Read 2 Peter 1:5-7; Romans 5:3-5; James 1:3-4; and Galatians 5:22-23. What similar theme appears in these texts? It was common among philosophers in the ancient world to list virtues. Such lists are often called a “catalogue of virtues,” and there are several examples in the New Testament (Rom. 5:3-5; James 1:3-4; Gal. 5:22-23). It … Continue reading –>
Read 2 Peter 1:1-4. What does Peter say that we have been given in Jesus Christ? That is, how is the reality of grace seen here? Peter begins this letter by saying that it is addressed to those who “have obtained like precious faith with us” (2 Pet. 1:1, KJV); or “a faith of equal … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: 2 Pet. 1:1-15, Eph. 2:8, Rom. 5:3-5, Heb. 10:38, Rom. 6:11, 1 Cor. 15:12-57. Memory Text: “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; … Continue reading –>
“It seems logical to begin with ‘Messiah,’ since the Christian church owes its name to the Greek equivalent Christos, the ‘Anointed One.’ The Hebrew word relates to the deliverer figure whom the Jews awaited and who would be God’s agent in the inauguration of a new age for God’s people. Both the Hebrew and the … Continue reading –>
Peter knew not only that Jesus was the Messiah but that He was the Lord, as well. That is, by the time of these epistles, Peter knew that the Messiah was God Himself. Though the title “Lord” can have a secular meaning, the term also can be a clear reference to divinity. In 1 Peter … Continue reading –>
You can view an in-depth discussion of “Jesus in the Writings of Peter” in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. (Adobe Flash Player version.) A Youtube version of this week’s lesson at Hope Sabbath School is below. You can download the video, the MP3 audio, and the lesson outline from the … Continue reading –>
As we saw earlier, one of the crucial turning points in Jesus’ earthly ministry was when, in response to a question about who He was, Peter answered: “‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’” (Matt. 16:16, NKJV). The word Christ (christos in Greek) means the “anointed,” the “Messiah”; in Hebrew it is … Continue reading –>
Read 1 Peter 1:3-4, 1 Peter 1:21; 1 Peter 3:21, John 11:25, Philippians 3:10-11; Revelation 20:6. What great hope are they pointing to, and what does it mean to us? As we have already seen, 1 Peter is addressed to those who are suffering because of their belief in Jesus. It is particularly appropriate, then, … Continue reading –>
Christians often talk about “the passion of Christ.” The word passion comes from a Greek verb that means “to suffer,” and the phrase “the passion of Christ” usually refers to what Jesus suffered in the final period of His life, beginning with the triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Peter, too, dwells on the theme of Christ’s … Continue reading –>
An overarching theme of the Bible, maybe even the overarching theme, is that of God’s work in saving fallen humanity. From the fall of Adam and Eve in Genesis to the fall of Babylon in Revelation, Scripture in one way or another reveals the work of God in seeking to save “that which was lost” … Continue reading –>
