2 Peter 1:16-2:10 Lesson 453

2 Peter 1:16-2:10
Lesson 453

Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

In this Lesson:

Made-up fables or divine prophecy (1:16-21)?
False teachers (2:1-3).

Memorize verse 2:9. Recite it when in trouble or tempted to do wrong.

Noah on the ark.

A 19th century chromolithograph illustration.

Who was -

Noah -
Noah was an Old Testament patriarch and "just man" (Genesis 6:9), also known as Noe (Matthew 24:38). He was the tenth descendant of Adam and Eve (Genesis 5:5-29). Because of humanities sinful nature, God regretted creating man (Genesis 6:6-7) and warned Noah of a coming flood that would put an end to mankind's "wickedness" (Genesis 6:5) and "violence" (6:13). Despite living in an arid land 500 miles from the sea, Noah trusted God (Genesis 6:9) and followed His seemingly foolish instructions to build an ark (Genesis 6:14-16) large enough to carry two of every unclean animal (i.e., pigs) and seven of each clean animal (Genesis 7:2-3). When the rains came, Noah, his wife, three sons (Shem, Ham, and Japhet), and their wives took refuge on the ark and were spared from the flood (2 Peter 2:5). After the floodwaters subsided, Noah built an altar and made a sacrifice to God (Genesis 8:20). This pleased God and He promised not to flood the earth again (Genesis 9:11). God sealed His promise with a rainbow (Genesis 9:13-15). Noah lived to be 950 years old (Genesis 9:29). Just as in Noah's day when few believed that disaster loomed, no one will be expecting Jesus' Second Coming (Matthew 24:35-39). You can read more about Noah in Genesis 6:5-9:29.

Lot -
Lot was Abraham's nephew (12:5) and the son of Haran (Genesis 11:27). He was a wealthy shepherd, city leader, and an Old Testament town judge. Before God's wrath settled on the wicked citizens of Sodom, He sent two angels to warn Lot of the pending destruction of the city. Lot survived the devastation by obeying God's instructions to flee the city without looking back. Unfortunately, Lot's wife looked back to see Sodom being destroyed. She was instantly turned into a "pillar of salt" (Genesis 19:26). Even today, there is a tall, strangely shaped rock south of the Dead Sea, which the locals call "Lot's wife." It bears a striking resemblance to a woman turned to stone in mid-stride. The story of Lot appears in Genesis 11:27-14:29; 19:1-38.

Study Tip:

Take notes.
Notes help us learn and remember.
They keep us organized, focused, and help us follow up on thoughts and ideas.

The Second Epistle of Peter

The King James Bible

2 Peter 1:16-2:10
No fables

16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

2 Peter 2:1-10
Danger to Christians

1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;

7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:

8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

Margin notes:

"We have not followed cunningly devised fables." (1:16) - "We haven't followed cleverly conceived fairy tales." Christians follow the word of God, not the false heresies espoused by false teachers, agnostics, idol worshippers, or pagans.

"We made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1:16) - This refers to the first coming of Christ, the Incarnation.

"Eyewitnesses of his majesty." (1:16) - Refers to the Transfiguration and the miracles Jesus performed. Peter saw firsthand the majesty of Christ at the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-13; Luke 9:28-36) as Jesus' divine identity was revealed.  He witnessed Jesus' miracles, heard His powerful sermons (Luke 6:37-49), watched Him walk on water, and raise the dead. Peter saw Jesus' empty grave (Luke 24:12).  He knew Jesus was the Messiah. The false teachers had no witnesses to back up their "fables."

"When there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory." (1:17) - Another reference to the Transfiguration.

"This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (1:17) - Read Matthew 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:34-35.

"When we were with him in the holy mount." (1:18) - Another reference to the Transfiguration. The "we" refers to the three eyewitnesses to the Transfiguration: Peter, James, and John.

"We have also a more sure word of prophecy." (1:19) - "We are even more certain we have the true word of prophecy." The "prophecy" is the Old Testament prediction that a Messiah would come to save mankind.  Jesus fulfilled the prophecy.

"Ye do well that ye take heed." (1:19) - "You do well to pay attention."

