Tag: Apostolic faith series

  • 2 Timothy – Apostolic Faith and Pastoral Oversight by Paul

    2 Timothy – Apostolic Faith and Pastoral Oversight by Paul

    Introduction

    God and Christ became incarnate in order to restore Their personal relationship with sinful man.

    Roger@TallkofJesus.com


    God and Apostles, Disciples of men

    Our purpose in introducing Paul’s final epistle to a pastor is:

    1. to reintroduce you to the Apostle Paul and

    2. to reacquaint you with Timothy, a disciple of Paul who served him in varying roles,

    BOTH whom we’ve met in Acts of the Apostles and other epistles.


    Let us begin with God

    (says the teacher to his class). 

    God — YHWH the LORD — Is One.

    One in Being. One in Essence. One in Substance.

    There IS no other god.

    God IS the Creator of all things and of all mankind.

    He had a relationship in the beginning of time — before which He Exists and after which He Exists — the LORD’s relationships are perfectly personal.

    God IS: Father, Son — Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.


    Christ, Apostles and Disciples

    The Apostle Paul writes to Timothy in his first epistle:

    This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

    First letter of the Apostle Paul to Timothy

    Jesus, the incarnate Son of God the Father, taught the Gospel with all perfection to men for three years.

    The Twelve Disciples (which included neither Paul nor Timothy) followed the Lord, ate and slept with Jesus — they all knew the incarnate Son of God personally.


    Consider the interpersonal relationships connecting each of these roles as defined by Scripture and what the Lord Jesus, our Teacher, instructs:

    Disciple (follower), Master (teacher), Servant (slave) and Lord

    The Disciples Matthew, John and Peter were all present with the incarnate Christ Jesus personally when the Lord said this:

    The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.

    Gospel of Matthew 24:14 – Jesus’ to The Twelve Disciples; Instructions for Service & meaning of discipleship – KJV

    μαθητής – mathētēs – disciple (268x) – a learner, pupil, one who follows one’s teaching:

    The Twelve followed JESUS for three years, discipleship at its most personal.

    Furthermore, many others would follow JESUS’s teachings as ‘Christians’ chosen by God for the Way of eternal life.


    Apostles to the Jews and Gentiles

    Of course from the beginning Jesus knew that Judas would betray Him and that a disciple Mathias would be chosen to replace the betrayer of Christ as a twelfth Apostle to the Jews.

    Christ had taught and trained the Twelve how they would become Apostles — primarily, but not exclusively, to their fellow Jews —after His death, resurrection and ascension.


    Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

    2 Peter 1:1 KJV


    Paul also refers to himself as an Apostle, greeting his disciples (followers) in his first epistle and this final letter.

    Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,

    To Timothy, my dearly beloved son:

    2 Timothy 1:1-2a KJV

    So who are apostles?

    Acts Apostolos - Acts 1 of the Apostles begins a 28 chapter account of the chronicles of Christ's Apostles - a history of Christ's Church

    Apostolos – a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders

    • specifically applied to the twelve apostles of Christ
    • in a broader sense applied to other eminent Christian teachers
    • – of Barnabas of Timothy and Silvanus

    Apostles are ‘sent out’ by Christ.

    As in the case of the Twelve and the Apostle Paul, the Lord himself instructed them Personally — that is, the Person of Jesus sent these Apostles out into the world personally.

    Other apostles continued to be ‘sent out into all the world’ by the Holy Spirit after Jesus’ ascension, as Luke records for us of the day of Pentecost in ACTS 1.


    As we learned from Acts of the Apostles that after the AD 49 Council in Jerusalem, Peter, Paul, John and all others were sent out ‘first to the Jews,’ but also into gentile areas of the Roman Empire (mostly Hellenist or Greek provinces) to include ALL as follows of Christ as part of each local church.

    Jesus is Lord

    Note that Jesus Christ refers to the Father as Lord (Kyrios in their common Greek language of the Roman Empire) with an authority and meaning no different than the original Hebrew scripture (Yahweh).

    “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”

    And He said to him,

    “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’

    Matthew 22:36-37 LSB



    Saul, a Jew of Jews, sent out by a Master crucified and risen!

    About five years after the Jews of Jerusalem had crucified Jesus, a young disciple of Gamaliel witnessed the stoning of a follower of The Way.

    They went on stoning Stephen as he was calling out and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” And having said this, he fell asleep.

    Acts of the Apostles 7:59-60 LSB

    Stephen, even in his dying breath, called JESUS, “Lord” – twice.

    And this young disciple of the rabbi Gamaliel had witnessed it personally.

    Saul of Tarsus would become an apostle of the Sanhedrin specifically sent out to continue persecuting Christians.

    But then, as we know, Christ appeared to Saul and instructed this new and unwilling (at first) Apostle to go to the Gentiles.

