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PETER’S APOSTLESHIP AND DOCTRINE (2Pe
1:1) 9/21/16 Grace Bible Church,
Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert I. CONTEXT A. The title that I have
given to this epistle is, “God’s Truth Against False Teachers.” B. Peter both taught doctrinal truth as well
as refuted the false teachers in one of the strongest indictments among NT
epistles. C. Peter began with teaching doctrinal truth
clarifying that, “God’s Truth Establishes the Believer (1:1-21).” II. SALUTATION (1:1-2) A. Peter’s Apostolic
Authority 1. Peter’s
salutation differs very little from his first epistle. The addition of “Simon”
changes little. a) It was
the combination that John used more than the other gospel writers (15 times
cf. Mat 16:16). However, he also used the simple name “Peter” (13 times). b) Simon (Simeon) was his original name and
Jesus called him “Peter” (Mat 4:18 cf. Joh 1:42). It appears that the
Lord most often called him by his original name “Simon” (Mat 17:25; Mar
14:37; Luk 22:31; Joh 21:15-17 cf. Mat 16:18). c) It is possible that the apostle used both
names to ensure they knew the letter was from him. 2. Peter
does add the title “bond-servant” (doulos - slave). a) Doulos also describes his character, commitment, and
obedience. b) It was a title used by other writers of
the NT (Rom 1:1; Jam 1:1; Jud 1:1; Rev 1:1). c) It was an honored title that described
God’s servants (Moses – Deu 34:5; Joshua – Josh 24:29; David – 2Sa 3:18). d) To call the Christian the doulos of God
means that he is inalienably possessed by God. In the ancient world a master
possessed his slaves in the same sense as he possessed his tools. A servant
can change his master; but a slave cannot. The Christian inalienably belongs
to God. (Barclay, in loc.) 3. Peter
had addressed himself in his first epistle with the title of “apostle.”
A true apostle had to have been appointed and commissioned by the resurrected
Christ (Act 1:2-3, 8). 4. Peter’s apostolic authority had been
established by his own salutation. Therefore, he was divinely appointed to
instruct them in the truth as well as refute false teachers. B. Faith Given to His Readers 1. Peter
words the described his readers in a most interesting way. Of course, his
general implication was that they were believers who trusted in Christ for
salvation. 2. But where did they get their faith? They
were those who have received a faith. a) While
“faith” (pistis) can certainly refer to objective faith, i.e.
Christianity (Jud 1:3), it can also refer to subjective faith, i.e. personal
faith. b) Since the word “faith” here does not have
the Greek article as does Jude’s, it seems better to take this as subjective
faith, i.e. personal faith. c) However, this personal faith came from
God, for they received it from God. (1) Theologically,
God must give the elect faith because he is positionally dead in his
trespasses and sins and does not have the capability in himself to believe
(Eph 2:1-3). (2) Because of God’s mercy toward the elect,
even while they “were dead,” God “made them alive.” In other words, God
regenerated them, giving them the capability to believe (Eph 2:4-5a, b). (3) This is by God’s grace, therefore, “by
grace you (the elect) have been saved.” (Eph 2:5c). (4) Then when Paul stated a few verses later
that “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves, it is the gift of God,” faith is at least indirectly implied as a
gift if not directly (Eph 2:8-9). Faith is also presented as a gift in Php
1:29 and Act 3:16. d) The faith
of Peter’s readers was a genuine faith because it was the same kind as
ours (either the apostles’ faith, or the initial Jewish believers). It
was equally genuine (“same kind” – istoimos – held in equal honor).
Thereof it was the right kind of faith, the faith that was given by God. C. Righteousness Imputed to
His Readers 1. In God’s
salvation for man, it is necessary for man to obtain righteousness (Rom
2:7-8). However, man is sinful and “there is none righteous, not even one.”
(Rom 3:10, 23). 2. Since sinful man has no righteousness of
his own, the gift of salvation must include God’s gift of righteousness. 3. The righteousness that is imputed to man
is Christ’s righteousness. 4. The elect receive it all as a gift, that
is God’s grace, God’s salvation, Christ’s righteousness, and the gift of
faith necessary for salvation. 5. Peter then has thrown his hat into the
Reformer’s ring (rather, they have their hats into Peter’s ring) of
“justification by faith alone.” Peter himself, was another inspired source
that taught justification by faith, even as Paul (Rom 1:17; 3:21-22, 28; Gal
2:16; 3:11). D. Jesus Christ, Both God and
Savior 1. Peter
also proclaimed Christ’s deity. In the phrase, “God and Savior, Jesus
Christ,” is Peter referring to both the Father and the Son? I believe
this is a reference to the fact that Christ is both “God” and “Savior.” 2. The late Dr. Bruce Metzger, former
Professor of New Testament Language and Literature at Princeton Theological
Seminary, wrote that this passage was “an express declaration of
the deity of Jesus Christ.” He cited the Granville Sharp Rule as
grammatical evidence, that when “kai [and] connects two nouns of the same
case, if the article precedes the first noun and is not repeated before the
second noun, the latter always refers to the same person that is expressed or
described by the first noun [tou theou hêmōn kai
sōtêros Iêsou Christos - 2Pe 1:1] (The Jehovah's Witnesses and
Jesus Christ, pg. 79). 3. Therefore, both “God” and “Savior” are
connected by kai (and) and share the same Greek article (“tou” –
“tou theou hêmōn kai sōtêrios). Therefore, both titles belong
to “Jesus Christ.” 4. This is one of Peter’s theme in his
second epistle (2Pe 1:11; 2:20; 3:2, 18) as is found elsewhere in the NT (Rom
9:5; Col 2:9; Tit 2:13; Heb 1:8). III. OBSERVATIONS AND
APPLICATIONS A. Is faith necessary for
salvation? B. Is the doctrine of election important? C. Is the doctrine Christ’s deity important? D. Is the apostle Peter the genuine author? |
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Grace Bible Church · 4000 E. Collins Rd · PO Box #3762 · Gillette, WY · (307) 686-1516 |
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