The Strand Study Bible

II PETER

Author: Peter Theme: Remember Who You Are and What You Believe

About the Author: Peter, also called Simon or Cephas, was a Jew of the city of Bethsaida, near the Sea of Galilee. He and his brother, Andrew, were fishermen (Mt 4:18) and partners in business with James and John (Lk 5:10). It seems, John the Baptist was the first to introduce Andrew and Peter to the Savior (Jn 1:35-39). Some months later, Peter and his brother became apostles (Mt 4:18-20). Along with James and John, Peter belonged to that special “inner circle” that was closest to Jesus (Gal 2:9). For the next 39 years, from c. AD 28-67, until his death, Peter faithfully served his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He wrote two epistles ( I & II Peter ) and became known as “the preacher” to the Jews. Secular tradition tells us that Peter was crucified upside down. About the Book: This was Peter’s last epistle. There seems to be no note of sadness in Peter’s letter, but rather a joyful note of anticipation, as he looks forward to eternity with Christ (I Pet 1:14). Peter warns his readers about false teachers and encourages them to look forward to Christ’s Second Coming. II Peter was written from Babylon (probably another name for Rome) in approximately AD 67. Theologians are not sure as to who delivered the epistle. Notes of Interest:

1. II Peter quotes the OT 1 time (Prov 26:11). 2. Prophecies are referred to 12 times in II Peter . 3. Prophecies concerning CHRIST are referred to 6 of those 12 times. 4. There are 4 different OT characters referred to in II Peter : Noah, Lot, Boser, and Balaam 5. There are no inset maps used in the book of II Peter .

Outline of II Peter :

1. Peter’s greetings (II Pet 1) 2. Beware of false teachers (II Pet 2) 3. The promise of Christ’s coming (II Pet 3) II Peter 1 Greetings from Peter to Christians everywhere Date Written - c. AD 67 1 1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apos- tle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the 2 righteousness of GOD and our SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST : 2 3 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 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. The building blocks of a Christian must be built in order! 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith 5 virtue; and to virtue 6 knowledge; 6 And to knowledge 7 temperance; and to temperance 8 patience; and to patience 9 godliness; 7 And to godliness 10 brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness 11 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,

1. Mt 10:2 2. Rom 3:21-22, 25- 26 & 10:4 & II Cor 5:21 3. I Pet 1:2 4. II Cor 7:1 5. or, “a willingness to conform to a specific standard of right (the Bible - Ruth 3:11)” 6. or, “Biblical knoweledge” - II Tim 2:15 7. or, “self-control” 8. that is, “waiting on God to work out problems in our life” 9. that is, “God-likeness in every area of our life” - Mt 5:48 10. or, “unconditional kindness” - Gal 6:10 11. or, “love” - I Cor 13

1:1 The original Greek reads: God and Savior ( of us) Je sus Christ . Truly, CHRIST is both God and Savior (Titus 2:13 and Jude 4). 1:5 Faith is what makes you friends with God (Jn 15:14). Thus, every Christian is commanded to grow in grace ( add to your faith , i.e., add to your relationship with God) during the Adolescent Stage of the Christian life ( Heb 5:12 and Mt 5:48 ). Pure and proper relationships are always built using the same order ( SOS 1:1 and Prov 9:1 – Pillar #6 ). Thus, every Christian is admonished to “add to his faith” the following seven characteristics (in order): 1. virtue (the want to do what’s right - Acts 10:35 ) 2. knowledge (the wisdom and understanding of what is right ( Learn to do well – Isa 1: 16- 17 ); you can’t do right unless you know what is right to do – Prov 1:1-4) 3. temperance (the character to keep on doing what’s right; building character where you live – Prov 14:1) 4. patience (learning to quietly wait on God for the results of having done what’s right – I Pet 3:1-4) 5. godliness (doing what’s morally right each day)

6. brotherly kindness (doing what’s graciously right each day – Joel 2:13 and Jonah 4:2) 7. love (doing God right by getting along with others – Jn 14:15 and Lk 6:27-36) 2104