2 Peter 1 - The Difference Between Predictive and Prescriptive Prophecy!

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Today, we start Peter's second letter. Like 1 Peter most people conclude it is Peter, the apostle, which is confirmed in the salutation at the beginning of the letter .

1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: 2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Here is a little background on this letter. 

Where are we?

Peter wrote this letter from Rome soon after he wrote 1 Peter in AD 64–66. So what would have prompted another letter to the same group so soon after the first? From the contents of the letter, it appears that Peter had received reports of false teachers in and among the churches in Asia Minor

Where are we?

Peter wrote this letter from Rome soon after he wrote 1 Peter in AD 64–66. So what would have prompted another letter to the same group so soon after the first? From the contents of the letter, it appears that Peter had received reports of false teachers in and among the churches in Asia Minor

What's the big idea?

Peter’s theme in his second letter is a simple one: pursue spiritual maturity through the Word of God as a remedy for false teaching and a right response to heretics in light of Christ’s promised second coming (2 Peter 1:3, 16). When false teachers begin to whisper their sweet words into the ears of immature Christians, the body of Christ begins to break apart, to lose what makes it distinctive in the first place—faith in the unique person and work of Jesus Christ. Peter repeatedly points to the Word of God as the primary means of growth for the Christian (1:4, 19–21; 3:1–2, 14–16).

Who was Peter writing to?

Confirming One’s 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.

What's the big idea?

Peter’s theme in his second letter is a simple one: pursue spiritual maturity through the Word of God as a remedy for false teaching and a right response to heretics in light of Christ’s promised second coming (2 Peter 1:3, 16). When false teachers begin to whisper their sweet words into the ears of immature Christians, the body of Christ begins to break apart, to lose what makes it distinctive in the first place—faith in the unique person and work of Jesus Christ. Peter repeatedly points to the Word of God as the primary means of growth for the Christian (1:4, 19–21; 3:1–2, 14–16).

Confirming One’s 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.

Peter starts by assuring the believers scattered throughout Asia Minor that their calling and election is "rock solid". Although we are called to be holy, as God is holy, we have been given everything we need to lead a life worthy of our calling. And that power comes through the knowledge of Jesus Christ. We usually think of knowledge as intellectual, but in the bible it is more experiential knowledge. 

In this next verse Peter says something even more amazing. God has promised them that they may participate in the "divine nature". Does this mean they become "gods" or "like God". One could argue that this is referring to the Holy Spirit indwelling presence in our bodies. 

This is a remarkably generous and loving of God. He could rescue us from hell without even inviting us to be partakers of the divine nature. It shows how deeply God loves us and wants to share His life – indeed, even the divine nature – with His people. - Guzik

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

When Peter says, "make every effort to add to your faith", he isn't suggesting faith plus works gets us saved. He is talking about the life of faith and what it looks like. This is confirmed when he says, "if you possess these qualities in increasing measure".  This is what we call spiritual maturity. It reminds us that if we are not growing, we are stagnant. We always need to be pressing on toward our heavenly calling in Christ Jesus. 

This is also described as avoiding leading an "ineffective and unproductive" life. Again Peter stresses the "knowledge of Jesus Christ", which we have already seen is a key theme in his letter. By inductive logic we can infer that the Christians in these churches were not growing. They were getting caught up in the things of the world and "backsliding". 

A question we need to always be asking as a believer is, "Am I growing to look more like Jesus Christ"? These are the qualities and characteristics expressed in verses 6 and 7. 

Prophecy of Scripture

12 So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. 13 I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, 14 because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.

Once of the roles of a spiritual leader is to remind their flock of these truths, even if they are solid in their faith. As long as Peter is alive, he will spend his time "refreshing their memory". This is also why it is so important to read the bible on a daily basis. It is always reminding us of the truth and refreshing our faith. Peter also feels the Lord has told him that his time "in this body" is about to come to an end. This is another confirmation that Peter is the author of this letter, which is contested by some. The main goal of Peter's life is to make sure that the believers in Asia Minor will be effective and productive Christians. He does want the grace they have received to be in vain. 

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.

Paul points out that false teaching was trying to seep it's way into the church. Peter again verifies his authorship by saying, "We were eyewitnesses of his majesty". Later he confirms this is when Peter, James, and John, who were led to the Mount of Transfiguration and beheld Jesus' glory. I am sure this was a huge moment in Peter's life, and he remembered it often, as he suffered for his faith in Jesus. 

Have you had a mountaintop experience? You may not have had one like the three apostles, but maybe it was a moment when Jesus' presence was unmistakably clear. Or, you had a vision or word from him in your mind? 

19 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Peter then explains the role of prophecy in the church. The Greek word "prophetes" means "word of God". The prophetic message doesn't always have to be "predictive" of the future, but usually is "prescriptive" of what God wants in the current context of the church. Peter refers to the Old Testament prophets, who when they spoke, spoke the very words of God. Importantly when we prophecy, it is not human words but words spoken by the Holy Spirit, which insures they are God's Word! 

This also reminds us that the bible is completely inspired by the Holy Spirit, and therefore without error. It is filled with God's promises, which can be completely trusted. Over the years many people have tried to assault the truth of the bible, or dilute its authenticity based on modern theories of scholarship. But Scripture has stood the test of the time and will never fail to be the Word of God that has revealed the person and work of Jesus Christ! 

In a world of "misinformation" Scripture will never lead us astray!