II Peter 1

Haystack bible commentary

"Stacks and stacks of commentary...."

==ii peter 1:1-2:

Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

Right from the start Peter makes it clear he is talking to believers. Every believer has been given the measure of faith (Rom 12:3). The Bible tells us many things that we are to do with that measure of faith. We are to walk by faith and not by sight (I Cor 5:7). We are to fight the good fight of faith (I Tim 6:12). It also says that without faith, it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6).

The apostle Peter also names himself in the two letters that carry his name (1 Peter 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1). Of course, Peter’s name was Simon before Jesus called him (Mark 3:16), and the Aramaic version of Peter is Cephas (John 1:42), the only designation Paul uses for Peter in 1 Corinthians (in Galatians, Paul uses both Peter and Cephas). To add to these three names, Peter introduces himself as Simeon Peter in 2 Peter, the exact form James uses in Acts 15:14.

==ii peter 1:3:

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

The appropriation of God’s blessings come through the knowledge of Christ.

To restore man, who had been laid low by sin, to the heights of divine glory, the Word of the eternal Father, though containing all things within His immensity, willed to become small. This He did, not by putting aside His greatness, but by taking to Himself our littleness. --Thomas Aquinas

Here we have a promise to Christians (2 Peter is addressed to “those who have obtained a faith with equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ”) that God has granted us “all things” we might need to live our best possible life, which is a life that pleases God. He designed and created us. He loves us. He knows what is best for us. --Pastor Dan York

September 22, 2023: Alistair Begg wrote: When was the last time that you paused to ponder what a privilege it is to have nearly unlimited access to God’s word? These days, we can carry it around in our pockets and pull up any chapter and verse or even search the entire Bible in a matter of seconds.
Instant access to all of Scripture feels so commonplace. And yet we ought to be astounded at such an honor! Their Author formed the heavens with His fingers (Psalm 8:3). He breathed the Scriptures out Himself (2 Timothy 3:16). Their contents are more valuable than the finest gold (Psalm 19:10), and their truth will endure forever (1 Peter 1:24). In the Bible, we find all that we need for life and godliness—and nothing we don’t. Every paragraph is unique in its addition to the whole, and yet every part contributes to the one grand story. Most of all, it is the means by which the Spirit brings us into a deeper “knowledge of” God—which we could translate “relationship with,” since the Greek word Peter uses, epignosis, carries the sense of a relational knowing, not a merely intellectual one. It is through the word that we come to know more intimately our Maker, whom we were created to glorify and enjoy forever.
In the longest prayer of our Lord Jesus that Scripture records, He spends much time praying for His people. In one specific petition, He asks this: “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17). Jesus Himself knew the power of God’s word. When Satan tempted Him in the wilderness, He responded with scriptural truth. In one instance, he quoted Moses from Deuteronomy 8:3 and reiterated for us that “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). If Jesus Christ nourished His own soul on the word of God, then how much more do we need its food?

==ii peter 1:4:

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.

This promise really begins in vs 1: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord....the word “us" discriminates to whom He gives His promises. The “us” is not just anyone, it is only those who embrace his Son., or those who have learned of these great and precious promises by way of knowing Him, or, rather, coming into the knowledge of God and Jesus.

II Peter 1:5-6:
5 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;

One of the briefest and best definitions of temperance is self control. The word in the text means much more than mere abstinence from intoxicating drinks--the limited sense now frequently given to it. It means self control, strength, power or ascendency over exciting and evil passions of all kinds. It denotes elf rule which the overcomer or converted man has over evil propensities of his nature. The influences of the Holy Spirit on the heart make a man moderate in all indulgences; teach him to restrain his passions, and to govern himself.

II Peter 1:3-9:
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

II Peter 1:10: Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;

“Be earnest and diligent in making sure to yourself your discharge from the sentence and penalty of the law. Sue out the great fact in the Lord’s own court by fervent prayer and simple faith. Your Surety has cancelled your debt, and purchased your exemption from death. Avail yourself of the comfort and the stimulus of the blessing. You may be certain, yes, quite certain, of its truth. No process is more easy. It is but to look from off yourself to Christ, and to believe with all your heart that he came into the world to save sinners, and assurance is yours. The order is, ‘We believe, and are sure.’ Oh, do not leave this matter to a bare peradventure. Make sure of your union with Christ, and you may be sure of no condemnation from Christ.”
- Octavius Winslow, from No Condemnation in Christ Jesus, p. 16-17

James Boice Files

“No one should take comfort in sin. The church is impure; we cannot always distinguish between the wheat and tares in this age. But a day is coming when that distinction will be made. The harvest will come. The wheat will be gathered into God’s barn, and the tares will be burned. As a result, we should examine ourselves as to whether we are true children of God or not. And we should be careful to “confirm [our] calling and election,” as Peter indicates (2 Pet. 1:10).”
― James Montgomery Boice, The Parables of Jesus

II PETER 1:10-11:
THEREFORE, BRETHREN, BE EVEN MORE DILIGENT TO MAKE YOUR CALL AND ELECTION SURE, FOR IF YOU DO THESE THINGS YOU WILL NEVER STUMBLE;
11 FOR SO AN ENTRANCE WILL BE SUPPLIED TO YOU ABUNDANTLY INTO THE EVERLASTING KINGDOM OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.

“IN MOVING INTO MY CALLING, THERE WAS A COMBINATION OF BEING PROACTIVE—PUSHING ON DOORS AND EXPLORING OPTIONS—AND ALSO ASKING GOD TO GUIDE ME THROUGH HIS WORD, MY DREAMS AND PASSIONS, THE PROPHETIC, AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES I FOUND MYSELF IN. IN MY ERA, WE PRAYED IT THROUGH, AND THEN STARTED OFF; WE FELT THAT GOD COULD GUIDE US SUPERNATURALLY DURING THE PROCESS. BUT TODAY IT SEEMS HARDER, AND I SEE MORE HESITATION AND CONCERN ALONG THE LINES OF ‘I’M NOT SURE;’ ‘IS THIS RIGHT?’ ‘AM I HEARING GOD?’ I TRY TO ENCOURAGE YOUNG LEADERS TO TRY THINGS—TO GO FOR IT. GOD CAN SPEAK TO US AS WE GO.” --AMY ORR-EWING [CHRISTIANITY TODAY] 08.15.16

II Peter 1:16:
For we did not 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.

There was no need to make something up. He just told them what he saw. It is the same for all generations. We are to give testimony of what and who we know and have no reason to make up stories.

==ii peter 1:21:

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost

Scripture validates itself through prophecy, fulfillment, and the Holy Spirit’s witness

True prophecy is inspired by the Holy Spirit through man. In verbal inspiration, inspired men "guided by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21) did not have to think of what words that they should speak or write, for it was given to them "in that hour" what to say or write (Matthew 10:19). They were told, "Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate beforehand how to answer" (Luke 21:14). In such situations, they were "not the ones speaking, but" it was the "Spirit of the Father" speaking through them (Matthew 10:20). They were "filled with the Holy Spirit," and on occasion spoke "in other languages, as the Spirit was inspiring them" (Acts 2:4).
Plenary inspiration is "inspiration that is perfect in the utterance of the inspired word," making it "full, entire, complete, absolute," but not in dictated words.

In plenary inspiration, inspired men "guided by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21), did think of what words that they would speak or write. "The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem," were not directly given, but were "pondered and sought out" by Solomon, with the result that he "set in order many proverbs" (Ecclesiastes 1:1; 12:9). "The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, . . . words of truth" (Ecclesiastes 12:10).

Plenary inspiration, "guided by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21), means supervisory inspiration over Solomon's words in Ecclesiastes, Proverbs, and the Song of Solomon (1 Kings 3:12; 4:29). Solomon's "wisdom" was what "God had put in his heart" (1 Kings 10:24). As a result Solomon was "wiser than all men" and he spoke "three thousand proverbs; and his songs were a thousand and five" (1 Kings 4:31-32).

Watchman Nee

Second Peter 1:21 says that the prophecy in the Bible, that is, the words of the Bible, is spoken “from God, being borne by the Holy Spirit.” There are two important points worth noticing. One is that it is borne by the Holy Spirit, and the second is that it was spoken from God. To be borne by the Holy Spirit, in Greek, means to be carried along. This is like a sailing boat being carried along by the wind. A sailing boat moves in the water through the propelling of the wind. Here it says that the words in the Bible were spoken by men borne by the Holy Spirit. This bearing is just like the carrying along of the wind. The Holy Spirit is like the wind, coming upon those speaking for God, to carry them along, bearing them in their speaking. The five books of Moses were written by Moses, but the Holy Spirit was there bearing Moses up as he wrote. It is true that many Psalms are the words of David. However, the Holy Spirit was in and upon David, bearing him to speak.
In addition, we must also realize that the Bible is the word spoken “from God.” Regarding this phrase, Bible translators and the authorities on the manuscripts have differing opinions. Some say the two words “from God” should refer to the persons speaking, meaning that these were “men of God,” speaking while being borne by the Holy Spirit. Others say that the two words “from God” should not refer to the people who spoke but to the things spoken, meaning that their speaking came from God. The better translations, such as the Revised Standard Version, agree with the second concept. It tells us that the word in the Bible was not only spoken by those being borne by the Holy Spirit, but also by man speaking from God. It is the Spirit of God that carries man along to speak. It is also man speaking from God. In other words, God spoke forth His own word from within man and through man’s mouth. This is the Bible. What is the Bible? The Bible is God’s Spirit coming upon man and carrying man along to speak forth God’s word in him. When God declares His word in the universe from and through man, we have the Bible.
-Watchman Nee; On Knowing God