We have everything we need to live a Godly life. But this not a given – it requires our participation.

In this letter Peter addresses the internal pressures the church faces via false teachings and false teachers. The word “knowledge” appears eleven times in this epistle, underscoring the importance of our NEEDING to understand the truth of the Gospel, in order to expose the “knowledge” the false teachers are dispensing.

Here is the link to the video:

2 Peter 1:1-11 – knowledge

The audio links are to the right, as usual.

Here is the transcript for today’s podcast.

Introduction

Pressure from within

In his first letter, Peter spoke to external pressures of trials and persecution as it pertains to the Church. In this, his second letter, Peter looks to pressure from within through false teachings and false teachers.

In Chapter 1, Peter reminds and encourages the Church of the truth they have embraced. He tells them to embrace it, and internalize it. He wants them to understand it to the depths of their soul. 

In the second chapter, Peter describes the false teachers in very descriptive language. The thought is that the Church’s internalizing and understanding the truth that has been taught them will shine a light on the false teaching and the false teachers.

In the third and final chapter, Peter reminds them of the hope of Christ’s return, and in light of that live a holy life.

Chapter 1

1:1-2 Servant and Apostle Knowledge of God

1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

The word “servant” addresses his relationship to Jesus. Literally “slave”, it points to the fact that whatever his master Jesus says to do, he does. Years ago, I was speaking to a Russian pastor who pastored a church of approximately 150 members. Whenever the church reached around 200 members, He would peel off about half that number, dedicate a deacon to be their new pastor and send that group to the next village on a North-South railway line. In this manner they had, by the time I was there, had planted 5 or six new churches. When I asked him why, when the church grew to a point that the offerings would fully support he and his family, he did this, he looked at me like I had a third eye. He responded “Paige, I do not understand the question – when God says ‘Do’, I do.” He was a servant, doing the bidding of his master, Jesus.

The word “apostle” addresses his relationship with the recipients of this letter. He is reminding them of who he, Peter, is. At this point in the Church’s history, Peter was one of the last original apostles standing. Within the next 2 years or so, he would be killed by Nero. In my eyes, that alone makes this letter a “must-read”, as it may very well be the last interaction of Peter to his constituents in Western Asia Minor. As an “apostle”, Peter has an authoritative commission and speaks God’s words.

To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:

“…a faith as precious as ours…” could be Peter saying that “yes, I might be an apostle, but your faith – that attitude of the heart that leads you to actively trust God – and mine are equal.” I have been guilty of “fan-boying” when I meet a famous celebrity. I was reminded once by a celebrity that he “put his pants on the same way I do every day.” In other words, there was no real significant difference between he and I, except perhaps in notoriety.

2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

The word “knowledge” gives a hint about what’s coming in this letter. Proper knowledge of God is important in ferreting out false teachings, and false teachers.

When discerning false currency from true currency, you are taught to know what the REAL dollar bill looks like to such a degree, that the instant a counterfeit dollar bill crosses your path, you immediately recognize it. To be effective, you study the real, not the fake.

The Expositor’s Bible commentary says: 

“As in other NT letters, the basic theme of the letter is quickly sounded. For 2 Peter it is the “knowledge” (epignosis) of God (cf. vv.3, 8; 2:20); a related verb occurs twice in 2:21. Another related word meaning “knowledge” (gnosis) occurs at 1:5, 6; 3:18; and its companion verb “to know” occurs at 1:20 and 3:3. This makes a total of eleven occurrences of these related words in this short letter. The knowledge of God is a central biblical theme (cf. Jer 9:23-24; Jn 17:3), but it was also claimed by the false teachers of the apostolic and postapostolic times. As Paul warned in Tit 1:16, “They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him.” Later a developed “Gnosticism” became a great challenge to the Christian church.”

Expositor’s Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): New Testament

Copyright 2004.

1:3-4 Confirming our calling and election

3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

We possess everything we need to live a godly life, mirroring God’s Nature to the world around us. This comes through our knowledge of Him. Where does this knowledge come from? His promises to us – His words to us. By immersing ourselves into His promises, His words, we begin to internalize His nature, reflecting that into the world around us. In my marriage, I have adopted more and more of the best parts of my wife’s nature into my own through the last 48 years. This has happened as a result of living with her, speaking with her, communicating with her. His words, His promises, are the conduit through which godliness flows. Through these promises we actually participate in God’s Nature. We begin to speak as He speaks, walk as He walks. His Nature through us into the world around us.

1:5-11 Walking the Walk

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 

The Expositor’s Bible commentary says:

Because of the new birth and the promises associated with it, Christians participate in the divine nature (v.4). But the new birth does not rule out human activity. Sanctification is a work of God in which believers cooperate. The “knowledge” that is to be added to faith is the advance into the will of God. The false teachers (eventually known as the Gnostics) claimed a superior knowledge. The apostles stressed that it was necessary for those who know God to live a godly life.

Expositor’s Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): New Testament

Copyright 2004.

Even at this time, what would become known as “Gnosticism” was making its way into the church. One branch of this heresy separated the flesh from the spirit to the extent that focus was solely on the spirit, and the flesh could do what it wanted, it was the spirit that was important. This translated into their teaching that you could do whatever you wanted  – self discipline was unnecessary. As you can see here – Peter’s words counters that philosophy. How we live as believers is extremely important – to the extent that a Godly lifestyle is the sign of being part of His kingdom. If your habitual lifestyle does NOT reflect God’s nature, how can you be part of the redeemed?

8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The “knowledge” of God is the beginning, the continuance, and the goal of the Christian life (cf. Php 3:10). If Christians possess in ever-increasing measure the eight virtues just listed, they will not be “ineffective and unproductive” (like the false teachers described in ch. 2). Progressive growth in the Christian graces is a sign of spiritual vitality and prevents sloth and unfruitfulness (Mt 13:22; Jn 15:1-7).

Expositor’s Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): New Testament

Copyright 2004.

 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

Not having these characteristics in increasing measure is a dangerous place to be. If this is describing a believer, then this is a believer who cannot navigate the world around them much like a blind man is unable to navigate in the sighted world.

10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters,[a] make every effort to confirm your calling and election (by focusing on the Christian graces in v5-7). For if you do these things, you will never stumble (and fall into false teachings and teachers), 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

In His Grip,

Paige