Bethlehem about April.

-4 Wise Men from the East sought the child JESUS.

HEROD THE GREAT killed the children of Bethlehem and executed his son ANTIPATER a few days before he died in March at Jericho. He was succeeded by HEROD ANTIPAS in Galilee. HEROD ARCHAELAUS ruled Judea. HEROD PHILIP ruled Iturea.

8 JESUS, age 12, was at the Temple in Jerusalem.

10 SAUL (PAUL the Apostle) was born in Tarsus.

17 Major earthquake in Asia Minor.

25 JOHN THE BAPTIST began his ministry.

JESUS was baptized in the Jordan River by JOHN.

26 JESUS began His Galilean ministry.

HEROD'S Temple in Jerusalem was completed. PONTIUS PILATE was appointed procurator of Judea.

27 JESUS began His Judean ministry.

JOHN THE BAPTIST was beheaded by HEROD.

29 JESUS was crucified, buried and resurrected in April (Passover).

Jesus ascended in May, 40 days later . In June, 10 days following Jesus ascension, the Holy Spirit came upon and into Jesus followers (Pentecost)JUDAS ISCARIOT, who had betrayed JESUS for 30 pieces of silver, hanged himself and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.

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2 PeterPHILIP traveled to Scythia in southern Russia where he ministered for 20 years.

30 JAMES, son of ZEBEDEE, traveled to Spain where he established churches.

33 The Church at Jerusalem held a leading position in the Christian community.

SIMON PETER went to Antioch, established a church and stayed there for 7 years.

36 STEPHEN was stoned to death, becoming the first Christian martyr.

SAUL (PAUL the Apostle) was converted on the road to Damascus.

37 PAUL was at Damascus. FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS was born.

MATTHEW wrote his gospel. Some date this later around 50AD (We favor this early date.)

38 PAUL fled from Damascus, went to Jerusalem, then to Tarsus.

44 PAUL was at Antioch. The disciples of Christ were first called "Christians" at Antioch.

SIMON PETER went to Caesarea from Joppa and CORNELIUS was converted. JAMES, son of ZEBEDEE, was beheaded by HEROD ANTIPAS. HEROD AGRIPPA I died, eaten of worms, at age 54.

45 PAUL, BARNABAS and JOHN MARK visited Jerusalem from Antioch.

JAMES wrote his epistle. MATTHEW went to Persia.

46 PAUL was at Antioch.

48 PAUL and BARNABAS began their first missionary journey.

49 THOMAS, JUDE and BARTHOLOMEW went to India where they ministered in Nisibis, Malebar, Socotora, Camboia and Mogar. They even went to Cataio, Bisnaga and China.

50 PAUL and BARNABAS attended the Council at Jerusalem.

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2 Peter 51 PAUL and SILAS began a second missionary journey.

PAUL met the Gentile physician, LUKE at Troas. BARNABAS and JOHN MARK ministered in Syria and Cilicia.

52 PAUL wrote "First Thessalonians" from Corinth. THOMAS was killed in Cranganore, India by Brahmin priests who knocked him to the ground and stuck him through with a lance. GAMALIEL the Pharisee died. CLAUDIUS expelled the Jews from Rome.

53 PAUL wrote "Second Thessalonians" from Corinth. 54 PAUL and SILAS began a third missionary journey.

PHILIP, age 87, having ministered in France, was pierced through the thighs and hung upside down on a cross until he died at Heliopolis in Phrygia..

55 PAUL was at Ephesus. (The revolt of the Egyptian, Acts 21:38)

56 PAUL ministered at Ephesus.

57 PAUL wrote "First Corinthians" from Ephesus, "Second

Corinthians" from Macedonia, and "Galatians" from Corinth.

58 PAUL wrote "Romans" from Corinth.PAUL was arrested at Jerusalem and sent to Caesarea.

59 PAUL was tried before ANTONIUS FELIX at Caesarea.

60 PAUL was tried before FESTUS in Caesarea.

PAUL, sent as a prisoner to Rome, was shipwrecked on Malta. LUKE wrote his gospel. After having ministered in Persia, Egypt and Ethiopia, MATTHEW was slain in Egypt. SIMON ZELOTES returned to Britain after having ministered through Egypt, Cyrene, North Africa, Carthage, Martonia, Lybia and Spain.

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2 Peter 60-61 PAUL arrived at Rome.

LUKE wrote "Acts". ~60-62 PAUL, at Rome, wrote "Philemon", "Colossians",

"Ephesians" and "Philippians."It was during this period that a major earthquake destroyed

Colossai and the surrounding cities in the area again.

62 ANANUS was made High Priest and had JAMES, brother of.Jesus, cast from a pinnacle of the Temple, showered with stones and finally his skull smashed and his brains beaten out with a fuller's club. He was buried on the Mount of Olives.

63 PAUL was released from prison at Rome and went to Macedonia and Asia Minor,

Paul wrote "First Timothy" from Macedonia and "Titus" from Ephesus.

64 PAUL visited Spain.

PETER wrote "First Peter" from 'Babylon'. After having ministered with ANDREW in Armenia, MATTHIAS, the apostle who took JUDAS' place, returned to Jerusalem where he was stoned and beheaded. A great fire burned Rome on July 19th. NERO persecuted the Christians.

65 PAUL was in Spain and Britain. JOHN MARK wrote his gospel.

66 PAUL traveled from Spain to Asia Minor.

Masada on the Dead Sea was captured by the Jews. VESPASIAN and his son TITUS led the Roman armies in Judea.

67 PETER wrote "Second Peter" and was crucified by NERO.

JOHN MARK went to Venice and to Alexandria, Egypt, where he founded a church.

68 HEBREWS was written, probably by PAUL.

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2 PeterPAUL was imprisoned in Rome and wrote "Second Timothy"shortly before he was beheaded in May by NERO. JOHN MARK was dragged to death through the streets of Alexandria, Egypt on Easter. LAZARUS of Bethany ministered in Citium in Cyprus for 30 years, then traveled to Marseilles in Gaul where he spent 7 more years and also visited Britain. He retired to Cyprus where he died (again). BARTHOLOMEW, after having ministered in India with THOMAS and JUDE and with PHILIP at Hierapolis, died after being beaten with clubs, flayed alive and crucified in Armenia by the priests of Albanus, led by ASTYAGES, the king's brother. JUDE wrote his epistle. VESPASIAN attacked Jerusalem. JOSEPHUS wrote his "History of the Jewish War."

69 POLYCARP was born.

After having ministered in the foothills of the Caucasis mountains, to the Scythians in South Russia around the Black Sea, establishing churches in Scythia, Byzantium, Greece, Thrace, Macedonia and Patros, ANDREW was crucified at Achaia on a cross in the form of an "X", hanging there for three days before he died on the last day

of November. LUKE, who had been ministering with ANDREW, was crucified at Patros, Greece by being hanged on an olive tree by the idolatrous priests.

70 VESPASIAN arrived at Rome.

TITUS, his son, with 80,000 men, captured and destroyed Jerusalem in August. 700 Jewish prisoners were taken to Rome.

72 After ministering in Syria, Edessa and northern Persia, JUDE (THADDAEUS) was killed with a halberd at Edessaand was buried at Kara Kelesia.

SIMON ZELOTES was sawn asunder in Persia.

73 BARNABAS was killed by the Jews in Salamis on Cyprus.

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2 Peter 74 MASADA fell to the Romans on April 15th.

76 JOSEPH of Ariamathea died in Britain and was buried at Glastonbury..

79 Mt. Vesuvius erupted, destroying Pompeii and Herculaneum.

80 Rome was burned again.

85 JOHN wrote his Gospel. 90 JOHN wrote I John, II John and III John.

94 Roman persecution of Jewish and Christians.

Josephus' "Antiquities" was published.

95 JOHN was banished from Ephesus to Patmos by DOMITIAN where he wrote "Revelation".

During his banishment, TIMOTHY ministered at Ephesus.

96 JOHN was released from exile on Patmos by NERVA and returned to Ephesus.

97 TIMOTHY reproved the pagans of Ephesus for their idolatry. They fell upon him with clubs and beat him.

He died 2 days later from the beating. JOHN the Apostle died at Ephesus on September 26th.

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2 Peter

KEYWORDSPreciousKnowledgeThroughCalled / CallingMultiplied / Add /

AbundantlyDivine

Wherefore / ThereforePowerEverlastingRemembranceWords / Preacher / SpeakVexed

2Pe 1:1-211 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus

Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith

with us through the righteousness of God and our

Saviour Jesus Christ:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you

through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

3 According as his divine power 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:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and

precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the

divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the

world through lust.5 And beside this,

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2 Petergiving all diligence, add

to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

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.

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.10 Wherefore the rather, brethren,

give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

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2 Peter12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you

always in remembrance of these things,

though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;

14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle,

even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able

after my decease to have these things always in

remembrance.16 For we have not followed cunningly devised

fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory,

when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory,

This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard,

when we were with him in the holy mount.

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2 Peter19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy;

whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but

holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

2Pe 2:1-221 But there were false prophets also among the

people, even as there shall be false teachers among

you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies,

even denying the Lord that bought them, and

bring upon themselves swift destruction.2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways;

by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you:

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2 Peterwhose judgment now of a long time lingereth

not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness,

to be reserved unto judgment;5 And spared not the old world,

but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness,

bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes

condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;

7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked :8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing,

vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and

to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

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2 Peter10 But chiefly them

that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled,

they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.11 Whereas angels,

which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.

12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed,

speak evil of the things that they understand not; and

shall utterly perish in their own corruption;13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness,

as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselveswith their own deceivings

while they feast with you;14 Having eyes full of adultery, and

that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls:

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2 Peteran heart they have exercised with covetous

practices; cursed children:

15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray,

following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice

forbad the madness of the prophet.17 These are wells without water,

clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for

ever.18 For when they speak great swelling words of

vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness,

those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of

corruption: for of whom a man is overcome,

of the same is he brought in bondage.20 For if after they have escaped

the pollutions of the world

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2 Peterthrough the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour

Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome,

the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it,

to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb,

The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in

the mire.

2Pe 3:1-181 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto

you;in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:

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:3 Knowing this first, that

there shall come in the last days

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2 Peterscoffers, walking after their own lusts,

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.5 For this they willingly are ignorant of,

that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and

the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word

are kept in store, reserved unto fire

against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand

years, and a thousand years as one day.

