2 Peter: Power Under PressureSample

In the days of the early church when it was hard to travel and hard to communicate, people would often communicate by writing letters. It was a big treat to receive a letter and the letters in the Bible were read out loud to the whole churches that received them. Peter speaks about the letters he has written to the churches, which are now part of our Bible. Many of the books in the New Testament are also letters. 

Peter closes this letter by repeating his love for the people with the warm term “beloved” that he has used repeatedly in reference to them (1 Peter 2:11, 4:12; 2 Peter 3:1, 3:8, 3:14, 3;17). Peter has also used the term “beloved” to speak about his friend, the Apostle Paul (2  Peter 3:15), and reminded us this term was also the one God the Father used to speak of Jesus at His baptism (2 Peter 1:17). 

He begins his closing remarks by ensuring they know like a spiritual father he loves them as God the Father loved Jesus. It is hard to overemphasize how fond his affection is for them, and how this would have allowed them to trust what he was telling them was from God, for their good, and done in love. It also allows him to connect before he corrects. If he is emotionally engaged with those he is writing the letter to and they know he loves them, he is able to offer them instruction and feedback as given by a loving father.

Peter tells Christians they should obey God’s commandments.  By commandments, the Bible means God gives us instructions he expects us to follow. God’s commandments are always good because God is good and loves us and his rules are to help us and protect us. Some people treat parts of the Bible like they are optional,  but Peter says the Bible is filled with God’s commands to be obeyed.  

He also says Christians need to persevere or keep living as Christians, even though it seems like a long time before Jesus will come back and set up heaven on earth. Peter explains God does not see time like we do. God is eternal, which means he lives outside of time without beginning or end (even though he did create time and does work in time). From God’s perspective, Peter says, the two thousand years that have passed since Jesus walked on the earth are only like a few days.  

Questions: 

What does it mean by God is eternal?  

What does it mean by God is patient?  

To say God is patient means He is waiting for people to become Christians. Which people do you know who we can pray to become Christians?