After seeking to make his readers “mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour” (2 Pet. 3:2), Peter gets into his specific warning. Perhaps, knowing how dangerous this teaching would be, he sought to impress upon it the … Continue reading –>
Peter warned his readers about the kind of dangerous teachings the church would face. He cautioned against those who, while promising liberty, would lead people back into the bondage of sin, the opposite of the freedom that we have been promised in Christ. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the only false teaching that would confront the church. … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: 2 Pet. 3:1-2; John 21:15-17; 2 Pet. 3:3-13; Ps. 90:4; Matt. 24:43-51; 2 Pet. 3:14-18. Memory Text: “Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness” (2 Peter 3:11, NRSV). In ages past … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: So often we hear Christians talk about “freedom in Christ.” And, of course, this is a valid concept. To be free from the condemnation of the law and to have assurance of salvation because of what Christ has done for us and not from our own works is indeed to be free. The … Continue reading –>
Read 2 Peter 2:6-16. What other examples does Peter use to give his warning about what wickedness will lead to? The first substantive reference to Sodom in the Bible is Genesis 13:12-13. Lot and Abraham decided to separate for “financial” reasons. Lot chose the Jordan valley, and “pitched his tent toward Sodom” (Gen. 13:12). The … Continue reading –>
Many people have observed that Jude 4-19 largely repeats the message of 2 Peter 2:1-3:7. Whenever Scripture repeats a message, we should be aware that God wants to convey something important. In these similar passages, Peter and Jude take great lengths to notify us of an important truth: God is in control of the destinies … Continue reading –>
Read 2 Peter 2:17-22 and Matthew 12:43-45. What are the dangers when a convert to Christianity returns to his/her former lifestyle? Peter was particularly concerned about the fate of those whom the false teachers entice back into their former sins (2 Pet. 2:18). The false teachers promise freedom, but as Peter points out, the freedom … Continue reading –>
“For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error” (2 Pet. 2:18, NIV). What is Peter warning about in this verse? What does he say in 2 Peter 2:19 that helps explain his concern? What … Continue reading –>
It’s sometimes easy to idealize the early church, to think of it as a time of great peace and harmony among the earliest believers in Jesus. That would be a mistake. Even from the days of Jesus the church faced struggles, often from within (think of Judas). As the New Testament epistles show, many of … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: 2 Pet. 2:1-22, John 8:34-36, Matt. 12:43-45, Jude 4-19, Gen. 18:16-33. Memory Text: “They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption; for people are slaves to whatever masters them” (2 Peter 2:19, NRSV). In his first epistle, Peter, with great pastoral concern, sought to encourage readers in … Continue reading –>
