Commentary on the Book of 2 Peter

By Claudius Brown

The Book of 2 Peter is a letter in the New Testament of the Christian Bible, written by the Apostle Peter. The letter is addressed to Christians who were facing false teachings and is intended to encourage them to remain faithful to the true teachings of Christ.
The book of 2 Peter can be divided into three main sections:
Introduction and Exhortation (1:1-21): In this section, Peter introduces himself as a servant of Jesus Christ and encourages his readers to grow in their faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Warning Against False Teachers (2:1-22): In this section, Peter warns his readers about false teachers who will try to lead them astray with their false teachings and immoral behavior.
Final Exhortation and Conclusion (3:1-18): In this section, Peter encourages his readers to be patient and steadfast in their faith as they await the return of Jesus Christ. He also emphasizes the importance of living holy and godly lives.
Overall, the book of 2 Peter emphasizes the importance of remaining faithful to the true teachings of Jesus Christ and avoiding false teachings that can lead to spiritual destruction.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Claudius Brown
• Release date: Apr 2, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215619179

Claudius Brown

This book is about me and the struggles I go through to survive in this world. I hope that those who read my book will be encouraged to not quit on life due to the struggles they are going through.

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Introduction

The Book of 2 Peter is a letter in the New Testament of the Christian Bible, written by the Apostle Peter. The letter is addressed to Christians who were facing false teachings and is intended to encourage them to remain faithful to the true teachings of Christ.

The book of 2 Peter can be divided into three main sections:

Introduction and Exhortation (1:1-21): In this section, Peter introduces himself as a servant of Jesus Christ and encourages his readers to grow in their faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Warning Against False Teachers (2:1-22): In this section, Peter warns his readers about false teachers who will try to lead them astray with their false teachings and immoral behavior.

Final Exhortation and Conclusion (3:1-18): In this section, Peter encourages his readers to be patient and steadfast in their faith as they await the return of Jesus Christ. He also emphasizes the importance of living holy and godly lives.

Overall, the book of 2 Peter emphasizes the importance of remaining faithful to the true teachings of Jesus Christ and avoiding false teachings that can lead to spiritual destruction.

Chapter 1

Bond-servant

Δοῦλος (doulos) is a Greek word that means slave or servant. In ancient Greece, slavery was a common practice, and doulos referred to a person who was owned by another person and had no freedom or rights of their own. In the New Testament of the Christian Bible, the word doulos is often used metaphorically to refer to a person who has devoted themselves to serving God or to serving others.

Δοῦλος: Apostle Peter's Understanding

The Greek word Δοῦλος (doulos) appears frequently in the New Testament, including in the writings of the Apostle Peter. The term can be translated into English as servant, slave, or bondservant, and it carries significant theological and ethical implications.

In the context of the New Testament, the word doulos often refers to a person who has willingly submitted themselves to serve another person or entity. This submission can be either voluntary or coerced, but in either case, the doulos is expected to serve their master faithfully and with complete obedience.

The Apostle Peter uses the term doulos in several important passages of his writings, each of which sheds further light on what the term means to him and how it relates to his understanding of Christian discipleship.

For example, in his first letter, Peter addresses his readers as elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood (1 Peter 1:1-2). In this passage, Peter emphasizes that Christians are chosen by God and set apart by the Spirit for the purpose of obeying Jesus Christ. This obedience is compared to the sprinkling of blood, which likely refers to the Old Testament ritual of sprinkling sacrificial blood to purify and consecrate people and objects for use in worship.

Later in the same letter, Peter writes: Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God (1 Peter 2:16). Here, Peter encourages his readers to embrace their identity as douloi of God, which means serving him with gladness and humility rather than using their freedom as an excuse to indulge their own desires.

In another passage, Peter addresses slaves directly, instructing them to submit to their masters even if they are treated unjustly: Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust (1 Peter 2:18). This command reflects the cultural context of Peter's time, in which slavery was a common and accepted practice. However, Peter's words also suggest that even in a situation of servitude, a Christian can remain faithful to God and his commands by submitting to their earthly masters with humility and respect.

