*2 Peter 1:2-21
Peter encourages believers to grow in their faith by adding moral qualities to their knowledge of Christ and emphasizes the divine inspiration of scripture.
- Grace and Peace Through Knowledge:
- Peter opens by wishing grace and peace to the readers through the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.
- He emphasizes that God’s divine power has given believers everything they need for a godly life through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.
- Participation in the Divine Nature:
- By these promises, believers can participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
- Call to Spiritual Growth:
- Peter urges believers to make every effort to add to their faith goodness, and to goodness, knowledge.
- Further, they should add self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love to their lives.
- These qualities, if increasing, will keep believers from being ineffective and unproductive in their knowledge of Jesus Christ.
- Warning Against Spiritual Stagnation:
- A lack of these qualities makes one nearsighted and blind, forgetting they have been cleansed from their past sins.
- Believers are encouraged to be diligent in confirming their calling and election, as doing these things will prevent them from falling.
- Entrance into the Eternal Kingdom:
- Practicing these qualities will ensure an abundant provision for believers into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
- The Trustworthiness of the Apostolic Witness:
- Peter asserts that he and the other apostles did not follow cleverly devised stories when they told of the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
- He refers to the event of the Transfiguration where God the Father honored and glorified Jesus, affirming His sonship with the words, “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.”
- The Role of Prophecy:
- Peter emphasizes that the prophetic message is something to be taken very seriously, shining as a light in a dark place until the day dawns and the morning star rises in believers’ hearts.
- He clarifies that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation.
- Prophecy was not produced by human will, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.