Overview of II Peter 

• 1^st – Who was Peter…
  • 1^st – FISHERMAN…
    • Peter was a fisherman – along with his brother Andrew – from the city of Capernaum…
    • Not that he was a very GOOD fisherman – he never seems to catch fish
    • Both times we read about Peter fishing – he caught NOTHING – Luke 5:5 – John 21:3
    • Because God had not called him to catch FISH – instead catch MEN!
    • Matthew 4:19 – “Follow Me – and I will make you fishers of men.”
    • Too often people in life use the gifts God has given them for their own purposes…
    • Then then wonder why their lives are EMPTY – no fish in the net!
    • We are only going to be EFFECTIVE in life – when we become what God desires…
    • When we use our GIFTS for the purpose God DESIRES…
    • We are going to find we are BLESSED – and have a life that is FULL!
  • 2^nd – The THREE…
    • Peter was one of the inner THREE: Peter – James – and John
    • Jesus revive the little girl – Mark 5:37 – Mount of Transfiguration – Matthew 17:1
    • Only they went with Jesus when He prayed in Gethsemane – Matthew 26:37
    • This leads us to believe these disciples were SPECIAL – SUPER disciples…
    • They were BETTER than the rest – they were more TROUBLE!
    • James and John – the Sons of Thunder – should we call down fire – Luke 9:54 
    • Peter – who tended to speak first – then think – which always got him into trouble!
    • We may think that God only uses those with great gifts – ability…
    • But God uses the FOOLISH – ignorant and unlearned FISHERMEN…
    • Which is a HUGE encouragement – because that means He can use us…
    • I Corinthians 1:27-29 – “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise… that no flesh should glory in His presence.”
  • 3^rd – MARRIED…
    • Peter had a wife – I Corinthians 9:5
      • Luke 4:38 – Jesus even healed the Mother-in-law of Peter…
      • The Bible is VERY clear that Peter did have a wife!
    • There are some denominations today that insist Peter never married…
      • The idea is that somehow SINGLENESS is more holy than MARRIAGE…
      • Is a false teaching – and has come to cause a LOT of problems in the church!
      • I Timothy 4:3 – “[Listening] to deceiving spirits – doctrines of demons… forbidding to marry.”
      • The doctrine that priest must be SINGLE – has led to huge scandals…
      • The Catholic church has had to pay BILLIONS – because of cases of sexual abuse…
      • All because of a FALSE teaching – men are more HOLY if they are SINGLE!
      • Most are called to be MARRIED – only a few are able to stay SINGLE – Matthew 19:11
      • If someone is NOT called to be SINGLE – they should GET MARRIED – I Corinthians 7:9
      • A church leader is NO exception – Pastors should have a wife – I Timothy 3:3
  • 4^th – PILLAR…
    • Peter was a PILLAR of the church – Galatians 2:9
      • He was one of the main leaders of that church – Acts 15:7
      • But PETER was NOT the PILLAR of the WHOLE church!
    • SIMON…
      • Peter – adds the addition of SIMON in this SECOND epistle – II Peter 1:1
      • Simon is the birth name of Peter – the word means to hear or listen…
      • PETER [or Cephas in Aramaic] was a name given to him by Jesus – John 1:42
      • Jesus used the word Peter with a play on words – Matthew 16:13
      • PETER [Πέτρος] – means a little pebble [small stone]
      • ROCK [πέτρα] – refers to a huge foundation stone…
      • Peter is a little PEBBLE – but on his confession of Jesus as God – was the ROCK…
      • The foundation of the church is Jesus Christ – I Corinthians 3:11
  • 5^th – SERVANT
    • Peter also adds the title of BONDSERVANT – II Peter 1:1
    • BONDSERVANT [δοῦλος] – 127x in NT – means a slave…
    • God defined the role of a [δοῦλος] – a bondservant – Deuteronomy 15:17
    • If a servant was to be set free – but CHOSE to stay – he had his ear pierced…
    • He became a BONDSERVANT – someone who CHOSE to be a slave for His master!
    • Jesus does not demand that we give our lives to Him – it is our CHOICE…
    • We can CHOOSE to live for ourselves – live for this world – in bondage to this world…
    • But the irony is when we GIVE our lives to Jesus – that is when we are truly free!
    • John 8:36 – “If the Son makes you free – you shall be free indeed.”
  • 6^th – The APOSTLE…
    • Peter was an APOSTLE – he was one of the TWELVE…
    • In Matthew – Mark – Luke – and Acts – we have a list of all TWELVE Apostles…
    • In each of those lists PETER is mentioned FIRST…
    • PETER was the APOSTLE to the Jews – while Paul to the Gentiles – Galatians 2:7
    • The word APOSTLE – means to be sent out!
    • Is a picture of an ambassador – a representative of God to the world…
    • Sent out to share the Good News – the hope of salvation through Jesus…
    • You might think that you will NEVER be an APOSTLE – but we are all called to be sent out!
    • II Corinthians 5:20 – “We are ambassadors for Christ…”

