Category: Epistles – Is his letter to our church?

Epistle of Paul to the Romans

Epistles ἐπιστολή or Letters

I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren.

Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians

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1 CORINTHIANS

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Letters – Is he writing to me?
The short answer: YES.

In their epistles or 1st century church letters the Apostles and other men sent out by Jesus build up the saints [small – ‘s’] or members of local first century churches.

A Disciple or other witness of JESUS would write it. Messengers then delivered these church letters to many isolated worshipers.

Followers of Jesus Christ receive these letters as a major encouragement to their personal faith. Then leaders read them to worshipers of their church.

Although the Epistles 0r Letters to the Church were originally written to churches of the first century,

Romans through Jude will seem like letters to your 21st century church.

What do Peter, Paul, John and others tell us we must do?
Is he talking about an issue in your 21st c. church as well?
How does the writer’s advice, warning, or encouragement to the 1st c. believers apply to you as well
Is the writer of this letter talking about something you need to address in your 21st century ‘christian’ life?

Contemporary Application of the Letters (Epistles)

Most New Testament writers take on specific issues confronting faithful followers of Jesus Christ. These same issues continue to confront believers until the Lord’s coming again in these last days.

Certainly Christ our Lord will come again to those God has chosen for eternal life.

Believers currently suffer more than most of you who know Christ in your local church can imagine.

In other lands Christians continue to suffer by the hand of the ungodly.
Go into all the world

A 21st century Common Era church can see and hear nearly any atrocity of man or artificial imagination of sinful man’s mind, yet ‘christians‘ dare not speak of any absolute truth of the Lord God or talk of JESUS CHRIST.

Will YOU comment on Scripture and share the Gospel?

I invite you to read the inspired word of Scripture written in these LETTERS TO THE CHURCH.

YES, He IS writing to YOU.

Beloved brother or sister in Christ Jesus,

Will you read this ‘CHURCH LETTER’ and talk of JESUS through your comment, sharing and email to me about this ‘Letter to you?”

Roger@talkofJesus.com

2 Peter 2: Pernicious Preachers of a False Gospel
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you..

2 Peter 2:1a – King James Version

Accepting Apostolic Testimony OR Following False Prophets

After presenting his Apostolic testimony to wavering preachers, elders, and marginal followers of “The Way,” Simon Peter now alerts the church to dangerous heresies taught by some seeking to undermine the true Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Trustworthy Prophetic Word, reads the heading in this section of 2 Peter 1 of the Christian Standard Bible, also citing testimony from all the synoptic Gospels [Matthew, Mark & Luke].

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.

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; where unto ye do well that ye take heed..

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 1:17-21 excerpt KJV

The Apostle now warns of pernicious perils of false prophets and false teaching of those who deny Apostolic testimony.

2 Peter 2:

There were indeed false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you.
2 Peter 2:1a – Christian Standard Bible

Peter, Apostle of Jesus, provides familiar examples from the Jewish Bible (Old Testament):
- and if he didn’t spare the ancient world, but protected Noah v.5a
- and if he reduced the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes v.6a
- and if he rescued righteous Lot, v.7a
Compare yourself to Noah. Or compare yourself to Lot, Paul suggests, a righteous man living in Sodom surrounded by every wickedness conceived by evil men in charge of his community.

Are Sodom and Gomorrah not the cities of our home churches to whom Simon Peter writes once again?

And doesn’t our world reminiscingly resemble that near to destruction in the time of Noah?

Take heed that we have survived thus far only be saved from the final judgment of fire by Christ’s righteousness!

How do the Apostle’s examples from Genesis apply to us?

The believers to whom Peter writes live in Asian and Roman and new worldly cities not unlike Sodom — as do we in our towns and churches susceptible to every evil tolerated and encouraged by leaders of every gathering in our home community.

Destructive Doctrines
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HEADING from the New King James Version 
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WATCH OUT! warns the Apostle in his second epistle.

.. even as there will be false teachers among you, – v.1b – NKJV

You know these preachers and elders who CLAIM JESUS.

Some saints succumb to their subtle sweet tolerance. For their deceptive doctrine suggests Christ while discounting His lordship over our saved SELF’s still flourishing in the flesh of this life.