Overall, it is clear that the term doulos holds great significance for the Apostle Peter and his understanding of Christian discipleship. By willingly submitting to God as a doulos, a Christian can experience true freedom and fulfill their calling to serve others with humility and love, just as Jesus himself did when he took on the form of a servant (Philippians 2:7).

Peter's view of δοῦλος.

The term δοῦλος (doulos) is a Greek word that means slave or servant. In the context of the New Testament, it is often used to describe a person who is a willing servant of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Peter, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus and a key figure in the early Christian church, used the term δοῦλος in his writings to describe himself and other believers.

In 1 Peter 2:16, Peter exhorts believers to live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. Here, Peter uses the term δοῦλος to describe the believer's relationship to God. He is saying that believers should see themselves as slaves of God, living to serve Him and obey His commands.

Peter also uses the term δοῦλος in his second letter, where he identifies himself as a δοῦλος of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:1). By calling himself a slave of Christ, Peter is emphasizing his submission to Jesus and his willingness to do whatever Jesus asks of him.

Throughout his letters, Peter encourages believers to adopt a servant's mindset and to serve one another in love. In 1 Peter 4:10-11, he writes, As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Peter is emphasizing that every believer has been given gifts by God, and these gifts should be used to serve others. By doing so, believers will glorify God and bring honor to Jesus Christ.

In conclusion, the term δοῦλος was a significant concept to the Apostle Peter. He used it to describe his own relationship with Jesus Christ and to encourage other believers to adopt a servant's mindset. By seeing themselves as slaves of God, believers could live lives that honored Jesus and served others in love.

Jesus as Master and Lord.

In the Christian faith, Jesus is often referred to as Lord and Master, indicating his authority and position as both the leader and the teacher of his followers. In the New Testament of the Bible, Jesus frequently referred to himself as the Son of God and the Messiah, and he claimed to have the power to forgive sins, perform miracles, and grant eternal life.

In John 13:13, Jesus explicitly tells his disciples, You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. This statement emphasizes Jesus' authority over his disciples and his role as their teacher and mentor. Jesus' teachings and actions were meant to guide his disciples in their spiritual growth and help them to understand God's will.

Overall, Jesus' identity as both Lord and Master reflects his central role in the Christian faith, as the Savior and leader who teaches and guides his followers towards eternal life with God.

Peter's submission to Jesus.

In the New Testament, the Apostle Peter refers to Jesus as his Lord in various instances. One such instance is found in 2 Peter 1:1, where Peter introduces himself as a servant of Jesus Christ. The Greek word used for servant here is doulos, which can also be translated as slave.

By referring to himself as a servant or slave of Jesus Christ, Peter is expressing his submission and devotion to Jesus as his master. This language of servitude or slavery was common in the ancient world and was used to describe a person's relationship to their master.

Peter's use of this language emphasizes his understanding of Jesus as his Lord and Master, and his willingness to obey Him and serve Him faithfully. This also reflects the Christian belief that through faith in Jesus, one becomes a servant of God and a member of His kingdom.

Therefore, Peter's statement highlights his recognition of Jesus' authority and his commitment to follow Him as a faithful disciple.

Apostle, ἀπόστολος (apostolos) is a Greek word that means one who is sent or messenger. In a religious context, it is often used to refer to the twelve disciples chosen by Jesus Christ to spread his message and establish the early Christian church. The term apostle is also used more broadly to refer to early Christian missionaries and leaders who played a significant role in the development of the Christian faith.

ἀπόστολος (apostolos) is a Greek word that means one who is sent or messenger. In a religious context, it is often used to refer to the twelve disciples chosen by Jesus Christ to spread his message and establish the early Christian church. The term apostle is also used more broadly to refer to early Christian missionaries