9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward,

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2 Peternot willing that any should perish, but

that all should come to repentance.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.

11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved,

what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God,

wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and

the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise,

look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

14 Wherefore, beloved,

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2 Peterseeing that ye look for such things,

be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things;

in which are some things hard to be understood,

which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest,

as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus

Christ. To him be glory

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2 Peterboth now and for ever. Amen.

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2 Peter

2Pe_1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

2Pe_1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

2Pe_1:3 According as his divine power 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:

2Pe_1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

2Pe_2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

2Pe_2:18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

2Pe_2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

2Pe_1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

2Pe_1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and

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2 Petergodliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

2Pe_1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

2Pe_1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

2Pe_1:8 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.

2Pe_2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

2Pe_3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

2Pe_1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:


2Pe_1:12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

2Pe_1:13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;

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2 Peter2Pe_1:15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be

able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.

2Pe_3:1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:

2Pe_1:3 According as his divine power 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:

2Pe_1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

2Pe_1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

2Pe_1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

2Pe_1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

2Pe_2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

2Pe_2:16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.

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2 Peter2Pe_3:2 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:


2Pe_2:10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.


2Pe_3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

2Pe_1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

2Pe_2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.


2Pe_3:2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of

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2 Peterthe commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:

2Pe_3:5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

2Pe_3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

2Pe_1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

2Pe_1:12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

2Pe_3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

2Pe_3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

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2 Peter

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2 Peter

2 Peter 1Peter’s second epistle was written shortly (3 years) after his first letter (as also Paul to Corinth, Thessalonika, and Timothy).

It was probably written after Paul’s death, somewhere between a.d. 64-68; Peter mentions “all his epistles” as being in circulation already.

This epistle has had a rough passage through the centuries.

It was considered second-class Scripture by Luther, rejected by Erasmus, and regarded with hesitancy by Calvin.

Despite some scholastic controversies (which we won’t bother to detail) by the 4th century it was well accepted throughout most of the world.

In Cave 7 at Qumran a papyrus fragment, 7Q5, appears to be part of Mark’s Gospel, comprising 6:52-53.

A tiny fragment (only 2 cm), 7Q10, found in the same cave has on it 6 letters in two lines which could come only from 2 Peter 1:15, if they come from the NT at all.

[Source: Jose O’Callaghan, “Los papiros griegos de la cueva 7 de Qumran,” Madrid, Biblioteca de Autores Cristianos, 1974, pp. 74-75, plate v.]

It has been conjectured that this letter might have been a covering document to Mark’s Gospel to the Qumran community shortly before the Jewish War in a.d. 68 when the cave was closed.

Like all “second” epistles, it is corrective: it is the prophet or exhorter who speaks.

In his final message just prior to his martyrdom, Peter gives us some specific warnings concerning the oncoming apostasy that will sweep over Christendom.

The Two Epistles of Peter The two epistles were linked to the two great experiences of his life:

The declaration of the building of the Church (Mt 16) and The Transfiguration (Mt 17).

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2 Peter

2 Peter 1

1] Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

1Pe 1:1-2 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the 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,

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2 Peter“...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 εξουσια exousia1) power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases2) physical and mental power one possesses; capability3) the power of authority (influence) and of right (privilege)4) the power of rule or government

G1411 δυναμις dunamis1) strength, power, ability

G2904 κρατος kratos1) force, strength2) power, might: mighty with great power3) dominion

G2479 ισχυς ischus1) ability, force, strength, might

I

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2 Peter 4] Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious

promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

“...precious promises”: Indeed.

“...partakers”: Lit., “became partners” koinonos; sharing assets and liabilities.

Because they are “partakers” of God’s nature, Christians can share in His moral victory over sin in this life and share in His glorious victory over death in eternal life.

Because of the promise of the new birth (1 Pet 1:3), the promise of God’s protecting power (1 Pet 1:5), and the promise of God’s enabling power (2 Pet 1:3),

believers can “participate in the divine nature,” that is, become more like Christ (Rom 8:9; Gal 2:20)

1Pe 1:3-53 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

2Pe 1:3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

Rom 8:9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.

Gal 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

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2 Peter

“...lust”: Includes covetousness and every sort of forbidden yearning.

5] And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

6] And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

7] And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

“...add” = in the imperative, translates epichoregeo, from which come the English words “chorus,” “choreograph,” and “choreography.”

Like an orchestrator adds/furnishes harmonies and instruments to a melody

epichoregeo In ancient Greece the state established a chorus but the director, the choregys, paid the expenses for training the chorus.

Then the word came to be used of one who provides for or supports others or supplies something for them in abundance.

A believer is to “furnish, supply, or support” his faith in life with these virtues.“...virtue”: This is more than merely chastity: it is really valor, as a

soldier.

“...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.

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2 PeterIt 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.

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2 Peter“...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 possessionOne’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

Holy Spirit’s call to acknowledge Jesus Christ and serve His purposes.

Rom 1:7 To [you then] all God's beloved ones in Rome, called to be saints and designated for a consecrated life: Grace and spiritual blessing and peace be yours from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. [Amp]

Rom 8:30 And those whom He thus foreordained, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified (acquitted, made righteous, putting them into right standing with Himself). And those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity and condition or state of being]. [Amp]

Rom 8:28-30

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2 Peter28 And we know that for those who love God, that is, for those

who are called according to his purpose, all things are working together [Other mss. read that God works all things together for good for those

who love God and who are called according to his purpose] for good. 29 ¶ For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that the Son [Lit.

that he] might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined, he also called; and those whom he called, he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified. [ISV]

1Co 1:9 Faithful is the God by whom you were called into fellowship with his Son Jesus the Messiah, [Or Christ] our Lord. [ISV]

“...election”: God’s work of choosing some (by His grace, not their merits) to serve Him in particular places and ways

Rom 8:31-3931 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us,

who is against us?32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over

for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

33 Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies;

34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.

35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36 Just as it is written, "FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED."

37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.

38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,

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2 Peter39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be

able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Rom 11:2-52 God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do

you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?

3 "Lord, THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR PROPHETS, THEY HAVE TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM LEFT, AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE."

4 But what is the divine response to him? "I HAVE KEPT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL."

5 In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God's gracious choice.

Eph 1:3-63 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love

5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,

6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

Col 3:12-1712 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and

beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;

13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

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2 Peter16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all

wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

1Pe 1:1-21 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as

aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen

2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the 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.

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.

ELECT (Heb. bahir, "chosen") to be selected; appointed

CALLED to be solicited; offered an opportunity; ordained

Israel was Elected by God and then Called to service as a nation.

God chose (selected / elected) Israel (as a bride is chosen) and then Israel chose to accept or reject

The Church was Called by God and Elected to service as individuals

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2 PeterGod calls us by His Spirit, We choose, God elects (selects) for

our role and place of service within the Body of Christ

God predetermined the process, the way, the method by which man is saved.

He did not choose individuals who can or who cannot be saved– who will or will not be saved.

We as individualsc hoose to be saved – or not !!

2Pe_3:9 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.

1Jn 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Mar_8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. Mat_16:25 Luk_17:33 .

Joh_3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Rom_10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

11] For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.Not an earthly kingdom but the everlasting kingdom of the Lord

Constant victory in Christ is the goal. (Mt 16:13>)Who do you say that I am?

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2 PeterIn memory of what the Lord had told him when he was publicly reinstated to the place of apostleship at the seaside (John 21).

12] Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.He knew our need of repeated remindings.

13] Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;

14] Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.John 21:18,19.

18 "Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go." 19 Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He *said to him, "Follow Me!"

To be with Christ, which is far better (Phil 1:23. Cf. 2 Cor 5:1-10).

Php 1:21-2421 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. 23 But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; 24 yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.

2Co 5:1-101 For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, 3 inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. 4 For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being urdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who

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2 Petergave to us the Spirit as a pledge. 6 Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord-- 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight-- 8 we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. 9 Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

The image of this earthly body being like a tent fits well with Peter’s pilgrimage theme

1Pe 1:3-63 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,

1Pe 1:17 If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth;

1Pe 2:11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.

15] Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.

“...my decease”: exodon, same word as the title of the second book of the Torah: Exodus.

Some speculate that Peter, in “keeping these things always in remembrance,” may have had in mind his Gospel, through Mark.

On the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus, Moses, and Elijah spoke of Jesus’ “departure” (exodon).

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2 PeterLuk 9:30-31

30 And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah, 31 who, appearing in glory, were speaking of His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

It is possible (likely) that Moses and Elijah may well be returning to Israel as the two witnesses during the first half of the Tribulation period representing the Law and the Prophets .

Rev 11:1-121 Then there was given me a measuring rod like a staff; and

someone said, "Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it.

2 "Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months.

3 "And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth."

4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.

5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire flows out of their mouth and devours their enemies; so if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this way.

6 These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire.

7 When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them.

8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.

9 Those from the peoples and tribes and tongues and nations will look at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and will not permit their dead bodies to be laid in a tomb.

10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate; and they will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.

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2 Peter11 But after the three and a half days, the breath of life from God

came into them, and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them.

12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." Then they went up into heaven in the cloud, and their enemies watched them.

16] For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

“...eyewitnesses of his majesty”: (Matt 17:1-8)

It is important to distinguish between the written Word (the BibleL Remah G4487) and the incarnate Word, the Logos G3056: (Christ).

They are both major avenues of God’s revelation and therefore both come into focus throughout the remainder of this chapter.

1 Ptr 1:25] But the Word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.“...the Word of the Lord”:

Logos G3056: The whole revelation of GodRemah G4487: The sayings of God

This imperishable Word was the content of Peter’s preaching

1Pe 1:12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven--things into which angels long to look.

“Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth” (James 1:18).

His hearers must be affected by its life-changing power, as indicated in 1Pe 2:1-3

1 Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander,

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2 Peter2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the

word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,

3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.

Psa 19:7-117 The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The

testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.8 The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The

commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The

judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether.

10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.

11 Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward.

Joh 1:17-1817 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth

were realized through Jesus Christ.18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God

who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.

Heb 1:1-21 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets

in many portions and in many ways,2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He

appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.

A Christian’s faith does not rest on clever stories or fables (mythois) as did the doctrines of the false teachers which Peter will attack in Chapter 2.

