Questions

Scriptural Reflection
2 Peter 1:1–11

2 Peter

It is believed that Peter wrote this letter shortly before his martyrdom (1:14), thus he was in Rome likely between A.D. 64-66. Since he referred to this as his second letter to them (3:1), he must have the believers in Asia Minor in mind. This shorter letter, however, carries a more urgent tone as he reminds his readers of the suddenness of the coming of our Lord Jesus, and he fiercely rebukes the false teachers of his time.

1:2—The Greeting

(1) Compare what Peter calls himself here with what he says in the first letter (1 and 2 Pet. 1:1):

a. What might be the reason that he calls himself Simon (his Hebrew name) Peter, instead of Peter?

b. Why does he call himself a slave (according to the original Greek word) in addition to an apostle?

(2) As he addresses the recipients of this letter, what is that one precious thing that is common to all be believers that Peter points out?

(3) Can you explain why you also find your faith precious?

(4) As he wishes his readers abundance of grace and peace, what does Peter point out as the source of these blessings?

1:3-11—Making Our Calling and Election Sure—Peter’s first exhortation is about our calling:

(5) Our calling (v. 3)

a. What is meant by saying that God calls us “by His own glory and goodness (or virtue, according to the Greek word; same in v. 5)"?

b. What kind of a life has He called us into?

c. Through what have we received all things needed to fulfill our calling?

(6) Our godly life (v. 4)

a. What are these “very great and precious promises” that have made it possible for us to live a godly life?

b. How do our new lives differ from the old?

(7) Effective and productive knowledge of Christ (vv. 5-9)

a. There are seven qualities that Peter urges us to be diligent to possess in increasing measure (vv. 5-7)

1. Do you think there is a logical sequence to these qualities, especially when the list begins with “faith” and yet ends with “agape love”?
2. Which of these seven qualities do you need to work on the most?

b. What can one do to “add” to these qualities in increasing measure? (v. 3)

c. What does our (full) knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ yield? (v. 8)

d. How would the possession of such qualities in increasing measure help us to not to be ineffective (original Greek is “barren”) and unproductive (“unfruitful”)?

e. What if we fail to do so? (v. 9)

f. Which is a picture of yourself — v. 8 or v. 9?

(8) Three times Peter mentions about our “(full) knowledge of Christ” (vv. 2, 3 and 8): What does it mean and why is it so important?

(9) Why do we need to make sure (or confirm) our calling and election?

a. Is faith itself not enough?

b. What if we fail to be diligent in adding or living out the aforementioned qualities? (v.10b)

c. What if we are able to do so? (v.11)

(10) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Scriptural Reflection
2 Peter 1:12–21

1:12-15—Reason for Writing the Letter —while Peter has not specified what “these things” are specifically, the reason for reminding his readers obviously applies to all the exhortations in the letter:

(1) In essence, Peter admits that what he is saying is nothing new (v. 12). What reason does he give for refreshing his readers’ memory? (v. 13)

(2) How does he know that he will die soon? (v. 14)

(3) How does he refer to his body? (v. 13) Why?

(4) What should your attitude be in listening to “repeated” messages from your pastor?

1:16-18—First-hand Witness

(5) What particular message appears to be disputed at Peter’s time? (v. 16)

(6) Do Christians in general truly believe in the second coming of our Lord?

(7) In asserting the truthfulness of the gospel that he and other apostles preach,

a. What is the special experience he uses to authenticate the gospel?

b. Pick one of the following passages from the gospel to refresh your memory of the transfiguration of Jesus witnessed by Peter: Matt. 17:1-8; Mk. 9:2-8; Lk. 9:28-36.

c. What is the significance of this experience to Peter and to the truthfulness of the gospel? (vv. 17-18)

1:19-21—Reliable Prophecies

(8) Can you remember at least one prophecy about our Lord that has undoubtedly come true? (You may wish to check with the gospel accounts concerning either the birth or death of Jesus Christ.)

(9) Do you agree with Peter that these prophetic messages are “completely reliable”? (v. 19)

(10) What then should your attitude be toward the prophecies concerning His coming again in power (v. 16)? (v. 19)

(11) What is meant by “until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts”? (v. 19; see Rev. 2:28; 22:16)

(12) Which is the true source of biblical prophecies? (vv. 20-21)

(13) What about the rest of the Scriptures? (2 Tim. 3:16)

(14) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Scriptural Reflection
2 Peter 2:1–11

The genuineness of biblical prophecies is now contrasted to the teachings of the false teachers (note: the Greek word used for “false” is “pseudo”).

(1) Why is the appearance of “false teachers” not unexpected? (v. 1)

(2) The Introduction of Heresies (v. 1)

a. Why does Peter say that heresies are “secretly” brought in by the false teachers?

b. These false teachers deny the Sovereign Lord who bought them.

1. Whom do these false teachers claim themselves to be?
2. In the early days of Christianity, among the popular heresies is the denial of either Jesus’ humanity or His divinity: How does each of these heresies “deny the Sovereign Lord"?
3. What swift destruction will they bring upon themselves?

(3) Given the clear teachings of the Apostles in the first century, why would “Christians” follow the teachings and the depraved conduct of these false teachers? (v. 2)

(4) What is the motive of these false teachers? (v. 3a) Is it always true of all false teachers?