Pernicious Preachers of Their Own Doctrines

ψευδοδιδάσκαλος – pseudodidáskalos, psyoo-dod-id-as’-kal-os; from G5571 and G1320; a spurious teacher, i.e. propagator of erroneous Christian doctrine:—false teacher.

Lexicon :: Strong’s G5572 – pseudodidaskalos
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No, it isn't only the preacher in the pulpit who purveys false doctrine, though some succumb at times as the Apostle fears. 
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They will bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, and will bring swift destruction on themselves.

– 2:1c CSB

.. who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them.

2 Peter 2:1c King James Version

And many shall follow their pernicious ways
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Time to define a key word Paul uses FIVE TIMES in his Second Epistle (translated in 2 Peter 2:2 KJV as "pernicious ways").  
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ἀπώλεια – apōleia –

The KJV translates Strong ‘s G684 in the following manner: perdition (8x), destruction (5x), waste (2x), damnable (1x), to die (with G1519) (1x), perish (with G1498) (with G1519) (1x), pernicious (1x).

The Apostle Peter chooses STRONG language to describe these sins against the Lord.

And in fact, Jesus had spoken the same to describe Judas Iscariot!

While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition;^G684 that the scripture might be fulfilled.

Gospel of John 17:12 KJV – the words of Jesus
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What must Peter — one of the Twelve — have thought when Judas took the cup the Lord shared at their last Passover meal? 
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The Lure of their Depravity

Common Era preachers may draw in the multitudes to gatherings of those seeking an advantage in the life of proclaiming Jesus.

(Judas, who minded their money, was like that.)

Peter continues in his second epistle warning the faithful:

And in their greed they will exploit you with false words, their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

2 Peter 2:3 LSB

The Apostle describes how to spot false teachers scemingly opposed to all Truth:
- Bold, arrogant people!
- They are not afraid to slander the glorious ones [2:10b LSB]
- go after the flesh in its corrupt lust
- and despise authority.
  - (even that of the Lord’s Apostles, Peter implies)
- Daring,
- self-willed,
- they do not tremble when they blaspheme [angels] glorious ones 2:10 LSB
  - (We’ll continue Peter’s mention of angels momentarily.)
They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting.

With an appeal to twisted sexual desires, they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception.

2 Peter 2:18 LSB

The APOSTLE’S WARNING!

These people are springs without water, mists driven by a storm. The gloom of darkness has been reserved for them.

For by uttering boastful, empty words, they seduce, with fleshly desires and debauchery, people who are actually escaping from those who live in error.

2 Peter 17-18 CSB

Peter has already presented his powerful case of his authority as an Apostle of Jesus Christ — who IS the only Son of GOD the Father and One with the Holy Spirit.

Won’t you obey an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ?

“For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son,with whom I am well pleased,”

2 Peter 1:17 ESV

OR

Will you subtly slide back into the vomit of your former overindulgence in every sin of this world?

What the true proverb says has happened to them:

“The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”

2 Peter 2:22 ESV

Like a dog that returns to his vomit
is a fool who repeats his folly.

Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Proverbs 26:11,12 ESV

GOD, Angels, Men, Apostles, creatures & authority
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FOLLOW PETER'S LOGIC: 
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- In the beginning, God [ĕlōhîm] created the heavens and the earth. – Genesis 1:1
- The apostle of Jesus Christ.. stands [in] the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: – 2 Peter 1:1
- Jesus is associated with righteousness, highlighting His sinless nature and the moral perfection that He imparts to believers.
  - sou r ce:
- 2 Peter 2:1 The term “Master” is used in the context of false teachers denying “the Master who bought them.” It underscores Jesus’ ownership and authority over believers, as well as the cost of redemption.
  - ibid.
  - Peter introduces himself as a servant [doulos] of Jesus
    
    2 Peter 1:1
  - and in his first epistle the Apostle instructs those chosen in Christ:
Servants [oiketēs, a domestic], be subject to your masters [despotēs – also translated as Lord or used for husband] with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.

1 Peter 2:18 ESV

The Apostle Peter, as servant of the Lord and witness to God in the flesh embraces great responsibility for the faith of those chosen as elect saints in Jesus Christ.

