2 Peter An inductive study

Canon? Greek “Kanon” = rule / measurement Early church fathers examined these two books: –Apostolic authorship –Content consistent with rest of NT teaching

First Canon Apostle John > Polycarp > Irenaeus 2 Peter & Jude not part of their collections Marcion = Heretic: put together his own “canon” 170AD = 1 st canon = Muratorian canon: –Jude in –1&2 Peter, James, Hebrews out

First Canon 313AD Constantine declared Christianity as state religion Eusebius (church historian) put together another canon: –James, 2 Peter, 2&3 John out

Canons 367AD Athanasius (Bishop of Alexandria I Egypt) made final canon, confirmed by many councils afterward BUT Protestant reformation leaders like Erasmus, John Calvin & Luther doubted if 2 Peter should have been included All were in circulation

Apocrypha Lots of heresies: –17 gospels (gospel of… eg Thomas) –27 works of Acts (Acts of …) –8 epistles (eg 3 Corinthians) Apocrypha: Greek “hidden things”

Apocrypha value Historic value –Peter crucified upside down –Thomas as missionary to India BUT use with wisdom –Contradicts NT theology –Propagated heresy –Lack of historical support

Author 2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter 1:16-18: witness to transfiguration 3:15: counts Paul as fellow worker

1 & 2 Peter Similarities: –Christ central, 2 nd coming 1Pe 4:5,7,17, 2Pe 3:8-13 –Noah God’s mercy (3:20) vs God’s judgment (2:5, 3:6) –Christian growth important 1Pe 2:1-3, 2Pe 1:5-8, 3:18

1 & 2 Peter BUT: –2 Pet 3:1 warning against false teachers –1 Peter = about persecution, suffering Maybe another letter

1 & 2 Peter Same author, different OR Similar beginning, similar way of addressing its audience Messages about salvation Eternal perspective and theme of sanctification is NB Repeat the elements of prophetic confirmations on the faith – gospel Allude to OT, both use flood motif

Date Church tradition - Peter was crucified upside down around 67 AD 1:14: in prison, awaiting death Future tense (Jude present tense)

Historical setting Pre-gnosticism: –seed of False teaching –word ‘Licentiousness’ repeated –Antinomianism = anti-law False teachers = ‘grace abusers’ Excuse for licentiousness

Ch 1: True knowledge of God 2 types of knowledge: –Gnosis = general knowledge –Epignosis = knowledge of things divine & ethical Peter: Epignosis: intimately knowing God Fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit: reveals Christ to us Knowing Jesus truly as your friend

Ch 1: True knowledge of God 1:3: God is the Source who gives us the ability to know Him and to serve Him Called to: –Glory = salvation –Excellence = sanctification

Ch 1: True knowledge of God 1:5-7: –Faith = saving faith, being made righteous in Christ –Supplement = contribute, nourish –Virtue: excellence, courage = sanctification –Knowledge = gnosis: general knowledge, of His Word – nourishes relationship with Him

Ch 1: True knowledge of God 1:5-7 –Self control: being tempered –Steadfastness = long suffering, patience: when trials come, continue as long as trial endures –Godliness: to become Christ-like –Brotherly affection = Philadelphia – love for the body of Christ –Love = Agape – Charity – unconditional love for the world: called to be fruitful!

Christian growth Saved: called to glory Makes a stand: excellence Grow in character KnowledgeSelf control Steadfastness Fruit of HS: godliness To be like God / Christ PhiladephiaAgape

Ch 1: True knowledge of God Emphasis on fruitfulness / effectiveness #7 mentioned: number of completeness Make calling & election sure: not by works, but by making relationship with God meaningful

1:19 – “morning star” Oracle of Balaam: Num 24:17 Predicting Messiah Revelation 22:16: Jesus is called “the Bright Morning star” ‘Day’ refers to 2 nd coming (Ch 3 focus)