Instead, true faith is founded on historical facts, which eyewitnesses corroborated.

His defense of the doctrine of the Second Coming therefore is based on his eyewitness experience on the Mount of Transfiguration at which time he truly saw Christ’s majesty.

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2 PeterSeveral times in his earlier epistle he spoke of Christ’s return.

1Pe 1:3-53 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

1Pe 1:13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1Pe 4:12-1312 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.

Obviously Peter considered the doctrine of Christ’s return to be of great importance, one his readers should always keep in mind.

In Peter’s preaching during the days of the early Church he was firmly committed to the doctrine of the Second Coming

Act 2:32-3332 "This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all

witnesses.33 "Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God,

and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear….

36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ--this Jesus whom you crucified."

Act 3:16-21

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2 Peter16 "And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of

Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.

17 "And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also.

18 "But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.

19 "Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; 20 and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, 21 whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.

Was the Transfiguration a “staff meeting”? A view of the kingdom in advance?

Location? Moses and Elijah ended their ministries in the same region near Mt. Nebo (Pisgah); Deut 34:1; 2 Kgs 2.Was the Mt. of Transfiguration in this same region? (Mk 9:30).

17] For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

As at His baptism...(Mt 3:17).

Mat_12:18, Mat_17:5; Psa_2:7; Isa_42:1, Isa_42:21; Mar_1:11, Mar_9:7; Luk_3:22, Luk_9:35;

18] And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

He seems as much impressed with what he heard as with what he saw.

Mat 17:3-43 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.

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2 Peter4 Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

Mar 9:4-74 Elijah appeared to them along with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus.5 Peter *said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah."6 For he did not know what to answer; for they became terrified.7 Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!"

19] We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

“...a more sure word of prophecy”: Prophecy here refers to the future 2nd Coming and return of the Lord

20] Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

“...private interpretation”: This has been interpreted several ways:

1) Scripture should be interpreted only in context, that is, a prophecy cannot stand alone without other prophecies to aid in its understanding.

2) Scripture should not be interpreted according to one’s own individual liking.

3) Scripture cannot be correctly interpreted without the Holy Spirit.

4) The prophecies did not originate with the prophets themselves.

The word epilyseos (“interpretation,” lit., “unloosing”) and the word givnetai, ginetai (“came about”) favor the fourth view.

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2 PeterThe Scriptures did not stem merely from the prophets themselves;

their writings came from God.

Verse 20 speaks not of interpretation but of revelation, the source of the Scriptures.

There is integrity of design, and each part takes relevance as it fits into the “whole counsel” of God (Act 20:27).

Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world... Acts 15:18

Amo 9:9-129 "For behold, I am commanding, And I will shake the house of Israel among all nations As grain is shaken in a sieve, But not a kernel will fall to the ground.10 "All the sinners of My people will die by the sword, Those who say, 'The calamity will not overtake or confront us.'11 "In that day I will raise up the fallen booth of David, And wall up its breaches; I will also raise up its ruins And rebuild it as in the days of old;12 That they may possess the remnant of Edom And all the nations who are called by My name," Declares the LORD who does this.

Isa 46:9-10 9 "Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, 'My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure';

Num 23:19 "God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

Isa 41:22-2622 Let them bring forth and declare to us what is going to

take place; As for the former events, declare what they

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2 Peterwere, That we may consider them and know their outcome. Or announce to us what is coming; 23 Declare the things that are going to come afterward, That we may know that you are gods; Indeed, do good or evil, that we may anxiously look about us and fear together….

26 Who has declared this from the beginning, that we might know? Or from former times, that we may say, "He is right!"? Surely there was no one who declared, Surely there was no one who proclaimed, Surely there was no one who heard your words.

Isa 44:7 'Who is like Me? Let him proclaim and declare it; Yes, let him recount it to Me in order, From the time that I established the ancient nation. And let them declare to them the things that are coming And the events that are going to take place.

21] For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

“...were moved”: “Borne along” or “carried along” translates the word, pheromenoi.

Luke used this word in referring to a sailing vessel carried along by the wind (Acts 27:15, 17).

Act 27:15-1715 and when the ship was caught in it and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and let ourselves be driven along.

16 Running under the shelter of a small island called Clauda, we were scarcely able to get the ship's boat under control.17 After they had hoisted it up, they used supporting cables in undergirding the ship; and fearing that they might run aground on the shallows of Syrtis, they let down the sea anchor and in this way let themselves be driven along.

As the authors of Scripture wrote their prophecies, they were impelled or borne along by God’s Spirit.

What they wrote was thus inspired by God.

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2 Peter2Ti 3:16-17

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

The Scriptures’ human authors were controlled by the divine Author, the Holy Spirit.

Yet they were consciously involved in the process; they were neither taking dictation nor writing in a state of ecstasy.

No wonder believers have a word of prophecy which is certain.

They are the very words of God Himself!

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2 Peter

Measuring Our Confidence: How Sure Can We Be?Until we can measure a thing, we really know very little about it. William Thomson (Lord Kelvin)

The Nature of Einstein’s Revolution We have the advantage of modern physics, although few appreciate its aid to our understanding Biblical insights!

• Special Relativity (1905): Length, mass, velocity and time are relative to velocity of the observers

• General Relativity (1915): No distinction between time & space = a 4-dimensional continuum (confirmed 14 ways to 19 decimals).

Gravitational Time Dilation Two identical Atomic clocks are located at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Boulder, Colorado, and the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England.

Both are accurate to better than 1 second per million years, yet the NIST clock ticks 5 μ seconds/year faster than an identical clock at Greenwich.

Which is correct? Both are! Boulder, Colorado = 5400 ft altitude; Greenwich, England = 80 ft.

Atomic Clocks run faster by 10-16 sec/meter elevation.

Other Demonstrations • Aircraft experiment (1971):

Eastward : lost 0.059 microseconds; Westward: gained 0.273 microseconds.

Accounting for the Earth’s rotation, etc., it was exactly what Einstein’s formula predicted.

• Twin Astronauts (hypothetical) Alpha Centauri trip…

Time Is Not Uniform

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2 PeterTime is a physical property; it varies with mass, acceleration and gravity… among other things…

We exist in more than three dimensions (apparently, 10…).

This physical insight will dissolve most theological paradoxes…

The Nature of God Is God subject to the restrictions of mass? Acceleration? Gravity?

He is not simply One with “lots of time,” He is outside of the restrictions of time.

This uniqueness is His Personal Imprint…

From Outside Time For thus saith the High and Lofty One, that inhabiteth eternity… Isaiah 57:15

Since God has the technology to create us, He certainly has the means to get a message to us; but how does He authenticate His message so that we know that it is really from Him, and not a contrivance or a fraud?

Authentication Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done...Isaiah 46:10

Prophetic Scriptures In the Bible there are 8,362 predictive verses;

Covering 1,817 predictions on 737 separate matters.J. Barton Payne, Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy

The Old Testament (The Tenach) Hebrew Scriptures were translated into Greek by 270 BC.They contain over 300 prophecies detailing the Coming Messiah.We are now going to examine just eight of them.For this statistical analysis, I am indebted to Peter Stoner, Science Speaks (which I took as the basis and modified).

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2 PeterCan we measure our confidence that Jesus really was who He said He was?

Prophecy #1: Born in Bethlehem But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Micah 5:2

What is the probability of any person, taken at random, of fulfilling this?

p=10,000/1,000,000,000 p=104/109=1:105 (1:100,000)

Prophecy #2: King on Donkey Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. Zechariah 9:9

How many have presented themselves as a king to Jerusalem riding a donkey?

p = 1:100

Prophecy #3: 30 Pieces of Silver And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. Zechariah 11:12

How many people have been betrayed for 30 pieces of silver?p = 1:1,000

Prophecy #4: Temple, Potter, etc.And the Lord said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prized at of them.

And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord. Zechariah 11:13

And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, “It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.” And they took counsel, and bought with them the

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2 Peterpotter’s field, to bury strangers in. Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day. Matthew 27:6-8

The Final Transaction Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, “I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood.” And they said, “What is that to us? see thou to that.” And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. Matthew 27:4-5

The Precision of Zech 11:13.

Price: 30 pieces of silver; location of the transaction: the House of the Lord (Temple); who ends up with the money? The potter!

p = 1:100,000

Prophecy #5: Wounds in Hands And one shall say unto him, “What are these wounds in thine hands?” Then he shall answer, “Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.” Zechariah 13:6

Thomas’ Unbelief But he [Thomas] said unto them, “Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.” And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace be unto you.” Then saith he to Thomas, “Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.”

And Thomas answered and said unto him, “My Lord and my God.” Jesus saith unto him, “Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” John 20:25-29

How many people, taken at random, have been “wounded in their hands” in “the house of their friends?”

p = 1:1,000

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2 PeterProphecy #6: No Defense Though Innocent

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. Isaiah 53:7

How many prisoners, accused of a capital crime, make no defense even though innocent?

p = 1:1,000

Prophecy #7: Died with Wicked; Buried with Rich And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Isaiah 53:9 How many died among the wicked, yet were buried with the rich?

p = 1:1,000

Prophecy #8: Crucified For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. Psalm 22:16

(700 years before crucifixion invented.) How many, taken at random, have died by having hands and feet pierced?

p = 1:10,000

Composite Probabilities If a population has 60% male and 40% female, what is the probability that one taken at random is female? 40%, or p = 0.4

If a population is 60% right handed and 40% left handed, what is the probability that someone taken at random is left handed? 40%, or p = 0.4.

What is the probability of selecting a left-handed female?p = 0.4 x 0.4 = .16

8 PropheciesMicah 5:2 Born in Bethlehem 1:100,000

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2 PeterZechariah 9:9 King on Donkey 1:100Zechariah 11:12 30 pieces of Silver 1:1,000Zechariah 11:13 Temple, Potter, etc 1: 100,000Zechariah 13:6 Wounds in hands 1:1,000Isaiah 53:7 No defense; innocent 1:1,000Isaiah 53:9 Died with the wicked 1:1,000

Grave with the richPsalm 22:16 Crucified 1:10,000

1:1028

8 Prophecies Combined • Total population # 100 billion (1011)

• Combined probabilities: 1028/1011 = 1017

• A “bucket” of 1017 silver dollars?

