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2Peter 1:12-21 (web)

Essential Reminders

1:12 Therefore I will not be negligent to remind you of these things,
though you know them, and are established in the present truth.
 
1:13 I think it right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you;
1:14 knowing that the putting off of my tent comes swiftly,
even as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.
1:15 Yes, I will make every effort that you may always be able
to remember these things even after my departure.

The Grounds of Our Faith

1. The Testimony of the Apostles

1:16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables,
when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
 
1:17 For he received from God the Father honor and glory,
when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory,
"This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Luke 9:35)

1:18 This voice we heard come out of heaven
when we were with him in the holy mountain.

2. The Testimony of the Prophets

1:19 We have the more sure word of prophecy;
whereunto you do well that you take heed, as to a lamp shining in a dark place,
until the day dawns, and the day star arises in your hearts: (Rev 22:16)
1:20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation.
1:21 For no prophecy ever came by the will of man:
but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit.

Discussion Questions

vs 12 If Christians are firmly established in the truth, what value is there in reminding them of the same things they already know?
vs 13-15 Why is Peter urgent in reminding them?
vs 16 Have you ever heard people accuse the apostles of just making up the stories about Jesus, and particularly his miracles?
There are some liberal theologians (particularly those of the "Jesus Seminar" type), who believe that much of the gospel accounts were mere fabrications - mere storytelling myths. Does Peter affirm that the gospels are accurate historical accounts?
vs 17-18 Is Peter saying about Luke 9:35 that God actually spoke these words or did he just make this up as an interesting story?
If Peter and the others did just fabricate these stories, then according to this section, are they liars?
vs 19 What word of the prophets was made more certain?
What is it that we should pay attention to according to this verse?
vs 20-21 Is Peter declaring Old Testament prophecies to be prophecies of future events, some of which now have actually occurred?
 

Comments

In Remembrance

2Peter 1:12-15 So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.

Much of Christian living involves the habit of recalling what the Bible says. Even the ceremony of communion was for this purpose. "Do this in remembrance of Me." 1Cor 11:24b  The Bible should not be just read through once. Even under the Old Covenant it was commanded, "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." Jos 1:8

Ever hear a sermon and say to yourself, "I already know this stuff." Peter realized that his audience already knew this stuff. But it is the job of the preacher to repeat fundamental truths, as also the body should be receptive to being reminded of what we already know.

Peter might have foreseen his death in that Jesus had told him, "When you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish." This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God." John 21:18b-21a and his present circumstances might have been lead to such a scenario. But Peter, and others, even planned ahead of time to assure that their teachings, the Word of God, would continue to propagate even after their death. For they put it down in written form and so even now, thousands of years later we can be reminded of what God said. Is there something you can do to propagate the Word of God even after you die?

Fabricated Myths

2Peter 1:16-18 We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For 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." We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.

Basis for belief in Christ is founded upon the affidavit of eyewitnesses attesting to his miracles which qualifies as forensice evidence validating the gospel. The beginning Luke starts, "Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught." Luke 1:1-4 Likewise is his first sermon Peter noted, "Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know." Acts 2:22

But there are also false teachers who simply make up stories. Therefore Paul instructs Timothy, "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables." 2Tim 4:2-4, which is also why Peter is reminded these people of what they already know.

The particular event Peter is speaking of here is found in Mt 17 where Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light, And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!"
The Origin of Prophecy

2Peter 1:19-21 And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, 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. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

The forensic evidence of miracles affirm the Word of God and as such make the Word more convincing, more certain. But with more evidence comes more culpability. "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you." Mt 11:21,22 Today we have the affadavit of eyewitness to his miracles and as such we do well to pay attention.

As for the day dawning I take to mean the day of the Lord in which the believers will be glorified with Christ.

As for verse 20, this is not talking about the interpretation of prophecy, but rather the fact that when the prophets wrote the prophecies, these prophecies themselves were not their private interpretations or personal opinions of the prophets. In fact the prophets may not have really understood all that they were saying, as 1Peter 1:10-11 also indicates, "Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow." For they were simply mouth pieces or instruments of God, being moved by the Holy Spirit. But though previously hidden, under the New Covenant much of these prophecies have now been revealed.

In contrast there are those who interpret verse 20 to mean that the interpretation of the Bible should be left to an elite clergy and not allowed by private individuals. This kind of foolish interpretation has simply been propagated because who is going to disagree with it? The only people who have generally been allowed to speak in the history of post-Biblical Christianity have been the elite clergy. Why should they disagree with an idea that supports their elitist position? But if we handle the Word of God correctly, almost anyone can see that this is clearly not what the verse is talking about.

Example of Prophecy: Daniel 9:25+

"Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times."sevens" refers to weeks of years: 7x7 + 62x7 = 483 years
It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble.
After the sixty-two 'sevens,' the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing.
In 445 BC Artaxerxes issued a decree to allow the Jews to establish worship and Jewish law in Judah. 69 weeks is 483 days…(69 weeks X 7 days in a week). If you consider a "prophetic day for a year" principle, you would add 483 years from the date of the decree in 445 BC. If it began in 445 B.C., and you add to that four hundred and eighty-three years, to the exact month (because we know that the month in which the edict to rebuild Jerusalem was issued was the Hebrew month Nisan, which corresponds about to our April), then it brings us down to April, 32 A.D., which includes adjustments due to the ancients using 360 day/year, which would be really made it 476 years, and also adding one year because there is no year zero.

Know of anyone claiming to be the Messiah who was cut off in April, 32 AD?

2Peter 1:12-21 RAP

1:12 I will remind you of these things long-term
Even though you know them and in the truth stand firm
13 I think that it is right to refresh your memory
As long as I may live in this tent of my body
14 Because I really feel I will soon put it aside
As Jesus made it clear to me and with him I'll abide
15 I will make every effort to see that when I go
You will remember all these things I know.
16 I tell you we didn't invent the story
But saw Jesus himself in his glory
17 For he received honor from the Father who spoke from the sky
I am quite certain and we don't lie
18 We heard this voice that came from above
On that mountain he said "This is my Son whom I love"
19 The word of the prophets is made more sure
Pay attention to it as if it were
A light that was shining in a dark place
Until you see Jesus face to face
20 But firstly know that no prophet's oration
Was a matter of the prophets's own interpretation
21 Prophecy never came from man's will as I hear it
But men spoke from God as they were carried by the Spirit

The Berean Christian Bible Study Resources


Jan 28,2022