Creation, its creatures and Angels

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;

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

2 Peter 2:4,9 KJV

The Apostle connects evil men affecting the righteous like Noah and Lot within a lengthy tirade citing angels that sinned. Though we know little of the unseen messengers (evil or good), Peter reminds us of a comparison of Jesus to Adam, who was tempted into our fall by a most-powerful angel.
```
Once again: 
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FOLLOW PETER’S LOGIC:
- God did not spare angels when they sinned – v.4
  - .. and his angels he charged with folly: – Job 4:18b KJV
- .. but cast them into hell..
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“How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer,[lit. Day Star] son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations! 

For you have said in your heart:
‘I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
.. 
Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol,
To the lowest depths of the Pit. 
```
Isaiah 14:12-13a,14 NKJV
- and committed them to pits of darkness, held for judgment…
- [2 Peter 2:4b NASB]
These cunning false teachers speaking against Apostolic Authority — granted through the same Holy Spirit of God by which the Prophets spoke — do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties [Doxa] – ‘they blaspheme the glorious ones’ – v.10

FALSE TEACHERS, who are no better than evil men who refused to listen to GOD’s Prophets speaking by the Holy Spirit and less powerful than angels, will also suffer the judgment of angels who turned against the Creator.

.. whereas angels, though greater in might and power,

do not pronounce a blasphemous judgment against them before the Lord.

2 Peter 11 ESV

Balaam, False Prophets and Pernicious Popes!

YES, we are still addressing the warning of the Apostle Peter in his second epistle to the 1st century church.
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If you have noted in 2 Peter 2 that I quoted Scripture including men the Apostle lists as negative examples, but I missed a false prophet mentioned only once, you would be right. 
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Peter’s full list (chronologically) includes:
- Angels – vs.4 & 11
- mankind, except Noah – v.5
- community of mankind in Sodom and Gomorrah, except Lot – v.6
- the Prophet Balaam – vs. 15-16
ALL these are WARNING SIGNS from the LAW of Moses — cited by the Apostle Peter, servant of God and JESUS Christ, sent by true direction of the Holy Spirit — to BELIEVERS in the first century churches AND those including a Lot from Common Era elect yet to be born into the body of Christ before the Day of Judgment.

I have nearly bogged down in the mire of Moses’ serious warning in the book of Numbers concerning Balaam.

Moses, Prophet and Lawgiver of Israel, sheds light enough on such men and women who cunningly lead communities of the faithful away from the Lord our God — from then nearer the Beginning until the Day of Jesus Christ.

What Popes, you may ask?

Which false prophets since Jesus, you may wonder?

AND what do these have to do with the Apostle’s example of Balaam in 2 Peter 2?

NEXT – We will examine the timeless application of Balaam to Peter’s prophesies of false teachers and HERESIES already evident to the Common Era church.

Talk of JESUS . com

Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel
November 25, 2025
2 Peter 1 – Last Will and Testament of Simon Peter
For where there is a legal ‘will,’ there must also be a death brought forward in evidence—the death of him who made it.

Hebrews 9:16 Weymouth New Testament

In the year of our Lord, 54

The New and convincing Testament of the Apostle Peter

The Apostle writes his final testimony from Rome, providing convincing truth of Christ which many of us have sought as a new testament of good news.

Hearing now a second Epistle read in our church from Simon Peter, the saints consider assurance of their salvation.

Even the Jews will agree that Jesus had died some thirty years ago now. But among them many also maintained their faithful testimony of the Lord’s resurrection on the third day after Jesus’ crucifixion.

Furthermore hundreds of Jews, Gentiles and Romans alike had reported numerous appearances of the risen Christ Jesus during a time of forty days after the Cross and His burial in Jerusalem.

Jews see a fulfillment of prophetic Scripture and Greeks amazingly now seem included in a New Covenant as elect in the fellowship of the church — chosen and elect to eternal life by God the Father of all creation in the Sacrifice of His Only Son Jesus Christ for our sins.

And Peter has confirmed this!

Witnesses to Jesus Risen! – Simon Peter

The Last Will of Peter – Remember His Teaching

Simon Peter, a prisoner for the Gospel in Rome, has good reason to believe that this second epistle may be the Apostle’s last letter to the church.