"Until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts." (1:19) - "Until the day dawns and Jesus Christ shines in your hearts" (2 Corinthians 4:6; Ephesians 5:14; Revelation 2:28; 22:16).

"No prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation." (1:20) - "No prophecy in the Scriptures was thought up by a man." It is the word of God.

"Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (1:21) - See 2 Samuel 23:2.

"Who privily shall bring in damnable heresies." (2:1) - "Who secretly teach destructive heresies."

"Even denying the Lord that bought them." (2:1) - Even denying Jesus Christ who bought them with His blood (1 Corinthians 6:20).

"Bring upon themselves swift destruction."(2:1) - Punishment awaits sinners.

"Many shall follow their pernicious ways." (2:2) - "Many will follow their shameful, wanton ways."

"By reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of." (2:2) - "Because of them, the truth will be vilified."

"Through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you." (2:3) - "Out of greed, they will tell lies to exploit you."

"Their damnation slumbereth not." (2:3) - Means false teachers will be punished in due time.

"If God spared not the angels that sinned." (2:4) - "Since God didn't spare the angels that sinned." See Jude 1:6.

"Noah the eight person." (2:5) - Eight people were saved on the ark: Noah, his wife, three sons, and their wives.

"Sodom and Gomorrha." (2:6) - Two Old Testament cities whose names are synonymous with wickedness.  Located in the "vale of Siddim" on the southeast shore of the Dead Sea (Genesis 14:2-3), God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah with "brimstone and fire" (Genesis 19:24) due to the rebellious and immoral lifestyle of their citizens (Genesis 18:20-19:29), their pride, idleness and disregard for the poor (Ezekiel 16:49-50). Their destruction was so complete that even today, no trace of the cities can be found.  Jesus mentions Sodom and Gomorrah's destruction in Matthew 10:15. Here, Peter is reminding us of Sodom and Gomorrah's fate.

"Condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample." (2:6) - "Condemned them to ruin, making them an example."

"Delivered just lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked." (2:7) - "Saved only Lot, who was troubled by the filthy lives of the wicked."

"The lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation." (2:9) - See also Psalm 37:32-33 and Proverbs 12:13.

"To reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment." (2:9) - "To hold sinners until judgment day."

"Despise government." (2:10) - "Despise authority." False prophets refuse those whom God has put in authority."

"Presumptuous are they, selfwilled." (2:10) - "They are bold, and stubborn, determined to follow their wicked desires as they please."

"Dignities." (2:10) - "Angels." See Jude 1:8-10.

New Living Translation

2 Peter 1:16-2:10

16 For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We saw his majestic splendor with our own eyes

17 when he received honor and glory from God the Father. The voice from the majestic glory of God said to him, "This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy."

18 We ourselves heard that voice from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.

19 Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place-until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts.

20 Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet's own understanding,

21 or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.

2 Peter 2:1-10
The Danger of False Teachers

1 But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves.

2 Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered.

3 In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed.

4 For God did not spare even the angels who sinned. He threw them into hell, in gloomy pits of darkness, where they are being held until the day of judgment.

5 And God did not spare the ancient world-except for Noah and the seven others in his family. Noah warned the world of God's righteous judgment. So God protected Noah when he destroyed the world of ungodly people with a vast flood.

6 Later, God condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and turned them into heaps of ashes. He made them an example of what will happen to ungodly people.

7 But God also rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him.

8 Yes, Lot was a righteous man who was tormented in his soul by the wickedness he saw and heard day after day.

9 So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment.

10 He is especially hard on those who follow their own twisted sexual desire, and who despise authority.

These people are proud and arrogant, daring even to scoff at supernatural beings without so much as trembling.

This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word-for-word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."

Today's question:

1. How did God influence the writing of the Bible (1:20-21)?

"He loved us not because we were lovable, but because He is love."

C.S. Lewis (1898-1963)

Answer: (Do you agree?)

1. God's Spirit inspired the authors of the Bible to give His message of truth and salvation to mankind.

Application thought for the day:

False prophets disparage the word of God.
They follow man-made religions and lead others to their doom.

Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course, the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
© 2023 evolke

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