1017 silver dollars would cover the State of Texas 2 feet deep

16 Prophecies Combined Over 300 to choose from; the next 8 would be more specific (each less likely than the previous);

Assuming no decrease in likelihoods : 1028 x 1028 = 1056.

Combined probabilities: 1056/1011 = 1045

How big of a “bucket” do we need now?

A ball of silver dollars with a radius that is 30 times the distance between the Earth and the Sun!

Absurd - Impossible

Any possibility <10-50 (<1 chance in 1050) is defined by science as being absurd

– a statistical impossibility without some independent, intelligent, external intervention or influence.

Science claims there are:

• Only 1018 seconds in the history of the universe;

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2 Peter31.7 billion years

Science = Universe is ~16-20 billion years old• Only 1066 atoms in our entire galaxy;• Only 1080 particles in our entire galaxy;

48 Prophecies out of 300 Combined Over 300 to choose from; assuming no decrease in likelihoods:

1028 x 1028 x 1028 x 1028 x 1028 x 1028 = 10168.

Combined probabilities:

10168/1011 = 10157 Silver dollars won’t work this one…

48 Prophecies: 10157 Make a “ball” of every atom in the universe:

1066 Make one for each atom of the universe:

1066 x 1066 = 10132 Repeat this exercise every second since the universe began: 10132 x 1017 = 10149

10149 vs. 10157 ? …we are still short by 108: 100,000,000 times…and we’ve dealt with only 48 of over 300 prophecies!

The Most Amazing Ones • His detailed genealogy;

• The specific prediction of the precise day that the Messiah would present Himself as King to Jerusalem;

• Old Testament Midrashic Prophecies.

• There are no other equivalents —

Islam’s Koran; Hindu’s Veda; Bhagavad-Gita; Book of Mormon; Nostradamas’ Centuries; Occultic mediums, channelers, “New Age” spirit guides,

etc.

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The Scarlet Thread • The “Seed of the Woman” Genesis 3:15 – The Human Race• Abraham Genesis 22:18 – The Nation of Israel • Jacob Genesis 49:10 – The Tribe • David 2 Samuel 7:11-16 – The Family

Old Testament Prophecies Quoted in the Gospels • He was to be of David’s family (2 Sam 7:12-16; Ps 89:3-4;

110:1; 132:11; Isa 9:6, 7; 11:1).• He would be born of a virgin (Gen 3:15; Isa 7:14).• He would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2).• He would sojourn in Egypt (Hos 11:1).• He would live in Galilee (Isa 9:1, 2).• …in Nazareth (Isa 11:1).• To be announced by an Elijah-like herald (Is 40:3-5; Mal 3:1;

4:5).• Would occasion massacre of Bethlehem’s children (Ge 35:19-

20; Je 31:15).• Would proclaim a Jubilee to the world (Isa 58:6; 61:1).• His mission would include the Gentiles (Isa 42:1-4).• Ministry would be one of healing (Isa 53:4).• He would teach through parables (Isa 6:9-10; Ps 78:2).• He would be disbelieved, rejected by Rulers (Ps 69:4; 118:22;

Isa 6:10; 29:13; 53:1).• Would make a triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Zec 9:9; Ps

118:26).• Betrayed by friend for 30 pieces of silver (Zec 11:1-13; Ps 41:9).• Would be like a smitten shepherd (Zech 13:7).• Would be given vinegar and gall (Ps 69:21).• They would cast lots for His garments (Ps 22:18).• His Side would be pierced (Zech 12:10; Ps 22:16).• Not a bone would be broken (Ex 12:46; Num 9:12; Ps 34:20).• Would die among malefactors (Isa 53:9, 12).• His dying words foretold (Ps 22:1; 31:5).• Would be buried by a rich man (Isa 53:9).• Rise from dead on 3rd day (Gen 22:4; Ps 16:10-11; Jon 1:17).• Resurrection followed by destruction of Jerusalem (Dan

9:26;11:31; 12:1,11).

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Epistemological Approach Epistemology (from Greek επιστήμη, epistēmē, meaning "knowledge, understanding", and λόγος, logos, meaning "word")

Establish the Integrity of Design in the Bible;

which Establishes the Identity of Jesus Christ;

which in turn Authenticates the Integrity of Design.

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2 Peter 2 False Teachers False doctrines had begun to make inroads; both 2 Peter and Jude deal with these.

A greater apostasy was to come.

There are significant similarities with Jude.

This “double testimony” by the Holy Spirit should get our attention in this day!)

Paul also dealt with similar libertine false teachers

1Co 6:19-2019 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

1Co 7:23 You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men.

A false teacher is not a person who teaches false doctrine out of ignorance but rather one who teaches error intentionally

Apollos mistakenly taught the message and the baptism of John, but he was not a false teacher

Act 18:24-2824 Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures.25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John;26 and he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.27 And when he wanted to go across to Achaia, the brethren encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him; and when he had arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace,

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2 Peter28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.

False teachers are professed believers who

know the truth but who deliberately teach lies in the hope of promoting themselves and getting financial gain from their followers (1 Pet 2:3,14);

are able to live in sin to please themselves (1 Pet 2:10,13,14,18,19);

use deceptive means (1 Pet 2:1,3) and

twist the Word of God to suit their fancies.

1] But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

“...false prophets”: They arose in Israel (Jer 5:31; 23:9-18), in Peter’s day, and also among us.

Jer 5:31 The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule on their own authority; And My people love it so! But what will you do at the end of it?

Jer 23:9-189 As for the prophets: My heart is broken within me, All my

bones tremble; I have become like a drunken man, Even like a man overcome with wine, Because of the LORD And because of His holy words.

10 For the land is full of adulterers; For the land mourns because of the curse. The pastures of the wilderness have dried up. Their course also is evil And their might is not right.

11 "For both prophet and priest are polluted; Even in My house I have found their wickedness," declares the LORD.

12 "Therefore their way will be like slippery paths to them, They will be driven away into the gloom and fall down in it; For I will bring calamity upon them, The year of their punishment," declares the LORD.

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2 Peter13 "Moreover, among the prophets of Samaria I saw an

offensive thing: They prophesied by Baal and led My people Israel astray.

14 "Also among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: The committing of adultery and walking in falsehood; And they strengthen the hands of evildoers, So that no one has turned back from his wickedness. All of them have become to Me like Sodom, And her inhabitants like Gomorrah.

15 "Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets, 'Behold, I am going to feed them wormwood And make them drink poisonous water, For from the prophets of Jerusalem Pollution has gone forth into all the land.'"

16 Thus says the LORD of hosts, "Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you. They are leading you into futility; They speak a vision of their own imagination, Not from the mouth of the LORD.

17 "They keep saying to those who despise Me, 'The LORD has said, "You will have peace"'; And as for everyone who walks in the stubbornness of his own heart, They say, 'Calamity will not come upon you.'

18 "But who has stood in the council of the LORD, That he should see and hear His word? Who has given heed to His word and listened?

“...privily”: False teacher never announce their arrival as such.

The church is never injured from the outside; only from the inside.

“...damnable heresies”: There is no heresy that has not been anticipated by the Holy Spirit.

Heresy is like leaven: it corrupts all with which it comes in contact.

Gal 5:9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough.

“...denying the Lord that bought them”: A direct rebuttal of limited atonement, the view that Christ died only for those whom He would later save.

…and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:2

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2 PeterFalse Teachers

• Their teaching was flattery; • Their ambitions were financial; • Their lives were dissolute; • Their conscience was dulled; • Their aim was deception.

Isa 28:7 And these also reel with wine and stagger from strong drink: The priest and the prophet reel with strong drink, They are confused by wine, they stagger from strong drink; They reel while having visions, They totter when rendering judgment.

Jer 23:14 "Also among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: The committing of adultery and walking in falsehood; And they strengthen the hands of evildoers, So that no one has turned back from his wickedness. All of them have become to Me like Sodom, And her inhabitants like Gomorrah.

Eze 13:3 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Woe to the foolish prophets who are following their own spirit and have seen nothing.

Zec 13:4 "Also it will come about in that day that the prophets will each be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies, and they will not put on a hairy robe in order to deceive;

“Wolves in sheep’s clothing” is the way our Lord pictured them

Mat 7:15-2115 "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's

clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.16 "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not

gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?

17 "So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.

18 "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.

19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

20 "So then, you will know them by their fruits.

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2 Peter21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the

kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.

2Co 4:1-21 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received

mercy, we do not lose heart,2 but we have renounced the things hidden because of

shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

2Co 11:13-1513 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers,

disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.14 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel

of light.15 Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise

themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.

2] And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

“...pernicious ways”: aselgeiais: debased sexually; immoral practices.

Debauchery (1 Pet 4:3); filthy (2 Pet 2:7); lustful (2 Pet 2:18).

1Pe 4:3 For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.

2Pe 2:7-87 and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the

sensual conduct of unprincipled men8 (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while

living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds),

2Pe 2:18 For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error,

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aselgeia unbridled lust, excess, lasciviousness, wantonness, outrageousness, shamelessness, insolence

Rom 13:13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy.

2Co 12:20-2120 For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find

you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances;

21 I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced.

Gal 5:19-2119 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are:

immorality, impurity, sensuality,20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of

anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like

these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Eph 4:17-1917 So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that

you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind,

18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;

19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.

Jud 1:4 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this

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2 Petercondemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

This will become important in v. 4.

3] And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

“...feigned words”: “Counterfeit words” or “manufactured, fabricated words.”

plastos, from which we get the English word “plastic.”

They take familiar Bible words and manufacture new meanings for them.

They use our vocabulary but empty these words of spiritual meaning.

They will fall into the same judgment as former violators of truth.

God’s judgment is never late.

4] For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

“...the angels that sinned”: Gen 6:1-4.1 Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face

of the land, and daughters were born to them, 2 that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose.

3 Then the LORD said, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years."

4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.

Jud 1:6-7

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2 Peter6 And angels who did not keep their own domain, but

abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day,

7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.

“...hell”: Tartarus: a Greek term signifying a region that was as far below Hades as Hades was below the earth [Homer; also Josephus Apion. ii.33.]

In Greek mythology, Tartarus was the place of punishment for the departed spirits of the very wicked, particularly rebellious gods like Tantalus.