• 2^nd – What is the key theme to the book…
  • The KNOWLEDGE of the Lord…
    • II Peter 1:2 – Grace be multiplied in the KNOWLEDGE of God…
    • II Peter 1:3 – His divine power has given us all things – through the KNOWLEDGE of Him…
    • II Peter 2:20 – They have escaped the pollution of this world through the KNOWLEDGE …
    • II Peter 3:18 – Grow in the grace and KNOWLEDGE of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
    • The word KNOWLEDGE [ἐπίγνωσις] – is used SIXTEEN times in various forms in II Peter!
    • The word means to know thoroughly – intimately though experience!
  • What does Peter want us to KNOW…
    • KNOWING – the Day of the Lord will come like a THIEF in the night – II Peter 3:10
    • KNOWING – the Day of God will come QUICKLY [hastening] – II Peter 3:12
    • KNOWING – SCOFFERS will come in the Last days – II Peter 3:3
    • KNOWING – the POWER when our Lord Jesus comes – II Peter 1:16
    • Peter wants us to know the Lord – and about the RETURN of the Lord!

• 3^rd – Where was the book written…
  • The book was written in same place as I Peter – II Peter 3:1
  • Most scholars hold that Babylon – was a code name for the city of Rome – I Peter 5:13
  • Peter called Rome Babylon to try and avoid further persecution for the church there!

• 4^th – When was the book written…
  • Between 66-67 A.D. – about THREE years after I Peter was written…
  • Peter was at the end of his life – II Peter 1:14-15
  • Church history tell us Peter was martyred in 68 A.D.
  • That same history tells us that Peter was crucified upside down for his faith in Jesus…
  • Upside down because he was not worthy to die in the same manner as His Lord!

• 5^th – How is the book divided…
  • Chapter 1 – A REMINDER for the church of the POWER of God…
  • Chapter 2 – A WARNING to the church about FALSE teachers…
  • Chapter 3 – The HOPE of the church because of the RETURN of Jesus!

The Knowledge of Christ…  

• 1^st – Greetings from Peter… vs. 1
  • 1^st – Who the book was written to…
    • Peter – the Servant and Apostle – addresses his SECOND epistle to FOUR groups…
      • Peter tells us that he wrote to the same people as I Peter – II Peter 3:1
      • Peter wrote to the PILGRIMS – the DISPERSED – and the ELECT – I Peter 1:1
      • Peter adds a FOURTH group here in verse one of II Peter!
    • Precious FAITH…
      • To those who have obtained like precious faith with us…
      • By the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ!
      • OBTAINED [λαγχάνω] – 4x in NT – speaks of a DIVINE gift…
      • PRECIOUS [ἰσότιμος] – only here NT – compound word meaning equal value…
      • We have been GIVEN the same FAITH as Peter had through Jesus…
      • Because Jesus did what no one else could – He lived a RIGHTEOUS life…
      • Then Jesus – the only PERFECT man – paid the price for our sin – Romans 6:23
      • In that moment Jesus condemned sin – defeated the darkness once and for all…
      • Then came one of the great mysteries of the ages – God gave us Jesus RIGHTEOUSNESS!
      • Not because we earned it – but it was GIVEN to us as a free gift of GRACE!
      • II Corinthians 5:21 – “God made Christ – who never sinned – to be the offering for our sin – so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”
      • In Jesus – we have lived a PREFECT life – there is NO sin…
      • When God looks down on us – He does not see our sinful mistakes – flaws…
      • He instead sees the perfect life of His Son Jesus – He sees us as perfect – flawless!
  • 2^nd – God and SAVIOR…
    • Do NOT miss – Jesus is both our GOD and SAVIOR…
    • John 10:30 – “The Father and I are one.”
    • John 14:9 – “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father!”
    • John 20:28 – “‘My Lord and my God! Thomas exclaimed.”
    • I John 5:20 – “Jesus Christ. He is the only true God – and He is eternal life…”
    • One of the great mysteries of our Faith – there is only One God – Deuteronomy 6:4
    • Yet God exists in THREE distinct persons – God the Father – God the Son – God the Spirit…
    • The Bible makes no effort to explain how this is WORKS – only that it is TRUE…
    • What makes a religion a CULT – rather than a DENOMINATION…
    • Is there denial of this KEY doctrine – rejecting the divinity of Jesus Christ!

