Wednesday, May 20, 2009

New Testament survey (22): 2 Peter

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 tob glory and virtue: 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. (2 Peter 2:3-4)

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. (2 Peter 3:18)

Overview

[1] 2 Peter, from Thru The Bible Radio with Dr. J. Vernon McGee ©, with free downloads Notes & Outlines (PDF), Complete 5-Year Study (MP3), Three Worlds in One (PDF)

Second Peter is the swan song of Peter, just as 2 Timothy is the swan song of Paul. There are striking similarities between the two books. Both epistles put up a warning sign along the pilgrim pathway the church is traveling to identify the awful apostasy that was on the way at that time and which in our time has now arrived. What was then like a cloud the size of a man’s hand today envelops the sky and produces a storm of hurricane proportions. Peter warns of heresy among teachers; Paul warns of heresy among the laity.

Both Peter and Paul speak in a joyful manner of their approaching deaths (see 2 Peter 1:13–14; 2 Timothy 4:6–8). Paul said that he 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.

The great subject of this epistle is going to be not only the apostasy but also that which will be our defense—knowledge. Where is this knowledge, and how does it come to us? Peter will say that the only way is through the Word of God, “a more sure word of prophecy,” which he will talk about (2 Peter 1:19).

You see, my friend, the Christian life is more than just a birth. It is a growth, and it is a development. The key to this entire epistle is the last verse: “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” (2 Peter 3:18). Read the complete article
[2] Book of 2 Peter, from gotquestions.org (this website is also available in Afrikaans, Arabic, Bengali, Burmese-Myanmar, Cebuano, Chinese - Simplified, Chinese – Traditional, Hausa, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Malaysian, Persian-Farsi, Portuguese, Quechua, Sesotho, Spanish, Swahili, Tagalog, Tamil, Thai, Urdu, Vietnamese, Zulu, and 70 other languages)
Knowing that his time was short (2 Peter 1:13-15), and these churches faced immediate danger (2 Peter 2:1-3), he called upon the readers to refresh their memories (2 Peter 1:13) and stimulate their thinking (2 Peter 3:1-2) so that they would remember his teaching (2 Peter 1:15). He challenged the believers to become more mature in their faith by adding to it specific Christians virtues, thereby becoming effective and productive in their knowledge of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:5-9). The Old and New Testament writers were set forth as their authority for their faith (2 Peter 1:12-21, 3:2, 3:15-16). Peter desired they become strong in their faith to withstand the false teachers that had crept in and adversely affected the churches. In his denunciation of them, he described their conduct, their condemnation, and their characteristics (2 Peter chapter 2), and also that they ridiculed the Lord’s Second Coming (2 Peter 3:3-7). For the Christians, Peter taught that the Second Coming is the incentive for holy living (2 Peter 3:14). After a final warning, Peter again encouraged them to grow in the grace and knowledge of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He concluded with a word of praise to his Lord and Savior (2 Peter 3:18). Read the complete article
[3] 2 Peter, from Scofield Reference Notes (1917 Edition)
WRITER: The Apostle Peter (2 Peter 1:1)

DATE: Probably A.D. 66

THEME: Second Peter and Second Timothy have much in common. In both, the writers are aware that martyrdom is near (2 Timothy 4:6; 2 Peter 1:14 with; John 21:18,19); both are singularly sustained and joyful; both foresee the apostasy in which the history of the professing church will end. Paul finds that apostasy in its last stage when the so-called laity (See Scofield “Revelation 2:6”), have become infected (2 Timothy 3:1-5; 4:3,4); Peter traces the origin of the apostasy to false teachers (2 Peter 2:1-3,15-19). In Peter the false teachers deny redemption truth (2 Peter 2:1); we shall find in First John a deeper depth--denial of the truth concerning Christ’s person (1 John 4:1-5). In Jude all phases of the apostasy are seen. But in none of these Epistles is the tone one of dejection or pessimism. God and His promises are still the resource of the believer.