Aka: equivalent to the Abousso

Rev 9:1-2

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2 Peter1 Then the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from

heaven which had fallen to the earth; and the key of the bottomless pit was given to him.

2 He opened the bottomless pit, and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke of the pit.

Rev 9:11 They have as king over them, the angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek he has the name Apollyon.

Rev 11:7 When they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the abyss will make war with them, and overcome them and kill them.

Rev 17:8 "The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come.

Rev 20:1-31 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding

the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand.2 And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is

the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.

Nephilim “...chains of darkness”: An allusion to Gen 6:1-4.

This reference (along with Jude 6, 7) seems to corroborate the identity of the b’nai Elohim of that strange passage.

The hybrid offspring of this unnatural intercourse were the Nephilim, the “fallen ones” (from the Heb. Nephal, to fall.)

These were the heroes, or giants, preserved in ancient mythology.

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2 PeterSatan’s attempt to adulterate the human race, to thwart God’s plan of redemption through Adam’s kinsman-redeemer, was terminated through the judgment of the Flood…

Where are the spirits of the Nephilim?

Their bodies were washed away in the flood.

Only man can be redeemed through Christ’s redemption; are these disembodied spirits what we know as the demons?

5] And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

“...a preacher of righteousness”: Only Noah, whose genealogy was uncontaminated (Gen 6:9) was spared, with his family.

Gen 6:9 These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless H8549 in his time; Noah walked with God.

H8549 tamim from H8552; complete, sound: - blameless (22), blamelessly (1), complete (1), entire (1), full (1), intact (1), integrity (4), perfect (5), sincerity (1), unblemished (2), uprightly (1), who is perfect (1), whole (2), without blemish (12), without defect (36).

Noah was a preacher (declarer).

His very life must have been a testimony.

Every nail that Noah drove into the ark was a sermon, declaring that judgment was about to fall.

Other Revelations in Allusions • Jude: Prophecy of Enoch (v.14,15);

Jud 1:14-1514 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

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2 Peter• Paul: Words of Christ not in Gospels (Acts 20:35);

Act 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

• Names of the two magicians in Egypt (2 Tim 3:8);

2Ti 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

• James: Elijah shut the heavens for 3 ½ years (1 Kgs 17:1 & 18:1;

1Ki 17:1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.

1Ki 18:1 And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.

Jas 5:17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.

Luk 4:25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;

6] And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;

Sodom and Gomorrah must be important: they are alluded to 7X in each the OT and NT.

Here, as a warning to us. Jude 1:6, 7.

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2 Peter6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

7] And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:

8] (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

“...from day to day”: “He sat in the gate...” (Gen 19:1ff).Gen 19:1 And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;….

Lot appears to have been an alderman of the city.

“...that righteous man”: Lot a righteous man?

Yet he was in the wrong place; thus, in a constant state of vexation.

Are you still shocked by sinful things?

Or has our consciences been dulled to sin, with apathy toward today’s moral standards

It could never be said of him that “by faith Lot dwelt in Sodom.” Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Rom 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Yet he was saved out of it, yet as by fire

1Co 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I

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2 Peterwill go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know. And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD. And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? Ge 18:20-24

A very important principle is laid down here.

Abraham intercedes for the righteous—including Lot.

That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.

And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes: Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.

And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there.

And he said, I will not do it for forty’s sake.

And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there.

And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.

And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there.

And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty’s sake.

And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there.

And he said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.

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2 PeterAnd the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.

Genesis 18:25-32 A very important principle: The two angels will spend an entire chapter (Genesis 19) getting Lot out of there before they can accomplish their assigned mission!

[What does this imply regarding the church and the Tribulation?]

Genesis 19: The Destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah 17] And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.

18] And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord: 19] Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die: 20] Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.

21] And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken.

22] Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither.

Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.

23] The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar.

24] Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven; 25] And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.

26] But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

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2 PeterWith burning sulfur the Lord overthrew the wicked cities and the entire plain (vv. 24-25).

(Some have suggested that deposits of sulfur erupted from the earth (cf. the “tar pits,” Gen 14:10), and then showered down out of the heavens in flames of fire (cf. Lk 17:29).)

Gen 14:10 Now the valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell into them. But those who survived fled to the hill country.

Luk 17:28-2928 "It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building;29 but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.

Lot’s wife gazed back intently and was changed into a pillar of salt, a monument to her disobedience; covered and encrusted with deposits from the raining brimstone.

Jesus admonishes us to “remember Lot’s wife”

Luk 17:32-3332 "Remember Lot's wife.33 "Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.

9] The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

(This verse concludes the sentence begun in v. 4.) A declaration of God’s sovereignty.

Praise His name!

1Co 10:31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

“...deliver the godly out of temptations”: In Lot’s case, he had to be literally dragged out!

Lot did accept divine intervention on his behalf, as did Elizabeth and Zacharias, who are also called dikaioi (“upright”) (Lk 1:5, 6).

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Luk 1:5-65 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.

This says much for Abraham’s intercessory prayer in Ge 18:23-33Lot’s removal was a condition precedent to the judgment falling.

Noah and Lot stood alone, however.God delivered them both.There is no hope for the unjust...

10] But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

“Presumptuous are they, selfwilled”: These also make sport of the Second Coming in Chapter 3.

Self-willed, his world contracts until the only thing he has left is the self he has corrupted.

Rejecting (all) authority.

11] Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.

“...railing accusation”: “Railing”: blasphemos, blaspheme, insult, slander.

Jude’s parallel example of Michael has to be about the most bizarre (Jude 9).

Jud 1:9 But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"

There, Michael was on a mission for the Lord which Satan was obstructing!

Still, Michael left it in the Lord’s hands.

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2 Peter12] But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and

destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

The “Jesus Seminar” is a dismal example.

The false teachers are willfully blind to what the Bible teaches

2Pe 3:5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water,

They call evangelical Christians “uneducated” and Biblical theology “old-fashioned”!

The reference to “brute beasts” may have evoked Peter’s use of the Balaam’s ass in v.16.

13] And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time.

Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;

14] Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

“...beguiling”: deleazo, to catch with bait; a fishing term.

Are you surprised that Peter, the fisherman, would use such a term?

15] Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

“...the way of Balaam”: Three related aspects:

• The Way of Balaam 2 Pet 2:15 • The Error of Balaam Jude 11 • The Doctrine of Balaam Rev 2:14

The Way of Balaam (2 Pet 2:15) 2Pe 2:15 forsaking the right way, they have gone astray,

having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

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2 PeterPretending to be subject to the Lord, they crave the riches of Balak (the world; cf. Num 22-24).

Num 31:16 attributes his influence the immorality of the Israelites at Baal-Peor (Num 25).

This type is used also in Jude 11, where Baal-Peor is implicit (1 Cor 10:8; Rev 2:15).

1Co 10:8 Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. Num_25:1-9; Psa_106:29;Rev 2:14-15

14 'But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality.15 'So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

Error of Balaam (Jude 11) Jud 1:11 Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain,

and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.

Reasoning from natural morality and seeing the evil in Israel, he supposed a righteous God must curse them.

He was blind to the higher morality of the cross, through which God maintains and enforces the authority and awful sanctions of His law, so that He can be just and the Justifier of a believing sinner.

The reward of v.11 is not necessarily money; it may be popularity, fame, or applause.

Doctrine of Balaam (Rev 2:14) His teaching Balak to corrupt the people who could not be cursed (Num 31:15,16; 22:5; 23:8).

Rev 2:14 'But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept

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2 Peterteaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality.

Num 31:15-1615 And Moses said to them, "Have you spared all the women?16 "Behold, these caused the sons of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, so the plague was among the congregation of the LORD.

Num 22:5 So he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, at Pethor, which is near the River, in the land of the sons of his people, to call him, saying, "Behold, a people came out of Egypt; behold, they cover the surface of the land, and they are living opposite me.

Num 23:8 "How shall I curse whom God has not cursed? And how can I denounce whom the LORD has not denounced?

Baal-Peor is implicit

1Co 10:8 Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day.

“...son of Bosor”: Some manuscripts call Balaam “son of Bosor” not son of Beor here.

If correct, this could be a paranomasia with basar (“flesh”).

It also could be a Galilean mispronunciation of the guttural in the Hebrew name, expected of Peter.

Mat 26:73 A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "Surely you too are one of them; for even the way you talk gives you away."

16] But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.The OT was not a problem to the early church; it was their Scripture – they were living and creating what we call the NT

If God can use Balaam’s ass, He can use any of us!

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2 Peter17] These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with

a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

“...wells without water”: Psychology is but one example.Psychology has no remedy for the cause (sin);

only patches for the symptoms (guilt).In contrast to Living water.

Joh 4:13-1413 Jesus answered and said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again;14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."

Joh 7:38 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'"

“...the mists” homichle, metaphorically, of the evil workers here mentioned; is a haze which heralds dry weather [Aristotle, Meteor, 1.34b.]

It is easily dispersed by a sharp gust of wind; i.e., instability.

Pretentious vendors of man’s alternative doctrines are doomed to darkness.

18] For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error,

“...swelling words”: unnaturally swollen; bombastic, haughty.

Ostentatiously verbose.Have you ever sampled the psychological literature

Talk about “great swelling words of vanity”!...

“wantonness”G766 ασελγεια aselgeia1) unbridled lust, excess, licentiousness, lasciviousness, outrageousness, shamelessness, insolence

Careless, thoughtless actions and life style

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2 Peter2Pe 2:18-19 By talking high-sounding nonsense and using sinful cravings of the flesh, they entice people who have just escaped from those who live in error. 19 Promising them freedom, they themselves are slaves to depravity, for a person is a slave to whatever conquers him. [ISV]

19] While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

“...brought in bondage”: The promise of modern psychological counseling: liberty.

The delivered result: bondage to self.

Psychoanalysis gives the term “couch potato” a whole new meaning!

To be enslaved to oneself is the heaviest of all servitudes. —Seneca

20] For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.The subject of false teachers is continued in this verse. These

are the false teachers of 2Pe_2:1 who deny the doctrine of atonement by the substitutionary death of the Lord Jesus.

1] But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

They are not saved, they only profess to be Christians.

They are said to have had a knowledge of the Lord Jesus.

It is one thing to know Him personally, as a believer does,

It is another thing to know about Him, namely, the facts about Him, and to give a mental acquiescence to these, as an unbeliever does.

