Lesson 11
Second Peter
Warning against dangers
facing the Church
The Trustworthiness of the Apostles Witness 1:16-18
For we did not follow cleverly devised
tales
- So he is here giving them and us
reasons we should trust the Word of God.
- The NET refers
to them as cleverly concocted fables mu/qoj dative plural
- Get the flavor of this word mu/qoj:
- 1 Tim. 1:4; 4:7
- 2 Tim. 4:4
- Titus 1:14
when we made known
to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
- they made
known or revealed the truths being referred to here through their teaching,
instruction; know that the communicator cannot make it epignosis for you!
- power refers to the OmPo of
God, specifically all that is involved in fulfilling the Plan of God related to
history, things to come.
- coming technical here for the
rapture and the second advent which are 2 phases of the coming of the Lord,
speaks of the arrival of a king.
but we were
eyewitnesses of His majesty.
- the contrast
established here by the strong adversative alla “but” is that
the testimony Peter and the apostles gave was based on historical fact not on
myths or concocted fables .
- the word for
majesty megaleio,thj speaks of a demonstration of greatness,
power and majesty
Observations:
1. Neither Peter or any other of the apostles fabricated anything that they
communicated or wrote whether it was doctrine or prophecy.
2. There were many
writings called pseudopigrapha that communicated many
myths and fables which many followed at the time. 2 Pet 2:1; 3:3-4
3. The fact that he
was an eyewitness to the glory of the resurrected Christ qualified him to make
the strong statements he will about the text of Scripture.
4. They saw Him in
the same glory that He has when He returns to establish His kingdom rule.
5. He was also a
first hand hearer of Jesus Christ’s teaching which negates any charge that his
evidence and conclusions are nothing but hearsay.
6.
His Doctrinal grid, or frame of reference then is tied directly to Jesus Christ which also adds to his
authority in speaking related to the origin of the text.
7. Speaking of His majesty refers directly to the demonstration
of divine nature in the transfiguration.
For when He received honor and glory
from God the Father,
- “honor” timh, here focuses on His exalted status as
evidenced by the proclamation of the Father of His Son ship "This is My
beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased "--
- “glory” brings into view the radiance
or brilliance of His appearance as the transfigured Christ
- The account is given in Matt. 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-8; Luke
9:28-36
Next we have the proclamation of the Father, this
had to really startle Peter, James and John.
such an utterance
as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, "This is My beloved Son
with whom I am well-pleased "--
This same statement was made
by the Father at the time of His baptism, which was unique in that His baptism
identified Him with the plan of God for His earthly ministry; Matt 3:17; Luke 3:22; Mark 1:11
1:17 For when He received honor and glory from God the Father such
a unique utterance as this was proclaimed to Him by the majestic glory
(God/F) “This one keeps on being My beloved Son with whom I am well pleased.”
and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when
we were with Him on the holy mountain.
Transfiguration some aspects of, why is it important
here? Historical
perspective.
1. Introduction
- key word -
metamorfo,w
basic meaning is to change into another form
therefore to transfigure.
- Is used in the account of the transfiguration 2x’s applied
to Christ Matt.
17:2; Mark 9:2
- must note also that this term metamorphoo is used of the believer twice, Rom 12:2; 2 Cor
3:18
- In those two verses it speaks of the advancing believer
being transfigured, an inner change of form that becomes manifest in the life.
- Note a problem in the English translation, often
transfigure and transform are used as synonyms but they have totally different
emphasis and therefore must be carefully differentiated.
2. The Importance of the Transfiguration
a. It is covered at some length in the Gospels plus Peter’s
account here.
Matt
b. Each account of the transfiguration
follows a declaration by Christ to the disciples related to the 2nd
advent. Matt
c. This prophecy was fulfilled in their day
in their own generation by the transfiguration, actually about a week later.
d. We can conclude then that the
transfiguration is a preview of the actual appearing of Christ at the 2nd
advent.
e. It was something to be observed and to
which eyewitnesses could bear testimony to others just as Peter does in our context.
f. It is important since it presents
empirical precedence for the 2nd advent of Christ in power and glory
with the establishment of His kingdom, His earthly rule just as prophesied.
B.L. this
event says to Peter, James, and John, Look if God has the power to bring back
Moses and Elijah than surely He must also have the power for Christ to return
as prophesied.