2 Peter 

2 Peter

 

​WHEN FALSE TEACHERS THREATEN THE CHURCH

​

You've received Peter's first letter. You've been encouraged. You understand suffering is normal. You're standing firm. You're living as foreigners and exiles.

 

But now there's a different problem. A more insidious threat.

 

False teachers have infiltrated the church. They're denying Jesus. They're promoting immorality. They're exploiting believers for profit. They're mocking the promise of Christ's return. And some believers are being deceived, falling away, returning to the corruption they escaped.

 

Peter's time is almost up. He knows he's about to die. And before he goes, he writes one more letter. Shorter. More urgent. More severe.

 

Second Peter is about growing in faith and guarding against false teachers. Peter reminds believers of what they know: the promises of God, the certainty of Christ's return, the reality of coming judgment. He warns them about false teachers: their destructive heresies, their greed, their immorality, their certain destruction. And he challenges them: grow in grace and knowledge, make your calling and election sure, be diligent, be on guard.

 

This letter is intense. Peter pulls no punches. He compares false teachers to unreasoning animals, springs without water, mists driven by a storm. He says it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than to know it and turn away.

 

If you're facing false teaching, if you're wondering how to discern truth from error, if you need motivation to grow in faith, read 2 Peter. Peter will warn you about deception, remind you of truth, and challenge you to grow.

 

A note before we begin:

Second Peter is only three chapters, but it's packed with warnings about false teachers and encouragement to grow in faith. This summary covers the major themes, but Peter's urgent warnings and practical instructions deserve your full attention. After this overview, open your Bible and read all three chapters of 2 Peter yourself. Let Peter's warnings protect you from deception.

 

Making One's Calling and Election Sure

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

 

Peter writes to those who've received faith as precious as his. Through the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

 

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. 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.

 

God's divine power has given us everything we need for godly life. Through knowledge of Him. He's given us great and precious promises. Through them we participate in the divine nature. We've escaped the world's corruption.

 

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self control; and to self control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they'll keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Make every effort to add to your faith: goodness, knowledge, self control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, love. If you possess these in increasing measure, you won't be ineffective or unproductive.

 

But whoever doesn't have them is short sighted and blind, forgetting that they've been cleansed from their past sins.

 

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you'll never stumble, and you'll receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

 

Make every effort to confirm your calling and election. If you do these things, you'll never stumble. You'll receive a rich welcome into Christ's eternal kingdom.

 

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

 

Peter will always remind them. Even though they know it. He'll refresh their memory whilst he lives. He knows he'll soon die. Jesus made this clear. Peter will make every effort so they can remember after he's gone.

 

Prophecy of Scripture

For we didn't 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. He received honour 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. We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with Him on the sacred mountain.

 

Peter didn't follow cleverly devised stories. He was an eyewitness of Jesus' majesty. On the mountain of transfiguration, he heard God's voice: this is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.

 

We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you'll 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. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation of things. 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.

 

The prophetic message is completely reliable. Pay attention to it. It's a light in a dark place. No prophecy came from the prophet's own interpretation. Prophecy came from God. Prophets spoke as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

 

False Teachers and Their Destruction

But there were also false prophets amongst the people, just as there'll be false teachers amongst you. They'll secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them, bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction hasn't been sleeping.

 

False teachers will arise. They'll secretly introduce destructive heresies. Even denying the Lord who bought them. Bringing destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct. They'll bring the way of truth into disrepute. In greed, they'll exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation is certain. Their destruction is coming.

 

For if God didn't spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment; if He didn't spare the ancient world when He brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if He rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless (for that righteous man, living amongst them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard), if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.

 

God didn't spare sinning angels. He didn't spare the ancient world but brought the flood. He condemned Sodom and Gomorrah. But He rescued Noah. He rescued Lot. The Lord knows how to rescue the godly and to hold the unrighteous for punishment.

 

This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority.

 

Bold and arrogant, they aren't afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings; yet even angels, although they're stronger and more powerful, don't heap abuse on such beings when bringing judgment on them from the Lord. But these people blaspheme in matters they don't understand. They're like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish.

 

False teachers follow corrupt desires. Despise authority. They're bold, arrogant. They blaspheme what they don't understand. They're like unreasoning animals, born to be caught and destroyed.

 

They'll be paid back with harm for the harm they've done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They're blots and blemishes, revelling in their pleasures whilst they feast with you. With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they're experts in greed, an accursed brood!

 

They carouse in daylight. They're blots and blemishes. Eyes full of adultery. They never stop sinning. They seduce the unstable. Experts in greed.

