2 Peter
CHRISTIAN GROWTH
2 PETER 1:1-11
Have you stopped growing?
There is little doubt that “Simeon Peter” (2:1, ESV) is correct; see also Acts 15:14. If his first letter, (see 3:1), was 1 Peter, then this will have been written when Nero’s persecution was reaching its height. This is sufficient reason for the lack of details about the recipients. “Obtained” (1:1) is inadequate; the word means to obtain by lot or divine decree, ie all personal merit is excluded. There is only one true “faith”; the gifts that follow it are diverse. The only linguistically valid interpretation of “our God and Savior Jesus Christ” is that Jesus is being called God; see also 1:11; 2:20; 3:18; Titus 2:13. For “grace and peace” (1:2), the former includes the experience of God’s covenant love, the latter the opening of God’s treasure chamber. The covenant love and riches of God are constant, but our knowledge of God teaches us to draw on them.
In John 17:3 knowledge and salvation are linked (1:3). While God may reveal to us individually the implications of salvation (1 John 2:26f.), yet it is a surer method to give us the promises of Scripture (1:4), which are always greater than our interpretation of them at any given time. The promises do not deliver us from corruption, but stir us up to claim deliverance. With 1:5-7, see also Romans 5:3-5; Galatians 5:22f. “Virtue” (1:5): it is a pity that the link with 1:3 has not been indicated, where the word is rendered “excellence”; the quality is something coming from God. “Knowledge” is not that human quality condemned by Paul in 1 Corinthians, but a gift from the Holy Spirit giving us true balance in judgment. “Self-control” (1:6) without knowledge and balance is likely to become asceticism or fanaticism; similarly “steadfastness” without self-control is liable to lead to an explosion. “Godliness,” see also 1:3: “piety” (NEB) or “devotion to God” (JBP) are preferable; it refers to a visible quality in life, our attitude to God expressed in actions. The difference between “mutual affection” (1:7; see also 1 Peter 1:22; 3:8) and “love” is not made clear. The former probably has more of the emotional about it.
Human maturing is accompanied by physical growth and mental development; where these do not occur this is evidence of an abnormality. This is even truer with spiritual growth, and all the more because the purpose of our salvation is to become like Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 John 3:2). “To confirm your call” (1:10): the necessity to respond to God’s call does not end with conversion.