• 2^nd – What God has given… vs. 2-4
  • 1^st – Grace and peace… vs. 2
    • Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord!
      • There can be NO peace with God – until we have GRACE from God…
      • Only the CERTAIN expectation of the JUDGMENT of God – Hebrews 10:31
      • When we have the GRACE of God – GIFT of salvation – we have PEACE with God!
    • PEACE multiplied…
      • MULTIPLIED [πληθύνω] – a great number – filled up…
      • Not just a LITTLE grace and peace – to be FILLED with GRACE and PEACE…
      • But being FILLED with PEACE is the RESULT [passive] of KNOWLEDGE…
      • The more we KNOW God and Jesus our LORD – the more GRACE and PEACE we have!
      • I was talking to someone in church the other day about a computer program…
      • As they saw me using it they were amazed how little they knew about it…
      • They realized to really use it to its FULL potential – they needed to KNOW more!
      • The key to seeing grace and peace multiplies – is the KNOWLEDGE of Jesus…
      • That means spending LOTS of time with Him – in His Word – in prayer…
      • The more we KNOW about Him – the more GRACE and PEACE we receive from Him!
  • 2^nd – Life and Godliness… vs. 3
    • As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness…
      • Through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue!
      • Having the KNOWLEDGE of Jesus does not just give us GRACE and PEACE…
      • By His DIVINE [θεῖος] POWER [δύναμις] – we might say GOD POWER…
      • We have already [passive] been given [perfect] all things that pertain to life – godliness…
      • It is not that God will ONE day give us ALL we need to live for Him…
      • Through the KNOWLEDGE of Him that called us to GLORY and VIRTUE [morals]
      • God has ALREADY given us EVERYTHING we need to live a HOLY life!
    • The KEY to VICTORY…
      • We may not realize how much we have been given – if we do not have KNOWLEDGE…
      • Maybe you are like me – you wonder many days if you can really live for Jesus…
      • With all the temptation in this world – as many times as we seem to make mistakes…
      • Is it really possible to live a HOLY life for the Lord – and if so HOW…
      • The answer – KNOWLEDGE – God has already blessed us with all we need!
      • Ephesians 1:3 – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ – who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ…”
  • 3^rd – Great PROMISES… vs. 4
    • By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises…
      • That through these you may be partakers of the divine nature…
      • Having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust!
      • Through the KNOWLEDGE of Jesus we are given [passive] PROMISES [perfect]
      • EXCEEDINGLY great [μέγιστος] – only here NT – the GREATEST promises…
      • That through these great PROMISES – we might [subjunctive] be PARTAKERS…
      • PARTAKERS [κοινωνός] – 10x NT – to be a partner or to help…
      • The DIVINE nature – that helps us ESCAPE – the corruption [sin] that is in the world!
    • The KNOWLEDGE of Jesus helps us choose to live for God…
      • The world lives for LUST – selfish desires – because they think it will fulfill them…
      • But as we gain the KNOWLEDGE of Jesus – we learn about something FAR greater…
      • We learn of the greatest PROMISE – and in doing so choose to FLEE from an EMPTY world!
      • I Timothy 6:10 – “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil – for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness – pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
      • The world may try and sell us on CHEAP momentary pleasures that seem good…
      • But when they are held in the light of the KNOWLEDGE of the PROMISES of God…
      • They quickly FADE – and the TRUTH becomes apparent – it is all about Jesus!
      • We are heirs to all that God has – joint heirs with Jesus Christ – Romans 8:17
      • Which means God desires to give us EVERYTHING – His KINGDOM – Luke 12:32
      • Nothing this world offer us could ever compare to that!

