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Bible Class Commentaries:

2 Peter

A

Bible Class Commentary

by

Henry T. Mahan

1

Grace given and grace growing

2 Peter 1:1-9

v. 1. This epistle was written by Simon Peter in his old age, shortly before he was to be martyred. As he put it in Verse 14, 'shortly I must put off this tabernacle.' First he calls himself a bond-servant of Christ and second, an apostle. He was sent by Christ, had his commission and doctrine directly from the Lord Jesus, and had a power to work miracles (Heb. 2:3-4).

The epistle is addressed to believers in Christ who have, by the grace of God, obtained like precious faith.

1. It is like (that is, the same) faith as the apostles, for there is but one faith (called the common faith) which is common to all believers. Though not the same in degree, it is the same in its source, its object, and its results.

2. This saving faith in Christ is precious, for it is worth more than ten thousand worlds. Through faith we are Justified and made heirs of God and Joint-heirs with Christ.

3. This faith comes to us in and through the righteousness of our God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Faith is the gift of God, as the righteousness of Christ is the gift of God. Where the righteousness of Christ is imputed, faith is also given to receive it. Abraham was chosen of God, accepted in the Beloved, an object of special grace and revelation. Therefore, he believed God; and this faith was accredited to him as right standing with God. His sheep will hear and will believe (John 10:22-28; Acts 13:48).

v. 2. Peter prays for them a multiplication of grace and peace. The grace of God toward us is infinite in Christ, our Lord; and we have perfect peace toward God in Christ. The grace and peace of God know no degrees in themselves, yet the manifestations of grace and peace to us and in us are capable of being increased. Throughout the word of God (as I grow in the knowledge of Christ), there will be new discoveries of the love and favor of God to my soul; there will be a growth in the internal graces of love, joy, humility, and faith; there will be an increase in spiritual peace in believing and a fulness of peace in trials and afflictions (1 Peter 2:1-2).

v. 3. By his Divine purpose and power, God has given to us all things that are necessary, needful, and suited to spiritual life (1 Cor. 1:30; Col. 2:10; Col. 1:12). Through a knowledge of Christ, who has called us by and to his own glory and excellence, we have all things that pertain to eternal life, all things that give a right to it, and all things that equip us for it.

v. 4. By his glory, power, and righteousness Christ has given to us exceeding great and precious promises. The promises of the new and everlasting covenant are forgiveness, sanctification, union with Christ, and eternal life. By these promises we are made partakers of a new nature, a new man, and a new life (which is Christ formed in us -- Gal. 2:20; Gal. 4:19). By the presence and ruling power of this new nature, we escape, not the corruption and depravity of human nature (which is present as long as we are in the world), but the corrupt manners, vices, conduct, and principles of this world. Our new nature makes us inwardly seek holiness and outwardly avoid the prevailing corruption of the times.

vv. 5-7. 'Beside this,' or from the consideration of the free grace of God toward us and the precious promises of His gospel, we should seek to grow in the exercise of grace and good works.

'Add to your faith virtue.' Faith is the foundation and basis of all good works; however, faith does not and cannot stand alone (James 2:17-20). Virtue here is not just morality but Christian virtue, which is the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22).

'And to virtue knowledge,' knowledge of the will of God that we may perform it, knowledge of the Scriptures that we may walk therein, wisdom and intelligence in regard to our conduct and conversation that we might be good witnesses for Christ.

'And to knowledge temperance,' avoiding excess in eating and drinking, socializing, materialism, entertainment, and anything that engaged in to excess would hinder spiritual growth and fellowship (Rom. 14:14-15; 1 Tim. 4:3-5).

'And to temperance patience.' Patience is necessary to a Christian walk; for we are faced with reproach from men, trial from God, and difficulties from within ourselves. A man may be overcome by anger, pride, jealousy, envy, and self-pity, as well as by strong drink.

'And to patience godliness,' or 'the fear of the Lord.' This includes both inward and outward worship of the Lord -- an attitude of thanksgiving, submission, praise, active prayer, and hearing of the Word.

'And to godliness brotherly kindness,' without which godliness or external worship and religious profession would be a vain show. Love and brotherly kindness are evidences of regeneration (John 13:35; Eph. 4:32).

'And to brotherly kindness charity' to all people, even our enemies. Charity is more extensive in its objects and acts than brotherly kindness.

vv. 8-9. As these qualities are yours and increasingly abound in you, they will keep you from being empty and unfruitful in your spiritual life. He that is without these graces and growth is shortsighted, seeing only what is near him and what concerns him and ignoring what God has done for him (or what he professes that God has done).

2

Make your calling and election sure

2 Peter 1:10-21

v. 10. The primary concern of every believer should be to make sure of his calling and election of God. We cannot look into God's Book of Life nor into his eternal decrees, so how are we to know that we are chosen to life?

