Peter's Second Letter

Monday, August 18, 2008: 2 Peter 1:1

Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

Background: Peter is writing this last letter just before his execution in A. D. 65-68 because of error that is creeping into the churches in what is now Turkey.
Who does Peter say he is? Peter calls himself a slave and an eyewitness-messenger of Jesus Christ.
Who is he specifically writing to? He writes to other believers who acquire faith as a result of the perfect rightness of God and our savior Jesus Christ.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008: 2 Peter 1:2

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,

Is this A x B where A = grace and B = peace? No, both grace and peace continue to increase in our lives proportionate to the increase of our knowledge of God and Jesus Christ.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008: 2 Peter 1:3

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,

Are the faithful already given ALL things? Yes, but linked to a new life and living that is centered on God and His plan for your life.

Thursday, August 21, 2008: 2 Peter 1:4

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.

What does our knowledge of Him give the faithful? It gives us promises which are so great and valuable that they make us take part of God’s own nature, escaping lust’s worldly corrosion.

Friday, August 22, 2008: 2 Peter 1:5

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,

What are we to diligently add? Faith + virtue + knowledge.
But isn't this already there in the previous verses? Yes, but each quality or qualification has many levels to which the circumstances brought into your life by God allow you to grow in stature.