• 3^rd – What we must do … vs. 5-7
  • Be diligent… vs. 5-7
    • But also for this very reason – giving all diligence – add to your faith virtue…
    • To virtue knowledge – to knowledge self-control – to self-control perseverance…
    • To perseverance godliness – to godliness brotherly kindness – to brotherly kindness love!
    • In light of all we have been given through the KNOWLEDGE of Christ…
    • DILIGENT [σπουδή] – to be quick to respond…
    • GIVE [παρεισφέρω] – only here NT – to bring beside – to add to…
    • We are saved by grace alone through faith alone – Ephesians 1:9-10
    • But we do have a PART to play – coming along side what God has done…
    • SEVEN nouns we MUST [imperative] add to our faith!
  • 1^st – VIRTUE [ἀρετή] – 4x NT [3 by Peter] – moral excellence – modesty – purity!
  • 2^nd – KNOWLEDGE [γνῶσις] – indicates a relation – knowing a person…
    • When I got to KNOW my wife – it changed my priorities…
    • I wanted to do those things that pleased and blessed her!
    • In the same way as we get to KNOW the Lord – it affects our behavior…
    • We want to live a virtuous – moral – modest – pure life to please Him!
  • 3^rd – Self-control [ἐγκράτεια] – 4x NT – to have POWER over our desires…
    • It is one of the descriptions of the Fruit of the Spirit – Galatians 5:23
    • When we KNOW the Lord – we let Jesus control the desires of our heart!
    • Psalm 37:4 – “Delight yourself in the LORD – He shall give you the desires of your heart.”
  • 4^th – Perseverance [ὑπομονή] – compound word – hupo and meno…
    • Apart from Jesus we can do nothing – John 15:4
    • We must ABIDE [μένω] in Him in order for us to be able to have any FRUIT…
    • When we ABIDE – we will have the POWER to live a HOLY life!
  • 5^th – Godliness [εὐσέβεια] – Reverence or respect towards God
  • 6^th – Brotherly [φιλαδελφία] – brotherly love for one another…
    • The result of having a reverence for God is that we KIND to each other…
    • We do not just pretend to get along – fake it – we actually do like one another!
  • 7^th – Love [ἀγάπη] – unconditional perfect LOVE
    • Our love is conditional – we tend to show love to those who love us back…
    • But that is not the love that God desires to flow from us – define us…
    • As we have KNOWLEDGE – we will find we begin to reflect the Love from the Word!
    • John 13:35 – “All will know you are My disciples – if you have love for one another.”

So we NEVER stumble – and abundantly enter into the Kingdom of Christ!

4^th – The Results… vs. 8-11

1^st – A fruitful life… vs. 8

For if these things are yours and abound…

For if these come from us – and ABOUND [πλεονάζω] – to SUPER abound…

If we are DILIGENT to add to our FAITH all SEVEN things…

You will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ!

There are TWO results – they will make us not BARREN…

1 – BARREN [ἀργός] – 8x NT – means to be lazy or refuse to work…

2 – UNFRUITFUL [ἄκαρπος] – someone who does not have the FRUIT of the SPIRIT…

What will NOT be LAZY and UNFRUITFUL – the KNOWLEDGE of the Lord Jesus!

Where our treasure is there is your HEART will be also – Luke 12:34

We tend to think we invest in the things that are important to us…

But the truth is our HEART follows our investments – what our HEART wants…

That is why we should never follow our heart – it is deceptive – Jeremiah 17:9

If we spend all of our time on the things of this world – BARREN and UNFRUITFUL…

But if we are investing in the things of God – we will have the KNOLEDGE of God!

2^nd – A BLINDED life… vs. 9

For he who lacks these things is shortsighted – even to blindness…

And has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins!

If we are NOT diligent to add to our faith all SEVEN things…

We will find [indicative] there are THREE results!

SHORTSIGHTED [μυωπάζω] – only able to see what is right in front of you…

BLINDNESS [τυφλός] – not speaking of physical blindness – but spiritual blindness…

FORGOTTEN [λήθη] – to be HIDDEN from!

The problem with living for the world – is we are limited to worldly KNOWLEDGE…

And worldly knowledge cannot tell us what will happen next year – month – tomorrow…

So all of our decisions are SHORTSIGHTED – BLIND choices – made on false hope…

Hope that somehow things will work out – but we have FORGOTTEN…

We must be DILIGENT in the Lord – receive the KNOWLEDGE of the Lord…

Who can see the end from the beginning – and can safely direct out steps!

3^rd – Never stumble… vs. 10-11

Therefore – brethren – be even more diligent to make your call and election sure…

For if you do these things you will never stumble!

Because there will be FRUIT if we are diligent – and BLINDNESS if we are not…

Be even more DILIGENT to make your calling and election sure – because if we do…

NEVER stumble – [οὐ μὴ subjunctive] – the most powerful negation in Greek!

I have read about several stories about Christian influencers denouncing their faith…

We hear the stories and wonder what happened – how could they have stumbled…

What happened – they did not apply the KNOWLEDGE of God in their lives!

A smart person sitting inside a house on fire – is dumb if he does not get up and run out…

In the same way we can know all about what God has done for us…

But if our KNOWLEDGE is just in our head – then it really does us no good…

God has done it all for us – given us Grace and peace – Life and Godliness – Great promises!

But along with the KNOLEDGE – we need to put into practice the things we learn!

If we do then we will NEVER stumble – because it will be God who directs – holds us!

For so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly…

Into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Considering what is at stake – our ETERNAL destination – entrance into heaven…

It is CRUCIAL that we make sure we have the KNOWLEDGE of what God has done for us…

Grace and peace – all things that pertain to life and Godliness – greatest promises…

And that we also are DILIGENT to put our FAITH into practice…

So we are FRUITFUL – with the ability to SEE clearly and make wise choices…