1. By our calling. 'Whom he predestinated, he called.' If we can find that we have been called to Christ by God's Spirit, we may conclude that we are chosen to salvation. A close examination of ourselves will reveal whether or not we are called of Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 13:5). Have I been called out of the darkness of tradition, ceremony, self-righteousness, and sin to the light of the knowledge of God in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 4:6)? Is Christ my life, my all, my Lord? (1 Cor. 1:30.)

2. By the presence of the aforementioned graces -- faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity. He that is without these spiritual graces has reason to doubt his election of God.

3. If I seek first the kingdom of God -- if I am determined to win Christ and be found in Him -- if to be called of God and accepted in the Beloved is my diligent concern -- if to grow in His grace and the knowledge of Christ is my primary object, I shall never fall -- not that I shall never sin nor that I shall never fall into sin (for there is no man that lives and sins not), but I shall never totally fall from the mercy and grace of God in Christ.

v. 11. These who are diligent and dedicated in the faith of Jesus Christ shall have an abundant supply of grace and strength to carry them through the duties and trials of this life; and when this life is ended, they shall have a triumphant and glorious entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord. (Jude 24-25; Eccles. 3:14.)

vv. 12-13. If ministers are negligent in their work of preaching, teaching, rebuking, exhorting, and encouraging, it can hardly be expected that the people will be diligent in examination of faith and grace.

1. We need to be taught by our pastors and teachers all that God has been pleased to reveal.

2. We need to be reminded of what we already know (lest we forget) in order to improve our knowledge and to reduce our knowledge to practice.

3. We need to be continually established in the belief of the truth that we be not shaken by every wind of doctrine or false teacher who comes our way. Peter says, 'As long as I live in this tent of flesh, I will stir you up to faith and godliness by preaching.'

v. 14. The body is but the tabernacle of the soul. It is a weak and frail tent and must soon be put off as we take off our clothes at night. The nearness of death makes the apostle diligent in the business of eternal life. The Lord had told Peter of his martyrdom (John 21:18-19).

v. 15. Peter's ambition was that the people to whom he preached continue in the doctrine of Christ after he was taken away from them. We cannot guarantee the steadfastness Of any assembly after the present leaders die; but we can be faithful in laying a good foundation, building there on gold, silver, and precious stones and praying that God will keep Christ ever before our children.

vv. 16-18. The gospel of Christ which the apostle preached to them (the incarnation of Deity -- Christ, the Messiah, the God-man, the anointed Redeemer of his people) was not some fable or story handed down to the apostle. He says, 'I was an eyewitness of his majesty. I was with him on the Mount of Transfiguration when the Father spoke and said, 'This is my beloved Son -- hear ye him.' I was there when Moses (the law) and Elijah (the prophets) appeared with him and talked with him about his sacrifice on the cross.' (Matt. 17:1-6; Luke 9:30-31).

v. 19. We have a better foundation and a more sure evidence of Christ and the gospel than an eyewitness account of His glory, and that is the Old Testament Scriptures and the New Testament revelation given by the Holy Spirit in Peter's day. A man's testimony is to be received only if it is according to the Scriptures (Isa. 8:20). The word of God is the final test of every claim or creed (1 Cor. 15:1-4). You do well to take heed to the Scriptures and weigh every man's word accordingly (Acts 17:11).

v. 20. No Scripture prophecy is of a man's own opinion, but it is a revelation of the mind of God. We search the Scriptures, not to prove what we think is right, but to find out what God says is right.

No Scripture can be interpreted in the light of human wisdom, but only in the light of other Scripture and by the Holy Spirit who is the Author. The apostles in the New Testament epistles constantly made reference to the Old Testament to prove their doctrine.

v. 21. All Scripture (Old Testament and New Testament) came into being by the will of God. Men of God wrote as they were inspired by the Holy Spirit to write. The Bible is verbally inspired or God-breathed! (2 Tim. 3:16-17.)

3

Beware of false teachers

2 Peter 2:1-9

v. 1-3. This chapter contains a description of and warning concerning false teachers and preachers. They are described by their doctrines, their covetousness, their ways, their success, and their end.

1. There are false teachers and preachers in the Christian church, just as there had been false prophets among the Jews (Deut. 13:1-5; Jer. 23:16-17; Matt. 7:15-16; 2 Tim. 4:1-4).

2. These false teachers bring in doctrines that are contrary to the Scriptures (even denying the Person and Work of Christ, our Lord). All true preachers will give Christ his proper place and glory, and all false preachers and heresies deny in some way the redemptive work of Christ (1 John 4:1-3). Weigh all preaching in the light of Christ -- His eternal Sonship and humanity, His sovereignty and surety-ship, His perfect righteousness and effectual sacrifice, His priestly work and intercession, His exaltation and second coming. All false preachers will either deny or diminish in some way Christ as just and Justifier.