Historical context of Peter’s Second Epistle
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Recent AD First Century Historical Events (all dates approximate)
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- ~ AD 30-33 – Resurrection of Jesus Christ witnessed by Simon Peter and the Apostles and more than 500 witnesses (some still living at the time of Peter’s two Epistles).
  - Peter & John jailed in Jerusalem for their testimony of Christ as the risen Messiah of Israel
- ~ AD 37 – Caligua Caesar declares himself a god
- ~ AD 40 Peter proclaims the Gospel to the Gentiles in Joppa and other towns
- ~AD 41-54 – Claudius Caesar rules the Roman Empire
- ~AD 44 – the Apostle James, brother of John also of Jesus’ inner circle, is martyred
- ~ AD 49 – Jews (including followers of “the Way”) expelled from Rome
- ~ AD 54-68 – Nero Caesar rules the Roman Empire
- AD 50’s – John Mark, a scribe to Peter who had previously accompanied Paul on his first missionary journey, writes his GOSPEL which is read in churches as testimony primarily of the Apostle Peter.
- ~ AD 60 – Paul is brought to Rome, placed under house arrest and later released.
- AD 60’s – The Apostle Matthew records his GOSPEL.
- AD 60’s – Luke, an esteemed gentile physician to Paul, records his GOSPEL followed by a second volume detailing the ACTS of the Apostles.
- ~AD 62 – James, leader of the Jerusalem church, author of his own epistle and half-brother of Jesus is martyred.
- AD 64 – Peter and Paul remain diligent in sending several epistles (from Rome)to the church
19 JULY, 64 AD – a great fire burns for six days, consuming many structures in Rome.

2 Peter 1:

Simeon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have received the same kind of faith as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:

Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been strengthened in the truth which is present with you.

I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder, knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has indicated to me.

And I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you will be able to call these things to mind.

2 Peter 1:12-15 LSB

meta emos exodos

.. ‘after my decease,’ translates the King James.

‘to have these things always in remembrance.’

v.15 KJV

What this Apostle of Christ Jesus is about to tell those chosen for eternal life reminds us of the Apostolic faith we must remember. Peter’s witness stands against those like the Caesar’s — Caligula and Nero — idolatrous men who declare that they have become gods.

Peter’s testament here In his second epistle stands firmly against a false gospel and philosophies seeping into the churches.

One false gospel seeking to undermine the Way and Truth will later claim to be a “Gospel of Peter,” introducing heresies opposed to the true faith of the Apostles.

So Peter reminds of of his unique witness of the Divine Jesus of Nazareth.

Peter’s Testimony of Christ’s Divine Nature

For we did not make known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, following cleverly devised myths,

but being eyewitnesses of His majesty.
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Peter testifies to his EYEWITNESS of the GOOD NEWS previously recorded in THREE GOSPELS.
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For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory:

“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

2 Peyer 1:17 NKJV

and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.

v. 18 LSB

Apostolic testimony or idios interpretation?

And so we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.

2 Peter 1:19 NASB20

Know this first of all,
that no prophecy of Scripture comes by one’s own interpretation [idios epilysis].
2 Peter 1:20 LSB

For no prophecy was ever made by the will of man, but men being moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

The Stage is set for the Debate of False Prophets

As I have pointed out from this current historical context of Peter’s second epistle to the Church, not only do Rome and local communities oppose the true gospel, but in fact, many Christians trained in Jewish culture have an agenda of their own to convert Christ’s church to more palatable heresies desired by many.

The Greeks and Romans did not care whether their gods really existed. They were myths and they knew they were myths.
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(May I interject that the same applies to Hindus, Buddhists, Universalists and many other compromising polytheistic or atheistic religions of this century.)
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[Referring to vs.16-18]

Peter was not ready to put off his mortal tent for a myth but for that which he had witnessed.

RC Sproul 1-2 Peter – An Expositional Commentary, p.203

NEXT: Accepting Apostolic Testimony OR Following False Prophets

Talk of JESUS . com

Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel
November 7, 2025
2 Peter 1 – Know Christ’s Divine Nature
Does Christ wield divine authority in your life?

Second Epistle of Simeon Peter 1:

..seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the full knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

2 Peter 1:3-4 Legacy Standard Bible

Do you know God and Christ?

The Apostle Simeon Peter — Cephas , Simon Peter — wants you to know the Divine nature of God [theos] and Jesus Christ [Christos].

..to you in the full knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;

2 Peter 1:2b

And most essentially these of the Divine nature [physis] above all knowledge (or full knowledge), rather than partial knowledge [gnōsis] of man — even a righteous man or one with wisdom — corrupted [phthora] by our own sinful nature.