Contrast: Ch 1 vs 2 Chapter 1 –Jesus pulls people by his light out of the world –Ends with truth of Jesus Confirmed by eyewitnesses Confirmed by prophetic word Chapter 2 –False teachers pulls people back into the world –Begins with lies of false teachers

Ch 2: False Teachers Colourcode: Note false teaching –Money (orange) –Immorality (green) –Speech (blue) –Rebellion (brown) Box-in the historical examples of judgement # Sodom & Gomorrah

Ch 2: False Teachers : sins For money (greed): Balaam (2Pe & Jude) For immorality: Sodom & Gomorrah (2Pe & Jude). A good person is mentioned also: Lot (2Pe) For speech: False Prophets (2Pe) and a good example is given: Michael the archangel (Jude). & maybe also: Ancient world of Noah (2Pe) that was doomed but then also an example of a good person is given: Noah (2Pe)

Ch 2: False Teachers : sins For rebellion: Angels who sinned (2Pe) & Hebrews in wilderness right after their exodus (Jude). Korah (Jude)

Ch 2: False Teachers OT judgement Balaam was rebuked for his greed False prophets in the OT were destroyed and Noah’s world got flooded because of slander Sodom & Gomorrah went up in smoke because of their immorality The Israelites died in the wilderness (Jude), the angels left the heavens because of rebellion (2Pe)

Example #1: False prophets in OT False prophets in OT > also in NT Found out by prophesies not being fulfilled False teachers, that is where the real danger lies… False prophets are judged because slander, even angels would not dare to do such a thing (2Pe 2:11), even Michael would not do such a thing (Jude 9)

Example # 2: Angels sinned 2 Interpretations Source: book of Enoch Gen 6:1-4: angels procreated with humans Math 22:30 contradicts this view (Jesus says angels do not marry) Revelation: fall & rebellion of Satan Luke 10:18, Rev 12:4 & 9 Jewish literature have accepted a Greek myth pertaining hell reserved not only for humans but also angels. This hell was called Tartarus Jude 6 & 2 Pet 2:4: punishment for bad angels

Example #3: The people during Noah’s time sinned Punishment on the unrighteous Salvation of the godly (Noah)

Example #4: Sodom & Gomorrah God judges the ungodly and rescues whomever He can

2:10b-19: Nature / character of False Teachers 2:1 –False –Act in secret –Bring destruction 3:5-8 –willfully ignore the facts –scoff at the idea of 2 nd coming

2:10b-19: Nature / character of False Teachers 1:18-2:1 –twisted OT’s and Pauline writings –Twisted doctrine of free grace (Jude 4 ) 2:14 –entice unsteady souls –prey on the weak –promoting their lifestyles on them

2:10b-19: Nature / character of False Teachers 2:10, 3:17: –despise authority –antinomianism = “anti-law” 2:1: –deny the lordship of Jesus slaves of corruption live licentiously

Metaphors: False Teachers 2:12 – Irrational animals – ruled by passions & instincts, destined to be killed & eaten > judgement 2:13 – Blots & blemishes - impure 2:17 – Waterless springs – think you can find water, but empty 2:17 – Mist driven by wind – mist that looks like rain, but ends in nothing

Danger of False Teachers Math 7:15 – looks true Acts 20:29 – wants to devour, personal gain, a promotor, people pleasers 2:20: loose salvation?

Ch 3: Judgement Day 3:5-6 – world that was 3:7-9 – world that is = “we are here” 3:10-13 – world that is to come

Ch 3: Judgement Day Grace of God 3:8: Don’t try to fit God into our time tables! 3:9: God’s heart: ALL to be saved – never too late! “like a thief in the night” = unexpectedly Forshadow of judgement: –Flood –Sodom & Gomorrah New heavens, new earth, only righteousness!

Ch 3: Called to be holy Spot or blemish: –Ef 5:27 –Ex 12:5 GROW IN THE GRACE OF GOD