3. These false teachers are motivated by covetousness. Their goal is not the glory of God nor the good of the church, but their own gain, glory, and personal satisfaction. Not knowing or loving Christ, they can never lose themselves, deny themselves, or take up their cross and follow Him.

4. These false teachers' ways of deception are: (a) privily; that is, they come in secretly, under a disguise of righteousness, gradually, little by little, under pretence of truth, introducing their heresy. (b) with feigned words -- words of their own choosing, cunning arguments, and logic, not words of the Holy Spirit, new and flattering words which have men's persons in admiration because of worldly gain. (c) make merchandise of you -- dealing with men's souls as a merchant with his goods. They care not for you nor your eternal welfare. You are but a means by which they enrich themselves with gain and worldly glory.

5. These false teachers are usually successful because many shall follow their corrupt, worldly ways. The road of error and religious idolatry is a broad way in which many walk. 'Many will say to me in that day... ' (Matt. 7:22.)

6. These false teachers (with their followers) are moving toward swift destruction. Their heresies are damnable, for they will lead to certain damnation. God's Judgments are not asleep, and their foot shall slide in due time. (Deut. 32:35.)

vv. 4-6. God's Judgments against heresy, idolatry, and evil are illustrated and confirmed in these verses.

1. The angels that sinned were once pure and holy, high and honorable. They abode not in the truth but (through pride and covetousness) sought equality with God (John 8:44; 1 Tim. 3:6).

2. God spared not the world of the ungodly but destroyed them all in the flood of judgment.

3. God turned the evil cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes as an example to all those who afterwards would live ungodly.

All of this is saying that God will punish sin. He will deal in judgment with the ungodly, whether it be the openly wicked who walk in corrupt evil or the false teachers who hide their evil pride and covetousness under a cloak of religion. (Exo. 34:7; Isa. 45:23-25; Psalm 73:17-22.)

v. 7-9. Notice is taken in these and the preceding verses of the Lord's mercy in delivering the righteous, such as Noah and Lot, when wicked men are destroyed. (Rom. 8:1; Rom. 8:35-39.)

'The Lord knoweth how to deliver' those that fear him and worship him out of trial and tribulation such as Noah and Lot were exposed to. Evil may abound, false teachers may increase, and the true worship of the Lord may all but perish from the earth; but our God has a people who are chosen by him, redeemed by his Son, and called and sanctified by his Spirit. He will keep them from falling (Jude 24) while he reserves, in his long-suffering and patience, the ungodly (to be punished) for the day of judgment.

4

Two great errors of false teachers

2 Peter 2:10-22

There were and are false preachers and teachers in the Christian church, just as there were false teachers among the Jews. We are warned to mark them and beware of them (Matt. 7:15-16; 2 Tim. 4:3-4).

v. 10. These false teachers and preachers (besides denying the true gospel of redemption through Christ alone—2 Peter 2:1) are guilty of two great errors.

'They walk after the flesh' in the lust of uncleanness; that is, their tenor of life is the satisfaction, pampering, and attention to the flesh. Their bodies, not their souls, are their main concern. The emphasis today in their circles is healing, fleshly entertainment and enjoyment, and financial well-being.

'They despise dominion' or authority. They are always advocates of man's free-will and enemies of the absolute sovereignty and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. These false teachers and their followers never preach the sovereignty of God in salvation, they never declare the Lordship of Christ in a believer's life (Christ is accepted as Saviour only), they never emphasize the authority of the man in the home and church (their women lead, teach, and usurp authority on an equal basis). They seldom have any local church authority but are usually a movement or organization outside the church, denouncing the churches, pastors, and doctrine. Their cry is usually, 'let's forget doctrine and let every religionist do his own thing.'

They are presumptuous, bold and daring, not fearing to speak of holy things in the most familiar fashion. There is no reverence or fear of God in their hearts or words.

They are self-willed, pleased with themselves, proud of their accomplishments, vain in their reports of numerical success.

They are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. The name of our Heavenly Father rolls off their tongues carelessly. They use the word 'god' as frequently and meaninglessly as they would the name of a fellow human.