    Paul frequently writes that He is a slave (doulos) of JESUS or God(or of the gospel). The Lord Jesus himself points to the service required of this most personal relationship.

    Many translations prefer servant to slave, but it is the same Greek word: doulos. 

    The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.

    Gospel of Matthew 10:24 KJV

    The Apostle Paul describes himself in another pastoral epistle written about the same time as his two letters to Timothy:

    Paul, a servant G1401 of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

    Epistle of Paul to Titus 1:1

    Timothy – Paul enlists a disciple of The Way

    Lystra, Derbe and Iconium in the Taurus mountains and general Roman region of Galatia to where Paul sends the first of his epistles.

    Now Paul also arrived at Derbe and at Lystra.

    And behold, a disciple was there, named Timothy,

    the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer,

    but his father was a Greek,

    Acts of the Apostles 16:1

    During Paul’s second missionary journey, which had begun inland through the mountains northwest of Tarsus in rural Galatia. While visiting churches established by Barnabas and him on a first missionary journey, the Apostle meets a young Timothy — a Greek, because of his father, but brought up as a Christ-follower by his mother(a Jew, as Paul had been) and Timothy’s grandmother.

    A brief introduction of Timothy (Τιμόθεος – Timotheos)

    Timothy's early journeys are found in Acts of the Apostles. 

    ~AD 49

    Timothy joined Paul and Silas on mission, staying behind at Berea for a time with Silas. Paul, later commands the two by the Spirit to join him in Athens from where the trio proceed to Macedonia.

    Paul then ‘sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.

    Acts 19:22 KJV

    We observe how personal all of the mentoring relations of the Apostle remain to Paul as Luke records those with the Apostle when once again the Jews laid wait to capture and kill him.

    Paul was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea,

    Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica,

    Gaius from Derbe, Timothy, and Tychicus

    and Trophimus from the province of Asia.

    Acts of the Apostles 20:4 Berean Standard Bible

    We will mention more of Timothy's crucial later pastoral roles later in this epistle.  

    Timothy wrote other epistles with Paul :

    It is important for us to note that these Pastoral Epistles make known the Spirit-directed teaching of the Apostle Paul we must study, rather than focus on any pastors or saints to whom Paul writes, such as Timothy.

    • ~AD 50-51
    • ~AD 55-56 the Apostle Paul writes:
      • 1 Corinthians with Sosthenes and
      • 2 Corinthians with Timothy
    preaching to them that perish - Paul writes to the Corinthians to consider his different way of preaching
    The Apostle Paul writes to the Corinthians with Sosthenes and a second time with Timothy
    *graphic from a 2024 TalkofJESUS SERIES Post: Rebuke of ministers that perish without the Cross
    • ~AD 60-62 The Apostle Paul writes to:
      • the Ephesians
      • the Philippians
    Archaeological Site of Philippi: General view of the forum with adjacent agora marketplace

    Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,

    To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:

    Philippians 1:1 NIV

    • the Colossians, with Timothy
    • and a personal plea along with Timothy to Philemon, concerning Onesimus.

    NEXT: 2 Timothy 1:

    timotheos agapētos teknon

    To Timothy, my beloved son


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  • 2 Peter 2: Pernicious Preachers of a False Gospel

    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:

    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

    HEADING from the New King James Version 

    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

    No, it isn't only the preacher in the pulpit who purveys false doctrine, though some succumb at times as the Apostle fears. 

    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

    Time to define a key word Paul uses FIVE TIMES in his Second Epistle (translated in 2 Peter 2:2 KJV as "pernicious ways").  
    Pernicious definition British English from King James Version 2 Peter 2

    ἀπώλεια – apōleia –

    The KJV translates Strongs 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

    What must Peter — one of the Twelve — have thought when Judas took the cup the Lord shared at their last Passover meal? 

    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

    Apostolic Faith 2 Peter = Greek and transtilerated -Second Epistle of Peter

    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


    FOLLOW PETER'S LOGIC:
    • 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.
    • 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

    Pernicious definition British English from King James Version 2 Peter 2

    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: 

    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..
    • 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.

    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. 

    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.


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  • 2 Peter 1 – Last Will and Testament of Simon Peter

    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


    Last Will and Testament

    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.

    Easter or Resurrection Sunday is the day the tomb of Jesus is found empty and when the risen Messiah appears risen after His crucifixion on a Corss

    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!


    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

    Recent AD First Century Historical Events (all dates approximate)
    • ~ 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.

    Peter testifies to his EYEWITNESS of the GOOD NEWS previously recorded in THREE GOSPELS.

    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.

    (May I interject that the same applies to Hindus, Buddhists, Universalists and many other compromising polytheistic or atheistic religions of this century.)

    [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


    APOSTOLIC FAITH 2 Peter 2 Timothy from Paul 2 John & 3 John

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