Venturing into 2 Peter...The Good, The Bad, and the Great...2 Peter 1:1-15

 

I am always thankful to find art that covers the scripture passage we tackled last Sunday.  This one is by Brett Jordan and his rendition of the list Peter gives us in verses 5-7 of chapter 1.  We venture into the second letter from Peter to the 1st century persecuted Christians dispersed in Asia Minor.  It is a few years later than 1 Peter and a few years closer to the end of Peter's life.  Last words are so important.  What does Peter want us and his original audience to know?

I summarized the whole book by "The Good" chapter 1, "The Bad" chapter 2, and "The Great" chapter 3.  2 Peter starts very similar to 1 Peter with a focus on our great salvation and therefore a response should follow from us who have received this faith from God.  1 Peter gave us some commands and mandates to follow while 2 Peter gives a list to supplement our God given faith.

I thought it might be good to add some other scriptures to each one on the list.  Maybe Peter is pulling it together like Paul does in other passages to make a concise statement.  

"For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with..."

• virtue - Philippians 4:8, LSB - "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is dignified, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, consider these things."

• knowledge - Proverbs 9:10, LSB - "The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."

• self-control - 2 Timothy 1:7, LSB - "For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and self-discipline."

• steadfastness - 1 Corinthians 15:58, LSB - "Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

• godliness - 1 Timothy 4:7, LSB - "But refuse godless myths fit only for old women.  On the other hand, train yourself for the purpose of godliness,..."

• brotherly affection - Romans 12:10-13, LSB - "...being devoted to one another in brotherly love, giving preference to one another in honor, not lagging behind in diligence, being fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope, persevering in affliction, being devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, pursuing hospitality."

• love - John 15:13, LSB - "Greater love has no one that this, that one lay down his life for his friends."

Peter pulls together in one list the godly responses of "those who have obtained a faith of equal standing" (v.1) with him.  The pursuit of these responses brings about greater grace and peace realized.  The setting aside of these responses brings about a blindness of what to do or be and spiritual amnesia of your very salvation provided by God through His Son, Jesus Christ.  

One final point is that Peter is again encouraging his audience to do what he is also doing.  We saw this principle in 1 Peter.  Here we have him saying of himself in verse 15 that "I will make every effort" alongside of him instructing them in verse 5 to "make every effort."  The spiritual leader's example is paramount to the maturity of the sheep.  Back in 1 Peter 5:3 he instructed the elders (spiritual leaders) to be "not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock." This one instruction helps me in my instruction to others and also my humility to be in obedience to the chief Shepherd.  

Adam