Testimony

2 Peter 1:16-21

1) Write your own paraphrase of these verses…

2) What are the key theological ideas, points, propositions expressed in these verses?

fascinating side trail?

a defense of what he has to say

twice he speaks of God speaking

a defense of the authority of Peter & the apostles

you will do well to pay attention to it! v 19

treat the text as a chiasm possibly

verse 16 speaks of specific false teaching, that Jesus would come again

Matthew 17:5 NIV

While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

keeping heeding it, pay attention to it, until it rises in your heart, pressing into the written Word of God

a certain humility in approaching God’s word, let his word say what it is going to say, let go of our preconceived ideas, tradition

3) What background is necessary to understand this passage (historical or textual)?

Transfiguration

what is meant by prophet, prophetic message, no prophecy

4) How does this passage point to, support, or tie into the idea of KNOWING God and/or GROWING in that knowledge, grace, or faith?

we need to know and trust God’s word in order to grow

we are hearing from eyewitnesses

knowing is relational, trusting is also relational, allow it to guide our life

again needs humility

5) What issue, problem, or question is Peter trying to address in the letter’s immediate context? How are we similar to those first readers (Uncovered Tension)

people today may wonder if we can trust God’s Word, is it a cleverly devised story

do we have the right interpretation?

6) What is the ONE main point we should be highlighting?

- What do we want them to know, and why do we want them to know it?

- What do we want them to do, and why do we want them to do it?