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2 PeterSuch a knowledge resulted in their escaping the pollutions of

the world.

The world here is kosmos, the world system of evil.

That in this system which they escaped is given us in the word miasma.

Thayer defines this word as "that which defiles," and explains it in its occurrence here as "vices the foulness of which contaminates one in his intercourse with the ungodly mass of mankind."

The moral and ethical influence of the Word of God had acted as a detergent and a deterrent upon these false teachers to the end that their outward lives had been relatively pure.

Paul tells his people that they have indeed been called to liberty but that they must not use it for an occasion to the flesh (Gal.5:13).

Peter tells his people that indeed they are free but they must not use their freedom as a cloak of maliciousness (1Pet.2:16).

These false teachers offered freedom, but it was freedom to sin as much as a man liked.

They appealed not to the best but to the worst in a man. Peter is quite clear that they did this because they were slaves to their own lusts.

These teachers were offering liberty when they themselves were slaves, and the liberty they were offering was the liberty to become slaves of lust.

Their message was arrogant because it was the contradiction of the message of Christ; it was futile because he who followed it would find himself a slave.

Here again in the background is the fundamental heresy which makes grace a justification for sin instead of a power and a summons to nobility.

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2 PeterAs they persisted in their false teaching that grace gave license to sin, they became entangled in their former licentious ways.

"Entangle" is emplekō, "to inweave." another fishing metaphor

The noun speaks of an interweaving, a braiding. Their going back to their former immoral lives was not the act of a moment, but a gradual process, as the word implies.

Vincent quotes a classical author (Aeschylus) on the use of this word, "For not on a sudden or in ignorance will ye be entangled by your folly."

It is very important that we understand that the pronoun “they” in this entire paragraph (2 Peter 2:17–22) refers to the false teachers and not to their converts.

These teachers are not truly born-again people.

Jude described these same people in his letter and stated clearly that they were “sensual, having not the Spirit” (Jude 19).

It is not profession of spirituality that marks a true believer but possession of the Spirit of God within (Rom. 8:9).

However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.

It is quite different to know Christianity as a system; it is quite another to know Christ as Lord and even still more as one’s Savior.

Those who simply take up a series of doctrines are always vulnerable to giving them up for some other “system.”

Those who live by God’s truth enter into more and more freedom, but those who live by lies experience more and more bondage, until “the latter end is worse with them than the beginning” (2 Peter 2:20).

Mat 12:43-45 [Lk.11:26]43 "Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it.

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2 Peter44 "Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came'; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order.45 "Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation."

Temporary reformation without true repentance and rebirth only leads to greater sin and judgment.

Reformation cleans up the outside, but regeneration changes the inside.

Sinful tendencies do not disappear when a person reforms; they merely hibernate and get stronger.

Holiness is not simply refusing to do evil things, for even unsaved people can practice self-control.

True holiness is more than conquering temptation: it is conquering even the desire to disobey God.

When my doctor told me to lose weight, he said, “I’ll tell you how to do it: learn to hate the things that aren’t good for you.”

You can expect nothing but “false freedom” from false Christians who offer false promises.

According to 2 Peter 2:20, these apostates “escaped the pollutions of the world.”

Pollution is defilement on the outside.

But true believers have “escaped the corruption that is in the world through [because of] lust” (2 Peter 1:4).

Corruption is much deeper than defilement on the outside: it is decay on the inside.

True believers have received a new nature, a divine nature, and they have new and different appetites and desires.

They have been transformed from pigs and dogs into sheep!

Imagine the disappointment of the person who thinks he has been delivered, only to discover that, in the end, he is in worse shape

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2 Peterthan when he started!

The apostates promise freedom, but all they can give is bondage.

True freedom must come from within; it has to do with the inner nature of the person.

Because the true nature of a thing is the highest that it can become, a pig and dog can never rise higher than the pig or dog they were to begin with…

Some believe that these apostate teachers were true believers who, in turning from the knowledge of Christ, forfeited their salvation.

Even a casual reading of 2 Peter 2 and Jude should convince the impartial reader that these teachers never had a true experience of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

Peter would never have compared them to swine and dogs had they once been members of the Lord’s true flock, nor would he have called them “cursed children” (2 Peter 2:14). If they were true believers who had gone astray, it would have been Peter’s responsibility to encourage his readers to rescue these backsliders.

Jas 5:19-2019 My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back,20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

Peter did not command them to do so.

Instead, he condemned the apostates in some of the most forceful language found in the New Testament!

Understand why this “freedom” offered by these teachers is a false freedom, a “freedom” that only leads to bondage.

It is based on false promises,

empty words that sound exciting but that have no divine authority behind them.

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2 PeterIt is offered by false Christians who were involved in a false experience.

This false “freedom” is the product of our adversary, the devil!

2 Peter 1:10—“Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure.”

Has your spiritual experience been genuine?”

There are many people in our churches who have never truly been born again, but who are convinced that they are saved and going to heaven!

They have had “an experience,” and perhaps look better (like the sow) and feel better (like the dog), but they have not been made better as “partakers of the divine nature.”

Perhaps Peter recalled Judas, one of the Twelve, who was a tool of the devil and was never born again. Up to the very end, the other disciples did not know the truth about Judas and thought he was a spiritual man!

The apostates appear to have successful ministries, but in the end, they are bound to fail.

The important thing is that you and I have the assurance of a true experience with the Lord, and that we have nothing to do with these counterfeit ministries, no matter how popular they may be.

Christ is “the truth” (John 14:6) and following Him leads to freedom.

The apostates are liars and following them leads to bondage. There can be no middle ground!

21] For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

Some stumble at vv. 20, 21 as suggesting that one truly “born again” can become once more the seed of Satan.

Don’t confuse mere profession with reality.

The men Peter is referring to were men who intellectually heard the gospel, associated themselves with the Body of Christ (the

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2 Peterchurch) but who never committed themselves to Jesus nor were willing to follow Him.

Peter is not likely referring to the men of Heb 6:4-8; 10:26-31 (Mt 12:45; Lk 11:26).

Heb 6:4-84 For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.7 For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; 8 but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.

Heb 10:26-3126 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES.28 Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.29 How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?30 For we know Him who said, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY." And again, "THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE."31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Mat 12:45 "Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation." Lu 11:26

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22] But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Peter called these apostates “natural brute beasts” (2 Peter 2:12) and then ended the warning by describing them as pigs and dogs!

Peter quotes Pro 26:11 Like a dog that returns to its vomit Is a fool who repeats his folly.

Instead of being sheep, theses false teachers were pigs and dogs

Dogs in that day were not pampered pets!

The Jews called the Gentiles “dogs” because a dog was nothing but a filthy scavenger who lived on garbage!

The dog is used as a symbol of a false teacher (Ex 11:7; Deut 23:18; Judg 7:5; Ps 22:20; 59:6, 14).

Exo 11:7 'But against any of the sons of Israel a dog will not even bark, whether against man or beast, that you may understand how the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.'

Deu 23:18 "You shall not bring the hire of a harlot or the wages of a dog into the house of the LORD your God for any votive offering, for both of these are an abomination to the LORD your God.

Jdg 7:5 So he brought the people down to the water. And the LORD said to Gideon, "You shall separate everyone who laps the water with his tongue as a dog laps, as well as everyone who kneels to drink."

Psa 22:20 Deliver my soul from the sword, My only life from the power of the dog.

Psa 59:6 They return at evening, they howl like a dog, And go around the city.

Psa 59:14 They return at evening, they howl like a dog, And go around the city.

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2 PeterBoth the dog and the pigs, unclean animals to the Jew, are united by Jesus in Mt 7:6.

Mat 7:6 "Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

These men could point to “an experience,” but it was a false experience.

Satan is the counterfeiter.

Satan has a false gospel (Gal. 1:6–9),

preached by false ministers (2 Cor. 11:13–15),

producing false Christians (2 Cor. 11:26—“in perils among false brethren”).

In His parable of the tares, our Lord taught that Satan plants his counterfeits (“the children of the wicked one”) wherever God plants true believers (Matt. 13:24–30, 36–43).

Both animals returned to the old life: it was part of their nature.

A pig can stay clean only a short time and then must head for the nearest mudhole.

We do not condemn a pig for acting like a pig because it has a pig’s nature.

A dog has the habit of eating what dogs should not eat, and then regurgitating somewhere in the neighborhood, usually on our sidewalk.

But that was not all. A dog will then return to the scene of the crime and start all over again!

Dogs have been doing this for centuries,

The dog feels better after emptying his stomach, but it is still a dog.

“Having an experience” did not change his nature.

It only gave further evidence of his “dog nature,” because he came back and (just like a dog) lapped up his own vomit.

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2 PeterIt is a disgusting picture, but that is exactly the response Peter wanted to produce.

These apostates did have a “religious experience”!

They would boldly claim that their experience brought them into fellowship with the Lord.

They would be able to explain “the way of righteousness” and would use the Word of God to support their teachings.

If they had not experienced some kind of “religious conversion,” they would never have been able to get into the fellowship of the local assemblies.

But their experience, like their promises, was false.

We meet people who tell about their “spiritual experiences,” but in their narratives we detect no evidence of a new nature.

Like the sow, some of them were cleaned up on the outside.

Like the dog, some of them were cleaned up temporarily on the inside and actually felt better.

But in no case had they become “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4).

They thought they were free from their problems and sins, when really they were still in bondage to an old sinful nature.

There is no indication that the false teachers had ever experienced the new birth. They had knowledge of salvation and could use the language of the church, but they lacked that true saving experience with the Lord.

At one time they had even received the Word of God (2 Peter 2:21), but then they turned away from it.

They never trusted Christ and became His sheep.

One’s true (new) nature will be manifested in one’s subsequent walk.

Their punishment is that they will be given over to the lot they have chosen.

Gal_6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. 8 For the

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2 Peterone who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

God underwrites a man’s deliberate choice.

Whosoever will…Rom_10:12-13; Act 2:21 [Joel 2:32];Choose you this day who you will serve…Jos_24:15The right to become ….

Follow me ….

In the end, we will all go “to our own place.”

Act_1:25 to occupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place."

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The Great Problem:1. The false teachers, false believers, want forgiveness

without responsibility, without relationship.

2. They want to ‘get out of hell free – but they do not love Jesus, the Lord who is the only one who is able to save them.