Note that by the unseen inspiration of the Holy Spirit in this scripture, the Apostle Peter in the opening of his second epistle had immediately claimed the authority of:

.. the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:

.. the full knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;

So to continue from when we introduced Peter in our introduction, the Apostle now writes to the church a second time so that all may be assured of their calling.

our mutually possessive God and Savior
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How we long to belong to someone whom we love!
 
A creature of fragile frame in God's image dare not approach the Almighty. 
--

Yet in JESUS, God touched man in a personal Way 
— in Christ a new covenantal relationship for which we yearn endlessly, 

forged in the love of God and our Lord.
```
So Simon Peter, the Rock to whom Jesus looked to now build the church, assures believers and followers of The Way:

And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises.

These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises..

The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:4-5a,8 NLT

But those who fail..
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The restored Apostle who had denied Jesus three times before Christ's sacrifice on the Cross cautions those who claim Jesus, yet fail in repentance:
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But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.

2 Peter 1 9 NLT

Some in Adam have not seen the guarded gate of Eden reopened by Christ — God’s new election of saints called to return to the tree of life, mercifully clothed in righteousness through the perfect Sacrifice of our Savior and Lord.

Apostolic Faith Defined through Peter’s Second Epistle

The Apostle Peter — clearly in the Authority of our God and Savior Jesus Christ, here in his second epistle of Holy Scripture — commands discernment by the body of Christ – all pastors and every holy saint of the church called to grow in our faith.

You have no doubt noticed that I have briefly skipped the answer Simon Peter provides to HOW our sanctification grows our faith.

Peter’s progression in this list will help your personal discernment which the Apostle of Christ commands of those who love Jesus our Lord.

7 Affections of Sanctification

Growing Apostolic Faith Through Seeds of Holiness

Before we look at the list, let’s glance at some terms of faith considering the connection made by the Apostle Simon Peter.

Sanctification: Is Separation to the Service of God

Psa 4:3; 2Cr 6:17–

Torrey’s New Topical Textbook

IF Christians are sanctified to God through the Lord Christ Jesus, THEN, Peter tells us, those saints will grow in the same holiness, rejecting the sin of our former self.

The Apostle has already addressed sanctification. In fact, Simon Peter opens his first epistle to the saints with this bold greeting and claim in Christ:

Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ..

1 Peter 1:2a KJV

Therefore the Apostle lists a general,

‘HOW TO ‘ grow or mature in your faith

for the saints of God.

And again,

By these he has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire.

2 Peter 1:4 CSB

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness..

add to your faith virtue,
to virtue knowledge,
to knowledge self-control,
to self-control perseverance,
to perseverance godliness,
to godliness brotherly kindness,
and to brotherly kindness
love.
2 Peter 1:5b-7 NKJV

No single translation of these few verses seems sufficient in conveying the full-depth of the Apostle’s advice. Therefore let us take a few moments to allow the cleansing of Peter’s description to open our blind eyes.

ADD these to your faith:

Adjectives of Affective Faith:
1. aretē
2. gnōsis
3. egkrateia
4. hypomonē
5. eusebeia
6. philadelphia
7. agapē
Peter describes how we may diligently apply our new desires in Christ to our faith. You may have even memorized one English translation of these descriptions from the Apostle’s directive; however you may find insight into the richness of Peter’s list from adjectives in other translations.
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Remember: these all translate from Peter's written Greek - common to all of the first century Roman Empire.
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Adjectives beginning with KJV:
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VIRTUE

moral excellence, goodness, worthiness

KNOWLEDGE

(insight, understanding)

TEMPERANCE

self-control,

PATIENCE

perseverance, patient endurance, steadfastness

GODLINESS

piety

BROTHERLY KINDNESS

brotherly affection, mutual affection, brotherly love

CHARITY

love, love for everyone, unselfish love, charity, love itself

source: BlueLetterBible.org – Bibles

Neither Useless nor Unfruitful

These affections are all good things. But more importantly to the Apostle’s evidence to ALL, all are Christian.

For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

2 Peter 1:8*9 NIV

