Lesson I
Introduction to 2 Peter
I. Author of this letter is Simon 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:
A. Peter Identified himself as a “...servant...of Jesus Christ,...”
1. “Servant” is from the Greek word “doulos “ which is a slave
a. literally. or figuratively,
b. involuntarily. or voluntarily;
c. It is used in a sense of subjection and refers to a bondservant.
2. Therefore, Peter is referring to himself as “one” who is “Subject” to Jesus as a
“slave” or “servant” would be subject to his master.
a. Jesus is his master
b. He is not exalting himself, but identifying himself as one with all those who follow
Christ.
c. We need to identify with Peter for
1. We are “Subject” to Christ,
2. We are the “Servant” of Christ.
3. We are the “doulos” of the Lord.
4. Voluntarily, we have subjected ourselves to be His bondservant so “it could be
done unto us according to the Word of the Lord.”
B. Peter Identified himself as an “...apostle of Jesus Christ,...”
1. He wants those who read this to understand that he has authority given to him as an
Apostle of Jesus Christ.
2. Therefore, they are to heed his words.
3. The word “Apostle” is from the Greek “apostolos” and it means
a. a delegate;
b. an ambassador of the Gospel;
c. officially one who is commissioned of Christ ["apostle"] with miraculous powers
d. messenger,
e. He that is sent.
4. As we look at this study, we need to consider that there are times that the messengers
of God act under an Apostolic anointing and ministry.
a. We are delegates, and so are you
b. We are ambassadors of the Gospel, and so are you.
c. We are officially commissioned of Christ with miraculous powers, and so are you.
d. We are messengers, and so are you.
e. We are sent, and so are you.
II. Peter identifies the Audience to whom this letter is addressed.
A. “...to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God
and our Savior Jesus Christ:” (KJV)
“...To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have
received a faith as precious as ours:” (NIV)
1. addressed to those have obtained “like” precious faith--Faith like Peter had.
a. Faith is from the Greek word “pistis.” It means:
1. persuasion or your belief in something.
2. moral conviction of religious truth, and as in our case a belief of the truthfulness
of God, and especially our reliance upon Christ for salvation.
b. Peter is writing to those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior.
2. This Faith is obtained “through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ”
a. This Precious faith, that Peter had, and that we have comes through equity
(fairness, impartiality, justice, fair play) of God.
b. This refers to God‘s character.
c. This refers to an act of God.
d. This also refers to the “justification” of God.
Note: God and His Son Jesus, did the work so we could have Salvation. This faith, this belief in
the truthfulness of God, and this reliance upon Christ for Salvation is “Precious,” and it
could not be enjoyed except for the “Love of God,” and the “justice of God.”
Furthermore, it is available for all who believe.
B. Therefore, since this letter is written to those who have “obtained like precious faith,” it
is written to us also.
III. Purpose of this letter
A. Compare 1 Peter with 2 Peter
1. In 1 Peter, the theme was “suffering,” and Peter encourages his audience to “suffer”
for Christ with an expectation of a reward, remembering that the reward is for those
who will endure the suffering.
a. 1 Peter 4:13
“But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be
revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”
b. 1 Peter 5:10
“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye
have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”
Note: 1 Peter was written to encouraged “suffering” Christians to “not give up,” but to remind
them that those who endured unto the end would be saved. (Matthew 24:13)
a. John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
b. Matthew 24:13
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Note: We have this consolation, and this peace, that through Jesus we are victorious, and that
God will not allow more to come on us then we are able to stand, but will with the trial
also make a way to escape.
2. The theme of 2 Peter is “knowledge.” Let us notice two things about our knowledge
of and of Jesus.
a. A proper knowledge of God and of Jesus will challenge us to serve Him and live
for Him.
b. A lack of knowledge concerning God causes us to become indifferent and
careless.
c. Peter’s concern for the church is the purpose of this letter. Let us notice a couple
examples in the Old Testament that demonstrate the importance of a knowledge
of God and of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
1. Deuteronomy 17:18-20 had direction for kings.
18) And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: 19) And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them: 20) That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.
2. 1 Chronicles 28:9 had direction for King Solomon from King David.
And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
3. The Word of God builds a hedge about us, giving us direction, guiding us,
giving us a knowledge of God for it is a revelation of God from God to us.
Therefore, we need the Word for it gives us knowledge of God which will
bring about the graces of God and the blessing of God into our lives.
a. Psalm 119:11
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
b. Psalm 119:105
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
B. Peter writes because he is concerned about the threat or danger that is facing the church,
and that same danger threatens the church, even threatens you and I today.
1. The danger threatened
a. Their Christian Ethics (principles, beliefs, morals, and moral values) and our
Christian Ethics
b. Their Christian Doctrine or Belief and our Christian Doctrine or Belief.
c. Note the following Scriptures which demonstrates the concern that Paul and Jude
as well as Peter had for this threat or danger to the church.
1. 2 Peter 3:17 (Peter’s warning)
“Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position.” (NIV)
Philip’s
“But you, my friends whom I love, are forewarned, and should therefore be very careful not to be carried away by the errors of wicked men and so lose your proper foothold.”
2. In Jude1:3-4, we see Jude’s warning.
3) Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 4) For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
3. Paul’s warnings concerning this danger
a. Corinthians 6:9
“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,”
b. Galatians 5:21
“and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (NIV)
c. Ephesians 5:6
“Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.” (NIV)
2. Here is the problem that the church was facing, and is facing.
a. The old leaders or original leaders are passing away
b. Some of the new leaders have the wrong motives, and they are compromising the
gospel of purity and righteousness
c. Peter feels a need to “call the church” back
1. to its “purity of faith”
2. and to its “purity of practice” which characterized the early church.
3. He is reminding them
a. The Scriptures were not of private opinion, but authorized by the Spirit of
God in Chapter 1:20-21
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.
b. That Jesus will return as a thief in Chapter 3
c. This book was designed
1. As a stimulus to those of Loyal Faith
2. As encouragement to those Christians whose expectation of the Lord’s
coming was failing because of its apparent unreasonable delay.
Note: This same danger is still very real with us today.
We need to be reminded that “our reward” is when this life is over.
We need to be reminded where we are going.
We need to be reminded that death in Christ is not all that bad, but it is glorious because of what is waiting for us on the other side.
We need to be reminded that Jesus could appear at any moment, and when He comes, He is coming for a pure unspotted bride.
We need to be reminded of our responsibility to Love Him and Serve Him.
We need to be reminded that the world is watching us.
We need to be reminded that Satan is out to destroy us.
We need to be reminded of the dangers of loving this world to much, and of living to close to the world.
We need to be reminded that we walk to the beat of a different drum then the rest of the world.
We need to be reminded that we are ambassadors, not citizens of this world.
We need to be reminded that we are citizens of Heaven.
We need to be reminded that we sit in Heavenly places.
We need to be reminded that we are Saints.
We need to be reminded that devils are subject to us.
We need to be reminded that we are the children of Abraham. and the blessings of Abraham are on us through Christ.
We need to be reminded that we are no longer under the curse because of our faith in Christ.
We need to be reminded that the Father is for us, and that Jesus is in us, that the Holy Ghost is on us, and that the Angels are all around us. Church.
WE need to be reminded that We are victorious, and in just a few days, we will receive our crown and reward.