They speak of 'Jesus' as if he were a next-door neighbor (rarely calling him, 'Lord'). They won't hesitate to correct or take issue with the apostle Paul. Reverence, holy awe, and humility are things unknown to them.

vv. 11-12. Even the elect angels (who are superior in might and power to any man, who are guardians over particular men, and who preside over kingdoms) do not bring charges and accusations against the other angels that fell nor against magistrates nor those in authority (Jude 9); but these false teachers who are like dumb beasts, made to be killed and consumed, do not hesitate to speak of mysterious and holy things which they neither understand nor love. They shall perish in their corruption.

vv. 13-14. These false religionists shall receive a fit reward for their wrong—doing (Matt. 7:22-23). They are interested only in living luxuriously and comfortably in this world of daytime, but the night cometh. They claim the name of Christ and the fellowship of the body of Christ; but they are only spots and blemishes, reveling in their own deception and hypocrisy. They have lustful, adulterous eyes, they have hearts that are filled with covetousness and materialism, and they prey upon unstable people who are easily led astray with their fleshly promises and preaching.

vv. 15-16. Balaam was promised great reward and honor to curse the people of Israel (Numbers 22:17). Balaam entertained these men (not just once, but twice) because of his covetousness. False teachers forsake the right way, the way of truth, and the gospel of truth for the rewards of unrighteousness, greedy of money and praise.

v. 17. They are wells without water, which look large and deep and promise much, but have nothing in them. They promise much to their followers, but in the end prove to be but dry, empty wells. Christ is the well of living water. To drink of him is to never thirst again. (John 4:14; John 7:37-39.)

They are clouds that are carried with the wind. We see large, dark clouds overhead and expect a refreshing rain on our parched land; but we discover that they are empty and only driven by a dry wind. They have excited our hopes and expectations only to disappoint us -- nothing but dry wind.

vv. 18-19. They bestow flattering words, titles, and praise on the flesh for their own interest and worldly advantage. They beguile and lure the people with their promises of health, happiness, prosperity, and eternal life, while they, themselves, are in the gall of bitterness and depravity. The people who are led astray by the false teachers are not the elect of God (who cannot be deceived); but they prey upon the ignorant and the untaught who have religious interests, who have reformed their lives, and who are trying to establish a righteousness before God. But in following these false teachers, they become enslaved to a greater bondage than worldliness, and that is self-righteousness! (Matt. 23:15.) It is a deadlier form of worldliness.

vv. 20-22. If a man temporarily escapes the pollutions of this world through an exposure to the gospel and again becomes entangled and overcome, his condition is worse; for he is hiding in a false refuge, whereas before he had no refuge! He makes God a party to his evil, whereas before he sought mercy. He is sinning against the light, whereas before he could plead ignorance.

5

The promise of his coming

2 Peter 3:1-18

In this chapter the apostle deals with four specific things.

1. He mentions the reason for writing this epistle,

2. He foretells that there will be scoffers in the last days who doubt the coming of Christ,

3. He describes the coming of the Lord and the destruction of the earth, and

4. He closes with the use that we should make of these things.

vv. 1-2. 'I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance.' Perhaps a better word than pure is sincere. We are sincere in the worship of God, in the faith of Christ, and in love to one another. Yet, we need to be constantly stirred up to remembrance of the doctrines of Christ, the duties of believers, and the promises of our Lord, not only because we are still human and prone to forget, but because we need the constant preaching of the word to grow to spiritual maturity (1 Peter 2:2).

'That you may be mindful of' two things especially.

1. 'The words spoken before by the holy prophets;' that is, the prophets of the Old Testament. They were men of God; and they spoke of Christ in promise, prophecy, and type (Acts 10:43; Luke 24:44; Rom. 1:2).

2. 'And the commandment of the Lord Jesus given through us, his apostles.'

Perhaps one of two things (or both) are referred to here -- his commandment to preach the gospel (Mark 16:15-16: Luke 24:46-47), or his commandment to love one another (John 13:34; 1 John 3:23).

vv. 3-4. We know from the writing of the apostles that in the last days men will make a mock of sin, they will jeer and mock at all religion, they will mock ministers of the true gospel, and they will reject the gospel of grace. Especially will they mock the second coming of Christ, the resurrection of the dead, the torments of hell, and the joys of heaven (1 Tim. 4:1-2; 2 Tim. 3: 1-5). They will be a people who walk after their own desires and do their own thing.

The object of their scorn is Christ and the promise of his return (John 14:3; Acts 1:11; 1 Thess. 4:16-18). They reason that many years have come and gone, everything is the same, and nothing has changed from the beginning of creation.

vv. 5-7. They are willingly ignorant of three things.

1. They overlook the fact that it was by the word of God that all things were created. The heavens came into existence by the word of God, and the earth was formed out of the waters by the word of God. God created it all, and by him it remains to this day (Col. 1:16-17).

2. They overlook the fact that God once did destroy by water the world that then existed. The earth was covered by water by the command of God, and by his command it was removed. All things have not continued as they were.

3. They forget that by the same word which created the world, it is sustained and kept intact, reserved for destruction by fire (2 Thess. 1:7-10). He will not again destroy the world by water, but by fire (Gen. 9:11-15).