If you love someone, you are willing to sacrifice, to lay down your own life for them.

Do you live as you do willingly, choosing to please the Lord?

Do you live as you do because you are afraid of anger God, who can destroy both body and soul?

Do you live as you do because it pleases you?

Do you recognize Him and His love for you and love Him in return?

Are you: a spring without water a mists driven by a storm, do you speak arrogant words of vanity enticing fleshly

desires, sensuality, do you claim (and proclaim) the promise of freedom all the

while again a slave of corruption; Have you escaped the defilements of the world by the

knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and yet are again entangled in them and are overcome,

Are you living like "a dog who has returned to its own vomit," and "a sow, who after having been washed, returns to wallowing in the mire."

Have you believed in vain?Will the Lord have to say, I never knew you?Do you love the Lord with ALL your heart, lean not to your own ways.

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2 Peter 3 Parallelism of Two Books Second Peter is the swan song of Peter, as Second Timothy is the swan song of Paul.

There are striking similarities between the two books.

Both epistles put up a warning sign to identify the awful apostasy that was on the way at that time and which, in our time, has now arrived.

Facing Death Both Peter and Paul speak in a joyful manner of their approaching deaths (Cf. 2 Pet 1:13-14; 2 Tim 4:6-8).

2Pe 1:13-14 13 I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder, 14 knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.

2Ti 4:6-8 6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Paul knew that the time of his departure had come: he had finished his course; he had been on the racetrack of life, and now he was leaving it; he had fought a good fight; and, he had kept the faith.

A crown of righteousness was laid up for him.

You will find that same triumphant note here in 2 Peter as Peter also faced the prospect of death.

Major Divisions (2 Peter 3) 1) The attitude toward the return to the Lord as a test of apostates;

2) The agenda of God for the world; and

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2 Peter3) The admonition to believers.

1] This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:

“...now”: ede (now, already) implies that the interval between the two Epistles was not long.

“...pure”: heilikrines found pure when unfolded and examined by the sun’s light; “sincere” is a better translation.

“...remembrance”: Preparing to depart, Peter encourages them to keep hold of what they have: the Word of God.

Remembrance has been a key theme in this letter—add to your memory verses (Cf. 2 Pet 1:12-15).

2Pe 1:12-15 12 Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you. 13 I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder, 14 knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.15 And I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you will be able to call these things to mind.

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).

Gal 2:7-9 7 But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised 8 (for He who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles), 9 and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of

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2 Peterfellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.

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

Joh 14:2-3 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

He is preparing a place for us…We are to meet Him in the air

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2 Peter1Th 4:16-18 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven

with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

He—then—will be setting up His Kingdom on the earth… (Lk 1:32; Acts 1:6,7; 15:16, et al.).

Luk 1:32-33 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Act 1:6-7 6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

Act 15:16-17 16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: 17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

But Peter cites OT examples to prove that God does break into history.

The first is that of a flood:

a) An original judgment (the “Gap” theory);

Gen 1:1-2 1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

b) The flood of Noah; Gen 6-9.

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2 Peter5] For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: “...willingly are ignorant”: Ignorance is a response to the will (Rom 1) A decision, not a lack of data.

Rom 1:18-22 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

The antediluvians wanted God to depart (Job 21:14).

Job 21:14-15 14 Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. 15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

So it is today. The world wants the Christians out of their hair. God is going to give them their wish. “.

..earth standing out of the water and in the water”: “He stretched out the earth above the waters;” (Ps 136:6).

“He hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.” (Ps 24:2).

6] Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7] But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.“...world that then was”: Gen 1:9 - Gen 9.A universal flood in the time of Noah.

If the flood of Noah was local, then God didn’t keep His promise!

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2 PeterGen 9:9-179 And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with

your seed after you; 10 And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth.

11 And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.

12 And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: 13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.

14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: 15 And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.

16 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.

17 And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.

The “Gap Theory” (Genesis 1:1 - 2)Some Basic Issues When were the angels created?

When did Satan fall?

Is there a “gap” (interval) between Gen 1:1 and Gen 1:2?

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Ge 1:1

This is certainly straightforward (and if you fully grasp that verse you will have no problem with any other verse in the Bible!).

It is the next verse that raises some basic issues:

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2 PeterAnd the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. Genesis 1:2

The words “without form and void,” tohu v’bohu, will become critical elements of our vocabulary.

tohu means without form, confused;

bohu means void, empty.

(The v’ vav between them is the conjunction “and.”)

When we examine a declaration of God in Isaiah we note an apparent contradiction:

For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else. Isaiah 45:18

The same word for “vain,” tohu (without form, confused), appears in both verses, and would appear to contradict the declaration in Genesis 1:2.The phrase in Genesis 1:2 also appears in Jeremiah:

I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light. Jeremiah 4:23

Whenever you find an apparent contradiction in the Biblical text, we should rejoice!

It may be what the rabbis call a remez: a hint of something deeper.

It’s like a signpost saying, “Dig here! A treasure is hidden here.”

So this compels us to more carefully examine the passage in Genesis 1:2.The verb “was” is actually a transitive verb (indicating action) and the word order (normally, conjunction-verb-subject-object) is reordered to suggest the transitive pluperfect form: “had become.”

Gen 1:2 And the earth was H1961 without form, and void; and darkness [was] upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

(It is so ordered in the International Standard Version.)

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2 PeterIt is the identical transitive verb which appears in Genesis 19:26, where Lot’s wife “became a pillar of salt.”

Gen 19:26 But his wife, from behind him, looked back, and she became H1961 a pillar of salt.

Furthermore, we also find that the initial conjunction, “And,” is an adversative conjunction (“but”) and is so rendered in both the Septuagint and Vulgate translations.

It often suggests a significant time delay:

An 8-year period (Ex 2:1-2); a 38-year period (Deut 10:5-6); a 7-year period (1 Chr 10:14; 11:1); and, a 58-year period (Ezek 6:22, 7:1).

Putting this all together suggests the following rendering:

But the earth had become without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. Genesis 1:2

There appears to be an interval of some kind—perhaps eons—between verses 1 and 2.

It would seem that the earth was not originally “without form and void,” but had been subjected to some kind of catastrophic judgment prior to the sequence that continues in Genesis 1.

The “Gap Theory” was originally suggested by Thomas Chalmers in 1814.

Compare: George H. Pember, Earth’s Earliest Ages, Hodder and Stoughton, London, 1907; Donald Gray Barnhouse, The Invisible War, Zondervan Publishing Co., MI, 1965; and Arthur C. Custance, Without Form and Void, Ontario, CAN, 1970.

I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.

I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.

I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.

I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger.

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2 PeterFor thus hath the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate;

yet will I not make a full end. Jeremiah 4:23-27

Why?

6] Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7] But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

This “second world” is the one we are living in.

It is subject to a form of “global warming” that will quite a surprise!

“...fire”: Next time by fire

Isa 66:15-16 15 For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. 16 For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.

Dan 7:10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

Mal 4:1-3 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. 3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.

2Th 1:7-9 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

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2 PeterBy Him are the very elements “held together” (Col 1:17).

Col 1:17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

Heb 1:3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

God’s sovereignty over time

Isa_46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, 'My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure';

Rev_21:6 Then He said to me, "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.

God has a perspective, an intensity, a priority, that we lack.

8] But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

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2 Peter“...as one day”: = “as yesterday” (Ps 90:4).

Psa 90:4 For a thousand years in Your sight Are like yesterday when it passes by, Or as a watch in the night.

Not a calculation; a metaphor.

Time is relative.

We assume time is linear and absolute.

However, time is a physical property.

It varies with mass, acceleration, and gravity.

[Positron in time reversals? Cf. Beyond Time and Space; Beyond Perception; et al.]

The Nature of Time • Can time go backward?

How do you tell? By exploiting the entropy laws as an arrow of time...

• Eternity is not “having lots of time” but being outside of our particular time domain altogether.

• “7000 year” week = ancient notion.

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).

Gen 3:17-19 17 Then to Adam He said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat from it'; Cursed is the ground because of you; In toil you will eat of it All the days of your life. 18 "Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you; And you will eat the plants of the field; 19 By the sweat of your face You will eat bread, Till you return to the ground, Because from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return."

Rom 8:19-22 19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but

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2 Peterbecause of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.

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).

Psa 90:10-12 10 As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, Or if due to strength, eighty years, Yet their pride is but labor and sorrow; For soon it is gone and we fly away. 11 Who understands the power of Your anger And Your fury, according to the fear that is due You? 12 So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom.

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

1Th 5:2-112 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.3 While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.

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2 Peter4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief;5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness;6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.7 For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night.8 But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.11 Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

1 THES 4:16-17For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (KJV)

1 COR 15:52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (KJV)

TWO DISTINCT EVENTSRAPTURE 2 nd COMING Translation of believers No translation involvedTranslated saints go to heaven Translated saints return to earthEarth not judged Earth judgedImminent, any moment, signless Follows definite predicted signsNot in the Old Testament Predicted in Old TestamentBelievers only included Affects all men on the earthBefore the day of wrath Concludes the day of wrathNo reference to Satan Satan boundJesus comes for His own Jesus comes with His own

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2 PeterHe comes in the air He comes to the earthHe claims His Bride He comes with His BrideOnly His own see Him Every eye shall see HimGreat Tribulation begins Millennium beginsChurch believers only OT Saved raised later?

The 2nd Coming: a sequence of eventsJesus comes to gather and meet his Church in the air

The RaptureJohn 14:1-3 1 Cor 15:1-53 1 Thes 4:13-18 Rom 8:19 1 Cor 1:7-8 1 Cor 16:22 Phil 3:20-21 Col 3:4

1 Thes 1:10 1 Thes 2:19 1 Thes5:9 1 Thes 5:23 2 Thes2:1, (3) 1 Tim 6:14 2 Tim 4:1 Titus 2:13

Heb 9:28 James 5:7-9 1 Peter 1:7, 13 1 John 2:28-3:2 Jude 21 Rev 2:25 Rev 3:10

Jesus comes to claim His creation and establish His throne and kingdom on the earth

The 2 nd Coming

Daniel 2:44-45 Daniel 7:9-14 Daniel 12:1-3 Zech 14:1-15 Matt 13:41 Matt 24:15-31 Matt 26:64

Mark 13:14-27 Mark 14:62 Luke 21:25-28 Acts 1:9-11 Acts 3:19-21 1 Thes 3:13 2 Thes 1:6-10

2Thes 2:8 2 Peter 3:1-14 Jude 14-15 Rev 1:7 Rev 19:11-20 Rev 22:7, 12, 20

“...day of the Lord”: [Cf. 1 Thess 4:13f (“bring with Him” v.14)]

The day of the Lord begins suddenly, unannounced, at a time no one knows but God. = Surprise !!!

