2 Peter 1:1-4

Background

a. 13 years, Nero was nearing end of reign – sentenced to death by flogging – committed suicide by stabbing himself in throat

b. Peter wrote just before his execution

c. probably wrote to the same churches as 1Peter 4 yrs later, but now addressed to believers in general

1. 1 Peter: warn/encourage believers from dangers without – 2 peter: warn/encourage believers from dangers within!

d. Why: people (false teachers) teaching that believers are free from moral law – antinomianism

read Vs 1

a. Equal standing

1. Peter = all believers

2. From righteousness of Jesus

1. Righteousness – divine approval

3. God and Savior =Jesus Christ

III. read VS 2

a. Knowledge (epignosis) (Rom. 3:20; 10:2; Eph. 1:17; 4:13; Phil. 1:9; Col. 1:9-10; 2:1-3; 3:9-10; Heb. 10:26)

1. Head knowledge AND Contact-knowledge

2. Gained through first-hand relationship

3. Knowledge à faith (vs 1)

IV. read Vs 3

a. Divine power

1. Divine: from God

2. Power: “dunamis”- also miraculous

(Matt. 7:22; 11:20; Mk. 5:29-30; Eph. 1:19-21; 3:14-20; Phil. 3:20-21)

b. all things that pertain to life and godliness

c. Glory and excellence

a. Excellence – moral virtue (vs. 5)

b. Glory – John Piper: like trying to define beauty, nearly impossible

i. Hebrew word “kabod” meaning ‘heavy/weighty’

ii. Compared to “holy”

(Isa. 6:3; Lev. 10:3; Ez. 10:4; 2 Cor. 3:18)

iii. Prof. Christopher Morgan: The glory of God is the magnificence, worth, loveliness, and grandeur of his many perfections, which he displays in his creative and redemptive acts in order to make his glory known to those in his presence.

iv. My definition: The glory of God is His holiness put on display for all to see and experience

V. read Vs 4

a. Promises – according to Herbert Lockyer’s book “All the Promises in the Bible” Canadian schoolteacher Everet Storms – 7,487 from God to man

a. Purpose of promises: to be partakers of the divine nature

b. Verse 4b gives some context

a. No longer slaves to sin, corruption or sinful desires

c. Precious and very great promises

a. (Rom. 3:29-30; 4:16, 20-25; 9:8-9; 15:8-12; Heb. 6:11-20; Eph. 1:13)

i. Heir of Abraham

ii. Sealed with the Holy Spirit

b. Christ died/was raised SO THAT He would be our high priest!

b. Partakers (koinonos) – very intimate fellowship (2 Tim. 2:11-12; Rom. 6:16-17; 1 Peter 5:1)

c. Divine nature

a. another hard concept to define!

b. What is opposite of divine nature?

1. Human nature (Rom. 1:20; Gal. 5:19-22)

c. Peter: partake in that part of Christ’s divine nature that allows us to love other people the way He does (Jn. 15:9-12)