 

They've left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness. But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey, an animal without speech, who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet's madness.

 

These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, whilst they themselves are slaves of depravity, for people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.

 

They're springs without water. Mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. They mouth empty, boastful words. They entice people who are just escaping error. They promise freedom whilst they're slaves of depravity.

 

If they've escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they're worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Of them the proverbs are true: a dog returns to its vomit, and, a sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.

 

If they've escaped the world's corruption by knowing Jesus and then get entangled again, they're worse off than before. It would have been better never to have known the way of righteousness than to know it and turn away. A dog returns to its vomit. A washed sow returns to wallowing in mud.

 

The Day of the Lord

Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I've written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Saviour through your apostles.

 

Peter's written both letters as reminders. To stimulate wholesome thinking. Recall the prophets' words. Recall the Lord's command through the apostles.

 

Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They'll say, where is this coming He promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.

 

In the last days, scoffers will come. Following evil desires. They'll say, where is this coming He promised? Everything goes on as it always has.

 

But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

 

They forget that God created the heavens and earth by His word. The world was destroyed by water in the flood. By the same word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire. Kept for the day of judgment.

 

But don't forget this one thing, dear friends: with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord isn't slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He's patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

 

With the Lord, a day is like a thousand years. The Lord isn't slow. He's patient. Not wanting anyone to perish. But everyone to come to repentance.

 

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.

 

The day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear. The elements will be destroyed by fire. The earth and everything in it will be laid bare.

 

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with His promise we're looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

 

Since everything will be destroyed, what kind of people should you be? Live holy and godly lives. Look forward to the day of God. That day will destroy the heavens by fire. But we're looking forward to a new heaven and new earth where righteousness dwells.

 

So then, dear friends, since you're looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with Him. Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.

 

Make every effort to be found spotless, blameless, at peace. The Lord's patience means salvation. Paul wrote to you with God's wisdom. His letters contain things hard to understand. Ignorant and unstable people distort them to their own destruction.

 

Therefore, dear friends, since you've been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever! Amen.

 

You've been forewarned. Be on your guard. Don't be carried away by error. Don't fall from your secure position. Grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

 

What This Means for You

Second Peter is about growing in faith and guarding against false teachers. Peter reminds believers of God's promises, warns about false teachers, and urges them to grow in grace and knowledge whilst waiting for Christ's return.

 

Here's what 2 Peter teaches you:

God's divine power has given you everything you need for godly life. Through knowledge of Him. Through His great and precious promises.

 

Make every effort to add to your faith: goodness, knowledge, self control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, love. Confirm your calling and election.

 

Scripture didn't come from human interpretation. Prophets spoke from God, carried along by the Holy Spirit.

 

False teachers will arise. They'll introduce destructive heresies. Deny the Lord. Exploit believers with greed. Bring disrepute on the truth. Their destruction is certain.

 

False teachers are like unreasoning animals. Springs without water. Mists driven by a storm. They promise freedom whilst they're slaves.

 

It would be better never to have known the way of righteousness than to know it and turn away.

 

Scoffers will come, mocking Christ's return. But the Lord isn't slow. He's patient, not wanting anyone to perish.

 

The day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear. The elements will be destroyed. We're looking forward to a new heaven and new earth.

 

Make every effort to be found spotless, blameless, at peace.

 

Grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

 

Your Next Steps

Second Peter challenges you to grow in faith, guard against false teaching, and live in light of Christ's certain return.

 

Are you growing? Adding to your faith goodness, knowledge, self control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, love? Or are you stagnant?

 

Are you confirming your calling and election? Making every effort? Or coasting?

 

Are you on guard against false teaching? Or vulnerable to deception? False teachers promise freedom whilst they're slaves.

 

Are you living holy and godly lives? Or living as if Christ isn't returning? He is. The day will come like a thief.

 

Are you growing in grace and knowledge? Or falling from your secure position? Grow.

 

Read It Yourself

This summary covers 2 Peter's major themes, but Peter's urgent warnings about false teachers deserve careful attention. Second Peter is only three chapters. You can read it in fifteen minutes.

 

Don't just read about 2 Peter. Read 2 Peter. Open your Bible and read all three chapters. Let Peter's warnings protect you from deception. Let his challenge motivate you to grow.

 

Grow in Grace and Knowledge

That's Peter's final charge. Grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

 

Don't be stagnant. Don't be deceived. Don't fall away.

 

Grow.

 

To Him be glory both now and for ever.

 

 

Scripture paraphrased and quoted from various translations for clarity.

© The Unknown Believer