“As a thief in the night” only to those who are in darkness: (1Th 4:18 introduces).1Th 4:13-18

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2 Peter13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.1Th 5:1-111 Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you.2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.3 While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief;5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness;6 so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.7 For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night.8 But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.11 Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

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2 PeterThe day of the Lord ends on a known and preannounced schedule, mark it on your calendar, it is an appointed time.

“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).

Rev 20:11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.

Rev 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.

“...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.

Not the period table but the particles that hold the elements themselves together

“...melt”: luo to untie, loose.

To break apart, split, fission

11] Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

“...ought ye to be”: So how then shall we live?

Does the realities of all this impact our priorities?

12] Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat!

“Looking for and hasting unto”: You can hasten the Day of God!

Lord’s Prayer: Mat_6:10 'Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Luk_11:2

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2 PeterHelp bring in the “fullness” Rom 11:25 For I do not want you,

brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery--so that you will not be wise in your own estimation--that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;

See also Mal 4:1; Joel 2:10; Mt 24:29; Mk 13:24; Rev 6, 8 , et al.

Mal 4:1 "For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze," says the LORD of hosts, "so that it will leave them neither root nor branch."

Joe 2:10 Before them the earth quakes, The heavens tremble, The sun and the moon grow dark And the stars lose their brightness.

Mat 24:29 "But immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Mar 13:24-26 24 "But in those days, after that tribulation, THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, 25 AND THE STARS WILL BE FALLING from heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens will be shaken. 26 "Then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN CLOUDS with great power and glory.

Mountains melting: Ps 46:6; Micah 1:4; etc.

Psa 46:6 The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered; He raised His voice, the earth melted.

Mic 1:3-4 3 For behold, the LORD is coming forth from His place. He will come down and tread on the high places of the earth. 4 The mountains will melt under Him And the valleys will be split, Like wax before the fire, Like water poured down a steep place.

13] Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

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2 Peter“…new heavens and a new earth”: World #3? (Isa 65:17; 66:22. Rev 21:1).

This one will have righteousness dwelling in it.

Isa 65:17 "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind.

Isa 66:22 "For just as the new heavens and the new earth Which I make will endure before Me," declares the LORD, "So your offspring and your name will endure.

Rev 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.

14] Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

“...be diligent”: This is the third time Peter has mentioned diligence (2 Pet 1:5, 10).

How then shall we live? Why?

2Pe 1:5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,

2Pe 1:10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;

15] And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

“...hath written unto you”: This appears to be an authentication of Paul’s authorship of the Epistle to the Hebrews.

There are no other of Paul’s writings:

1) To the Jews, and

2) Which corroborates these eschatological truths (Cf. Heb 12:25-29).

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2 PeterHeb 12:25-29

25 See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven. 26 And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, "YET ONCE MORE I WILL SHAKE NOT ONLY THE EARTH, BUT ALSO THE HEAVEN." 27 This expression, "Yet once more," denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; 29 for our God is a consuming fire.

16] As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures, unto their own destruction.

“...hard to be understood”: Peter admits that Paul is tough to fully understand!

The gospel that Paul preached which was a completely new idea to the traditions and teachings of the Jewish beliefs and religion.

Gal 1:13-2413 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the

Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,

16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.

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2 Peter18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see

Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the

Lord's brother.

20 Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.

21 Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;22 And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea

which were in Christ:23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in

times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.24 And they glorified God in me.

“...Scriptures”: Peter corroborates Paul’s writings as in the same category as “the Scriptures”!

17] Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

“...beware lest ye also”: No will ever fail if he keeps his eyes fixed on our Lord Jesus Christ.

Doctrinal error of a serious character is almost invariably connected with some moral failure.

Exercise “due diligence...”

18] But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

“...grow in grace”: Are you growing?

Summary: Grace Grace is the method of divine dealing in salvation and in the believer’s life and service.

As one is saved, he is:

Rom 6:14 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

God ceaselessly works through grace, to impart to and perfect in him corresponding graces (Jn 15:4,5; Gal 5:22-23).

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2 PeterJoh 15:4-5

4 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5 "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

Gal 5:22-2522 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

Grace, therefore, stands connected:

• With service: Rom 12:6; 15:15-16; 1 Cor 1:3-7; 3:10; 15:10; 2 Cor 12:9-10; Gal 2:9; Eph 3:7-8; 4:29; Phil 1:7; 2 Tim 2:1-2; 1 Pet 4:10.

• With Christian growth: 2 Cor 1:12; Eph 4:29; Col 3:16; 4:6; 2 Thess 1:12; Heb 4:16; 12:28-29; 13:9; Jas 4:6; 1 Pet 1:2; 3:7; 5:5,10;

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2 Peter2 Pet 3:18; Jude 4.

• With giving : 2 Cor 4:15; 8:1,6-7,19; 9:14.

How to prepare against apostasy?

1) Knowledge of the Word of God;

2) Personal knowledge of Christ!

NOTE:

Love is not a feeling following by a decision followed by actions

Love is a decision followed by actions that bring feelings.

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2 Peter

Bibliography Barbieri, Louis A. First and Second Peter.Everyman’s Bible

Commentary, Moody Press, Chicago, IL 1977. Barclay, William. The Letters of James and Peter. The Daily Study

Bible. Rev. ed. Westminster Press, Philadelphia, PA 1976. Blue Letter Bible (and its numerous associated commentaries and

helps) On Internet, <http:www.blueletterbible.org>. Bigg, Charles. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Epistles of

St. Peter and St. Jude. The International Critical Commentary. T. & T. Clark, Edinburgh, 1902.

Blum, Edwin A. “1 Peter.” In The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, vol. 12. Zondervan Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, MI 1981.

Bullinger, E.W., The Companion Bible, Zondervan Bible Publishers, Grand Rapids, MI, 1958.

Cranfield, C.E.B. The First Epistle of Peter. S.C.M. Press, London: 1950.

DeHaan, M. R., Simon Peter, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1954.

Fleming, John, The Fallen Angles and the Heroes of Mythology, Hodges, Foster, and Figgis, Dublin, 1879.

Green, Michael, 2 Peter and Jude, InterVarsity Press, Leicester, England, 1987.

Henry, Matthew and Thomas Scott, Commentary on the Holy Bible, Thomas Nelson Publishing Company, NY, 1979.

Hunt, Dave, In Defense of the Faith, Harvest House, Eugene, OR, 1996.

Ironside, H. A., Expository Notes on the Epistles of James and Peter, Loizeaux Brothers, Neptune NJ 1947.

Jamieson, Rev. Robert, Rev. A.R. Fausset and Rev. David Brown, A Commentary Critical, Experimental, and Practical on the Old and New Testaments, vol. V, William B. Eerdman’s Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, MI, 1948.

Johnstone, Robert. The First Epistle of Peter: Revised Text, with Introduction and Commentary. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1888. Reprint. Minneapolis: James Family Publishers, 1978.

Kistemaker, Simon J., Peter and Jude, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids MI 1987.

Lenski, R.C.H. The Interpretation of the Epistles of St. Peter, St. John, and St. Jude. Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis 1966.

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2 Peter Maclaren, Alexander. Expositions of Holy Scripture, vol. 16. Reprint.

Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1975. Marshall, I. Howard, 1 Peter, InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL

1991. Missler, Chuck, Footprints of the Messiah, ...for a mathematical

analysis of why “We have the more sure Word of prophecy!” Koinonia House, Coeur d’Alene, ID, 1994.

Missler, Chuck, Expositional Commentary of the Epistle of Jude, Koinonia House, Coeur d’Alene, ID, 1996.

O’Callaghan, Jose “Los papiros griegos de la cueva 7 de Qumran,” Madrid, Biblioteca de Autores Cristianos, 1974.

Robertson, A.T. Word Pictures in the New Testament, vol. 6. Broadman Press, Nashville, TN, 1933.

Scofield, C.I., The New Scofield Study Bible, (KJV) Oxford University Press, New York, 1967.

Selwyn, E.G. The First Epistle of Peter. Macmillan Co., New York, NY 1964.

Stibbs, Alan M. The First Epistle General of Peter. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, MI 1959.

Spitta, Fredrich, Christi Predigt und die Geister (1 Peter. 3,19ff.): Win Beitrag zur neuetestamentischen Theologie, Vandenhoeck und Ruprecht, Gottingen, 1890.

Stoner, Peter, Science Speaks, Moody Press, Chicago, IL, 1963. Walvoord, John F., and Zuck, Roy B., The Bible Knowledge

Commentary, (Wheaton, Illinois: Scripture Press Publications, Inc.) 1983, 1985.

(Also available on Logos 2.0, Level 4.) Wiersbe, Warren W. Be Hopeful. Scripture Press Publications, Victor Books, Wheaton, IL 1982.

Wuest, Kenneth S. First Peter in the Greek New Testament for the English Reader. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, MI 1942.

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2 Peter

The Epistles of Peter 2 Peter 1 Introduction

OUTLINE

Key theme: Spiritual knowledge

Key verse: 2 Peter 1:3

2 Peter 1:1–11 Knowing and Growing2 Peter 1:12–21 Wake Up and Remember!2 Peter 2:1–9 Beware of Counterfeits2 Peter 2:10–16 Marked Men2 Peter 2:17–22 False Freedom2 Peter 3:1–10 Scoffing at the Scoffers2 Peter 3:11–18 Be Diligent!

I. EXPLANATION: THE KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST (1)A. The gift of knowledge—1:1–4B. The growth in knowledge—1:5–11C. The ground of knowledge—1:12–21

II. EXAMINATION: THE FALSE TEACHERS (2)A. Their condemnation—2:1–9B. Their character—2:10–17C. Their claims—2:18–22

III. EXHORTATION: THE TRUE CHRISTIAN (3)

A. Be mindful—3:1–7B. Be not ignorant—3:8–10C. Be diligent—3:11–14D. Beware—3:15–18

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