This document provides an overview and analysis of key themes and passages in the biblical book of 2 Peter. It discusses Peter's introduction, the themes of knowledge and future judgment, and exhortations to spiritual growth. It also analyzes warnings about false teachers and their condemnation, and calls to diligence as believers await Christ's return.

1. Laindon Bible Class 10 th & 17 th December (God willing)

3. The specialness of a person’s final words – within 12 months of death The grand theme – knowledge (5 mentions in first 8 verses + in sign off) The writer – one who had evidently been with the Lord Some painful words – Peter’s counsel not to deny the Lord The recipients – the Jewish believers scattered in Asia Minor Peter’s introduction of himself – the use of the Jewish name Simeon The timing – during the final years of the Jewish commonwealth Peter’s 2 epistles – first one primarily about an external enemy (Nero’s oppression), second one primarily about an internal enemy (apostasy) The subtlety of false teaching – the only remedy is applied knowledge The need to bring all things into remembrance – a call to take action Another recurrent theme – the future day of recompence (of the Lord)

6. Chapter 1:

7. And beside this Amplified Bible, ESV, NRSV, NKJV, RSV, Weymouth: “For this very reason” 2 Peter 1 v 2-5 2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 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... Diligence Gk. spoude = speed; this word is translated “haste” in both Mark 6 v 25 & Luke 1 v 39 i.e. we need to maintain a sense of urgency

8. This growth happens in parallel (not strictly sequential), cp. the growth of a plant However, the pinnacle of this process is charity or love 2 Peter 1 v 5-7 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. 2 Peter 3 v 18 18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. 2 Peter 1 v 5-7 (Weymouth) 5 But for this very reason--adding, on your part, all earnestness-- along with your faith, manifest also a noble character: along with a noble character, knowledge; 6 along with knowledge, self-control; along with self-control, power of endurance; 7 along with power of endurance, godliness; along with godliness, brotherly affection; and along with brotherly affection, love.

10. Parallel idea – if our growth abounds then we will receive abundance “ Cannot see afar off” = Gk. muopazo = near-sighted, short-sighted (Eng. myopic, myopia)  obsession with present things (contrast Heb. 11 v 13) “ Forgotten... he was purged” – if we forget the cleansing effect of the atonement then we too may become complacent / self-reliant 2 Peter 1 v 8-11 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 . 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

11. Chapter 2:

12. We aren’t immune to this threat... 2 Peter 2 v 1-2 1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you , who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. Acts 20 v 29-30 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you , not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 1 Corinthians 11 v 19 19 For there must be also heresies among you , that they which are approved may be made manifest among you . James 4 v 1 4 From whence come wars and fightings among you ? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

13. How they are described... Presumptuous Self-willed Natural brute beasts Spots Blemishes Cursed children Wells without water Clouds... carried with a tempest Servants of corruption How they act... Bring in damnable heresies Make merchandise of you Speak evil of dignities Speak evil of the things that they understand not Count it pleasure to riot in the day time Exercised with covetous practices Allure through the lusts of the flesh

14. 2 Peter 2 v 13 13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes , sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you ; Jude v 12 12 These are spots in your feasts of charity , when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Feasts of charity Gk. agape (in plural form) Thayer’s : “feasts expressing and fostering mutual love which used to be held by Christians before the celebration of the Lord's supper, and at which the poorer Christians mingled with the wealthier and partook in common with the rest of food provided at the expense of the wealthy” Seemingly a practice adopted after the original Pentecost calling (Acts 2 v 46) 1 Corinthians 11 v 20-23 20 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. 21 For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken . 22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. 23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:

15. Galatians 6 v 7-8 7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap . 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

16. Chapter 3:

17. The important thing is the reaction of believers to this revelation of future things... We should be stirred up to take action, based upon the times that we live in... 2 Peter 3 v 10-13 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up . 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved , what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved , and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

18. 2 Peter 3 v 10-13 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up . 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved , what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved , and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Elements Gk. stoicheion Strong's : something orderly in arrangement Principles of the Mosaic law (see Gal. 4 v 3/9, Col. 2 v 20) Pass away Gk. parerchomai Same word Jesus used to describe events of AD70 in Matt. 24 v 25 (cp. Matt. 5 v 18): “ Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”

19. Looking for him Being found by him 2 Peter 3 v 13-15 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things , be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; ... Hebrews 9 v 28 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. Luke 12 v 37-38 37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching : verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. 38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so , blessed are those servants.

20. It is also possible for us to discount the signs of the time of the return of the Lord Jesus Christ... 2 Peter 3 v 3-4 3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep , all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. Matthew 24 v 33-34 33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled .