2 Peter
Chapter One
Lesson Six

Read 2 Peter chapter One

2Pe 1:1 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:

(Again, this letter is written by Simon Peter, and written to other born again believers in Jesus Christ.)

2Pe 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

2Pe 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:

2Pe 1:4 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.

2Pe 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

2Pe 1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

2Pe 1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

(Verses 3-7 give us the steps of God's divine salvation. First By Gods power He gives us eternal life and His godliness through our faith in him (V.3). Second we are made pure and sinless in Christ according to His promises (V.4). Thirdly, as we grow, we add to our faith, virtue (upright living), and then as we continue to grow we add knowledge (V. 5). Then to knowledge we should add temperance (self control), Patience, and then godliness (V.6). And finally, as we continue to mature in our Christian life we should see brotherly kindness (Love for other Christians), and then finally charity (godly love for all).

2Pe 1:8 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.

(Are you feeling empty and unfruitful in your Christian life?  Maybe it's because you are lacking some of the above mentioned attributes and our Knowledge and relationship with Lord Jesus Christ is being hindered).

2Pe 1:9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

(Notice that this verse does not say a person is not saved if they lack any of these, but that they have forgotten what God has done for them.  Every child of God is maturing in their christian walk at a different pace. Some faster then others, and some may seem like they never grow at all. This does not mean they are lost, but that they are still babies in Christ).

2Pe 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

(“wherefore” because there are some who have not grown as much as they should, we should work even harder to grow and mature in our walk with the Lord, and fulfill our Spirit filled calling.

2Pe 1:11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

2Pe 1:12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

(We should remind each other of these truths from time to time)

2Pe 1:13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;

2Pe 1:14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.

(Peter knew that his time on earth was short)

2Pe 1:15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.

(Peter not only wants to remind them to live out their salvation to the fullest now, but has even written it in this letter so after he is gone, they will still be reminded of it.)

2Pe 1:16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

(Peter here reminds them that the Gospel he preaches is not made up, but they actually were eyewitnesses to everything Jesus said and did. This would include his death, burial and resurrection, as well as being caught up into heaven.)

2Pe 1:17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

(This of course is a reference to when Jesus was baptized by John.)

2Pe 1:18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

(This is a reference to when Jesus was caught up into the clouds and went back into heaven. So what Peter is saying is that he was a witness of all Jesus said and did from his baptism to Him being caught up into heaven again.)

2Pe 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

2Pe 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.

(These last three verses are very important for us today. With so many false doctrines floating around, and so many different preachers all saying they have the truth, many do not know what to believe. However, Peter reminds us that we are not to make up Scripture and interpretations on our own but let God's word interpret for us. Gods Word was not made up by men, but was written down as the Holy Spirit moved them to do so. And as Peter reminds us, most of the writers were eyewitnesses to what happened, so they had first hand knowledge. We would be wise to stick to what God's Word says, and avoid adding our own thoughts to it.)