The Epistle is in four divisions:

1. The great Christian virtues, 2 Peter 1:1-14
2. The Scriptures exalted, 2 Peter 1:15-21
3. Warnings concerning apostate teachers, 2 Peter 2:1-22
4. The second coming of Christ and the day of Jehovah, 2 Peter 3:1-18
Discussion

[1] Key verses: 2 Peter 1:3-4; 3:9, 18

[2] Key word “knowledge” appears seven times: 2 Peter 1:2-3, 5-6, 8; 2:20; 3:18

[3] “Beloved” statements in 2 Peter:
This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance (2 Peter 3:1)

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. (2 Peter 3:8)

Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. (2 Peter 3:14)

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. (2 Peter 3:17)
[4] Baptist Distinctive: Biblical Authority (Download PDF)
The Bible is the final authority in all matters of belief and practice because the Bible is inspired by God and bears the absolute authority of God Himself. Whatever the Bible affirms, Baptists accept as true. No human opinion or decree of any church group can override the Bible. Even creeds and confessions of faith, which attempt to articulate the theology of Scripture, do not carry Scripture's inherent authority. (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
Further study (Be like the Bereans! Acts 17:11)

[1] Watch Out … Stay On Track … Keep On Growing, A Devotional Commentary on the Book of 2 Peter, by Paul G. Apple

[2] Second Peter: Introduction, Argument, and Outline, by Daniel B. Wallace, Th.M., Ph.D.

[3] Standing on the Promises - A Study of 2 Peter (12 articles in series), by Bob Deffinbaugh, Th.M

[4] The Authorship of Second Peter, by Hampton Keathley IV, Th.M

[5] Is 2 Peter Peter’s? by Wayne Stiles, Th.M., D.Min.

[6] Definitions from 2 Peter, by Jeff Miller, Th.M.

[7] 2 Peter: A Synthetic Look (series), by Jeff Miller, Th.M.

Sermons on 2 Peter (Be like the Bereans! Acts 17:11)

[1] Sermons by Michael Stark, New Beginnings Baptist Church
[2] Tunnel Vision, by Pastor Jeremy Stephens, Southview Baptist Church

[3] G.r.o.w.t.h. by Kurt Fenton, Calvary Baptist Fellowship

[4] Sermon Illustrations, from bible.org

[5] The Gospel and Its promises, by David Westmoreland

[6] Everything You Need, by David Patterson

[7] 2 Peter 1 Leader's Guide, by William Conner

[8] Grow in the Knowledge of God, by Chad DeJong

[9] God's Provision & My Responsibility, by Jim Freed

[10] Christmas is about walking as a servant, by Raymond Richards

[11] Critical Importance of Spiritual Growth, by Brian Kane

[12] Accepting the Call to Holiness, by Kenneth Morris

[13] Growing Up and Going Out, by Daniel P. Thompkins, Jr.

[14] People Connecting to God, by Jeff Jones

[15] Failure to feed new converts & results, by Dennis

[16] Living on Borrowed Time, by Dr. Robert L. Rease

For other available sermons, please surf to Sermon / Preaching resources. Sermons are also available from South McGehee Baptist Church, McGehee, Arizona; Central Baptist Church, Lowesville; First Baptist Church, Mountain View, Missouri; Swift Creek Baptist Church; Word of Life Baptist Church, Pottsville, Philadelphia; Palm Springs Baptist Church, California; South Woods Baptist Church; Grove Baptist Church, Ulster; Dudley Baptist Church, United Kingdom; Independent Fundamental Baptist Sermons, Fundamental Christian Radio Broadcasts, Off-Site Audio Page and The Christian Radio Tuner

Notes: (1) This ministry does not necessarily endorse or share all the views and opinions expressed in the materials, resources or links mentioned in these posts. Please always refer to the Articles of Faith and Biblical distinctives of Baptists when you study these materials. (2) This lesson is part of the projected 300 plus lessons. From time to time, the lessons will be updated, revised, combined, formatted, and edited to comply with the VOA Simplified English word list. Later on, these lessons will be categorized, numbered sequentially, and made available as PDF downloads.

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