Daily Scripture Reading 2Peter 1:1-21
Critics of Christianity claim that Christians made up the stories about Jesus. Those skeptics do not believe in the miracles of Jesus nor His resurrection. They often admit that Jesus was a good teacher, but they do not accept the truth that Jesus is God Himself, the Creator of the universe.
Today we will start reading 2 Peter. The author of this book makes it clear in chapter one that he was writing as an eyewitness of Jesus. This is important because this tells us what the Bible says about itself.
2Pet. 1:1 ¶ Simeon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ, ¶ To those who have received the same kind of faith as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:
The first verse tells us this book was written by Simeon Peter. Peter was one of the disciples of Jesus.
Peter identified himself as a slave of Jesus. All Christians are slaves of Jesus. We are not equal to Jesus. We are not partners. We are slaves.
Peter identified Jesus as God and Savior. Jesus was a man, but He was more than just a man. He is God Himself. Also, Jesus is the One who saves us from our sins and from eternal punishment.
2Pet. 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the full knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;
Look at the words “full knowledge”. Grace and peace come from knowledge. This verse does not say grace and peace come from emotions.
2Pet. 1:3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the full knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
Once again we see the words “full knowledge”. We have everything for life and godliness through knowledge, not through emotion.
2Pet. 1:4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
2Pet. 1:5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,
2Pet. 1:6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness,
2Pet. 1:7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.
Take note that knowledge is included in this list, but feelings and emotions are not. Some people think love is an emotion, but Biblical love is action, not a feeling.
2Pet. 1:8 For if these things are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the full knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This is the third time we see the term “full knowledge”. The term “these things” refers to the qualities listed in verses 5-7. Notice the word “increasing” Moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, etc make us useful if those qualities are increasing.
2Pet. 1:9 For in whom these things are not present, that one is blind, being nearsighted, having forgotten the purification from his former sins.
It is not just that there is a benefit to having those qualities. There is a negative consequence if we do not have those qualities.
2Pet. 1:10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and choosing sure; for in doing these things, you will never stumble;
2Pet. 1:11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.
2Pet. 1:12 ¶ Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been strengthened in the truth which is present with you.
2Pet. 1:13 I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder,
2Pet. 1:14 knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has indicated to me.
2Pet. 1:15 And I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you will be able to call these things to mind.
2Pet. 1:16 ¶ For we did not make known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, following cleverly devised myths, but being eyewitnesses of His majesty.
Take note of the word “eyewitnesses”. Some of the critics of Christianity claim Christians made up the stories about Jesus. However, Peter and his fellow apostles saw Jesus with their own eyes. The books of the New Testament are the eyewitness accounts of those who walked and talked with Jesus.
2Pet. 1:17 For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased”—
2Pet. 1:18 and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
Verses 17-18 refer to the transfiguration. That incident is recorded in Matthew 17 and Mark 9. While all the apostles were eyewitnesses of most of the miracles performed by Jesus, only Peter, James, and John witnessed the transfiguration.
Look at the words “we ourselves heard”. Peter was writing about something he heard with his own ears. He was not recording hearsay or second hand accounts.
2Pet. 1:19 ¶ And we have as more sure the prophetic word, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.
2Pet. 1:20 Know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes by one’s own interpretation.
Just as the truths about Jesus were not made up, so too all portions of Scripture were not made up. Scripture was not written by men who were recording their own opinions.
2Pet. 1:21 For no prophecy was ever made by the will of man, but men being moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
All Scripture is the result of men being moved by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit motivated the authors of Scripture to write, and the Holy Spirit controlled what they wrote. Therefore, the Bible is the Word of God. The Bible contains history, poems, truths, commands, promises, proverbs, and doctrine that God wants us to know.
Critics of Christianity claim that Christians made up the stories about Jesus. They often admit that Jesus was a good teacher, but they do not accept the truth that Jesus is God Himself, the Creator of the universe. Nor do they agree that the Bible is the Word of God.
When we read any book, we rely on the book itself to tell us who wrote it, when it was written, and why the author wrote it. Likewise, when we evaluate the Bible, we should start with what the Bible tells us about itself. The first chapter of 2 Peter clearly makes the claim that the Holy Spirit is responsible for the creation of the Bible and all the content contained in the Bible.
How does today’s passage change your understanding of the Bible?
Do you acknowledge that the Bible is the Word of God?
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”