2 PETER 1

GROWING SPIRITUALLY + EMBRACING GOD’S DIVINE POWER

Peter’s second letter to believers offers a message of both hope and warning. Peter reminds believers that they are invited to participate in God’s divine power. God’s spirit guides His people in all things that pertain to life and godliness. Peter urges followers of Jesus to live a life of endurance, love, and self-control instead of being influenced by corruption in the world. Peter does not want only to create believers in Christ, but imitators of Christ.

Peter desires for the believers to take responsibility for their own spiritual growth. Because God has granted divine power, His people are encouraged to make every effort towards steadfast and virtuous living. Peter uses the phrase “supplement your faith” (1:5) to express that genuine faith provokes personal growth.

Having faced great persecution for his faith, Peter knew the time of his death was near. The purpose of Peter’s writing was to memorialize his teaching to share with future generations of Jesus followers.

Reiterating the legitimacy of the gospel, Peter states that he is not believing in a myth or legend, but something he experienced himself. Peter recalls his eyewitness account of both the ascension of Jesus (Acts 1) and the resurrection of Jesus (John 21). Peter also argues that Jesus fulfills the messages of the Old Testament prophets. Clarifying the source of prophecy, Peter states that no prophecies of Jesus originated from someone’s own interpretation. The prophecy of the Old Testament was from God, about Jesus.