(5) What condemnation will they face? (vv. 3b-6)

a. What are the three examples that Peter cites concerning their condemnation? (vv. 4-6; see Note 1 below)

b. What are the things common among these examples and with the false teachers? (see v. 9b as well)

(6) In citing the example of Noah and Lot (vv. 7-9),

a. What was common among them?

b. How may we emulate the examples of Noah and Lot?

(7) What are the marks of false teachers? (vv. 10-11; see Note 2 below)

(8) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Note:

1. Some commentators opine that the fallen angels cited by Peter refer to the “sons of God” mentioned in Genesis 6. But this interpretation is based on the “fabricated stories” given in the Book of Enoch which is not considered as part of the Canon of the Bible; Luke also calls Adam the son of God (Lk. 3:38). Others opine that Peter is referring to the fallen angels who are now held in the pit of darkness awaiting judgment on the Final Day of Judgment.
2. Commentators vary in their opinions concerning vv. 10-11, and it is not helpful to resort to extra-biblical evidence to find its likely interpretation as Peter himself strongly was opposed to “fabricated stories” (v. 3). Perhaps Jude 9 is what Peter has in mind and uses it to contrast the attitude of Archangel Michael with the irreverent attitude of the false teachers.

Scriptural Reflection
2 Peter 2:12–22

Peter now launches into a fierce attack of the false teachers. While not all false teachers are alike, Peter presents a general picture of the false teachers of his time:

(1) They are like animals (vv. 12-13a)

a. In what way are they like animals? (v. 12b)

b. What have they done to deserve such a verbal assault by Peter? (v. 12a)

c. What will their punishment be? (v. 13a)

(2) Pleasure, adultery and greed (vv. 13b-14)

a. While people normally seek pleasure and feast at night, these false teachers like to do so even in broad daylight: What kind of persons are they?

b. Why do pleasure seeking and feasting blemish one’s life?

c. Do you think pleasure seeking and adultery are necessarily related? Why or why not? (v.14)

d. What have pleasure, adultery and greed together made them to be? (v. 14b)

(3) The way of Balaam (vv. 15-16)

a. Balaam was supposed to be a prophet: What had led him astray? (v. 15; Numbers 22:17)

b. How was he finally stopped? (v. 16; Num. 22:21 ff)

c. In what way do these false teachers follow the way of Balaam?

(4) They promise freedom, but deliver slavery.(vv. 17-19)

a. Whom do they target as their victims? (v. 18b)

b. How do they entice people? (v. 18a)

c. Why can they not deliver their promised freedom? (v. 19)

d. What does Peter liken them to? (v. 17a) Why?

e. What will their punishment be? (v. 17b)

(5) A return to their former corruption (vv. 20-22)—Peter makes the assumption that they once knew the Lord:

a. If so, what do their false teachings signify? (v.20)

b. Why does Peter say that it is better for them not to have known the Lord? (v. 21)

c. What analogies does Peter use to describe them? (v. 22—not v. 22a is his quote from Prov. 26:11)?

d. How fitting are these analogies?

(6) With the above description, is it hard to tell who a false teacher is? Why or why not?

(7) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?

Scriptural Reflection
2 Peter 3:1–18

3:1-2—Purpose of Writing

(1) What is Peter’s purpose in writing his two letters? (v. 1)

(2) Why does our wholesome (or sincere) thinking need to be stimulated? (v. 2)

3:3-13—The Last Days and Jesus’ Return

(3) Why do people scoff at Jesus’ promised return? (v. 4)

(4) According to Peter, what is the real problem with these scoffers? (v. 3)

(5) Now, Jesus’ promise is the same as God’s word (v. 5).

a. How did our present heavens and earth come about? (v. 5)

b. While the world at Noah’s time was destroyed by water (Gen. 6),

1. Why do the present heavens and earth still exist? (v. 7)
2. Will they be preserved forever? Why or why not?

(6) Peter explains why Jesus does not come sooner to judge (vv. 8-9):

a. How does God look at time? (v. 8)

b. Is it a new teaching? (Ps. 90:4)

c. What is the reason for the “apparent delay” of Jesus’ coming? (v. 9)

(7) What will happen at the return of Christ (vv. 10-13)?

a. What is meant by coming like a thief? (Matt. 24:43-44)

b. What will happen to the present heavens (i.e. the sky)?

c. What will happen to the elements (likely referring to the heavenly bodies)?

d. What will happen to the earth and everything in it?

e. How then shall we live now? (vv. 11-12)

f. For believers, what can we look forward to in that day? (v. 13)

(8) Living in anticipation of the Lord’s return (vv. 14-18):

a. What kind of a life should we live? (v. 14) Why?

b. Since the Lord’s patience means salvation, what then should we do? (v. 15)

c. Peter appears to be echoing Paul’s words in Romans 13:11-14.

1. What does he say about some of Paul’s writings (v. 16)
2. Have you found it to be true?
3. How does Peter treat Paul’s writings?

d. Having given them the warning against the false teachers (vv. 17-18,

1. Defensively what should they do? How?
2. Positively what should they do? How?

(9) As we come to the end of the letter, take a bit of time to reflect on your notes or scan through the letter once again, and see what might the key messages be to you and how you can apply them to your life.