Theological Commentary: Click Here
2 Peter is a
little more difficult to read than 1 Peter.
The words are more ethereal and the meanings of the words often feel a
bit out of reach. There is much to learn
from this book, though, in spite of a feeling of difficulty.
For example,
take what Peter lists as a cycle of holiness.
Not surprisingly, Peter starts with faith. To faith, Peter adds virtue as a
support. He then adds knowledge,
self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love.
There are a
number of neat perspectives to take from this list. First, it starts with faith. Faith is given to us by God. Peter begins the list with the most important
idea – something that is given to us and not something we can create on our
own. The path to righteousness begins
with God’s gift.
To faith,
Peter begins to add things that help preserve faith. Virtue helps us understand applied faith. Knowledge helps us understand God’s calling
for us and the world’s need for faith.
Self-control keeps us from being rash and harming our witness of faith to
the world. Steadfastness helps draw
others to ourselves as we display our faith in our reliability and security. Godliness helps us show our faith to the
world. Brotherly affection helps others
see the faith within. Love, of course,
brings us full circle to God, who gave us faith.
As Peter
says, if we have these qualities we are fulfilled by God. If we lack these qualities, we are ineffective
and unfruitful. We are blind without
faith and its pillars of support. Our
faith becomes unsupported and eventually forgotten. Our witness is spoiled and what God intended
to do through us He must then do through someone else.
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