SO then, how must you act, justified sinner?

Wherefore, the rather, brethren, (KJV)

Peter leaves no doubt in the expected actions of believers.

The Apostle addresses the brothers (as is customary in leadership — who teach their wives with the authority and compassion of Christ and will raise their children in the authority of God and Christ and Scripture).

He opened his epistle leaving no question as to his apostolic authority in the Divine POWER of God — theios dynamis [v.3] — and Peter confirms Christ’s confirmation to we who are now elect in Him to become participants in Jesus’ Divine NATURE — theios physis [v.4].

(After all, IF we are no longer like the unsaved sinners who we once were, then our Christ-like fruit of the Spirit will show His hope of eternal life in us.)

Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:10-11 ESV

Divinity and Trinity

I would like to make a side-point concerning authority here which Simon Peter is about to address more fully as we proceed next time.

First (as I just mentioned from varied English translations), Paul addresses the men of the church as was done in Greek, Roman and Jewish culture. In AD first century culture men, women and deities interacted in an order of hierarchy. Some men over others, some women over others, children under the authority of their mother or a servant woman under her authority — even Greek and Roman deities held unseen authority over men and women in designated areas of their lives and creation.

As the Apostle has placed himself in this line of authority as both a doulos of DEITY — so Simon Peter also claims his delagated authority from ALMIGHTY GOD in the Person of GOD’s only Son Christ Jesus.

The APOSTLE claims this obedience not to him personally, but as the personal slave of God sent to the world with the Gospel.

The church cannot claim Christ while turning against GOD’s own commands.

Peter’s Apostolic Gospel applies to ALL men and to ALL women who claim to be Christians.

No claim of God while denying the written word of God in Scripture and instruction of an Apostle is true. Any christian claim of JESUS contrary to the Apostolic witness will not make a pastor, elder or bishop or any mortal man or woman a true Christian.

Even JESUS, the Son of God, submitted to the will of the Father in everything and He promises to send the Holy Spirit as a counselor to those elected to eternal life in the New Covenant.
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We cannot take time today to again address the Trinity.
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Am I numbered among God’s elect?

R.C. Sproul reminds readers that Peter’s first epistle was addressed to the elect and notes that his second epistle with this important teaching, ‘drips theology.’

So speaking of these affections we have just reviewed [2 Peter 1:5-7] Sproul writes:

Yet he wants believers to be even more diligent about something else. There is an even greater priority, and that is the doctrine of election—not in the abstract but in respect to your own person.

The most important question you need answered in your lifetime is this: am I numbered among the elect?

ibid. p.195

Consider the question in the mirror of God’s truth. Do YOU have the fruit of the Spirit shown in elected saints who turn to CHRIST?

Any who lack such humble witness of Jesus to which Peter points in this epistle may be heretics — ravenous wolves, clothed in some other gospel of an anti-Christ.

NEXT: The Will of a departing Apostle

Talk of JESUS . com

Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel
October 30, 2025

Category: Epistles – Is his letter to our church?

Epistles ἐπιστολή or Letters

Don’t miss our recent FEATURED SERIES

Contemporary Application of the Letters (Epistles)

YES, He IS writing to YOU.

Accepting Apostolic Testimony OR Following False Prophets

2 Peter 2:

Destructive Doctrines

Pernicious Preachers of Their Own Doctrines

And many shall follow their pernicious ways

The Lure of their Depravity

The APOSTLE’S WARNING!

GOD, Angels, Men, Apostles, creatures & authority

Creation, its creatures and Angels

FOLLOW PETER’S LOGIC:

Balaam, False Prophets and Pernicious Popes!

The New and convincing Testament of the Apostle Peter

The Last Will of Peter – Remember His Teaching

Historical context of Peter’s Second Epistle

meta emos exodos

Peter’s Testimony of Christ’s Divine Nature

Apostolic testimony or idios interpretation?

The Stage is set for the Debate of False Prophets

Second Epistle of Simeon Peter 1:

Do you know God and Christ?

our mutually possessive God and Savior

But those who fail..

Apostolic Faith Defined through Peter’s Second Epistle

7 Affections of Sanctification

Adjectives of Affective Faith:

VIRTUE

KNOWLEDGE

TEMPERANCE

PATIENCE

GODLINESS

BROTHERLY KINDNESS

CHARITY

Neither Useless nor Unfruitful

SO then, how must you act, justified sinner?

Wherefore, the rather, brethren, (KJV)

Divinity and Trinity

Am I numbered among God’s elect?

NEXT: The Will of a departing Apostle