2 Peter 1

2 Peter 1:1

Jesus will return An EasyEnglish Bible Version and Commentary (2800 word vocabulary) on Peter’s second letter www.easyenglish.info Hilda Bright and Helen Pocock This commentary has been through Advanced Checking.

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About this letter The writer Peter wrote this letter. His name used to be Simon, but Jesus changed it to Peter (John 1:42). Simon had his own business. He caught fish. But Jesus called Simon to be a *disciple. Jesus gave him the name Peter, which means a ‘rock’. Jesus chose him as one of the 12 *apostles. Later he became one of the leaders of the Christian *church.

Peter was in the city called Rome when he wrote this letter. He expected to die soon. Peter died on a cross about 35 years after Jesus returned to heaven. At that time Nero, who was the evil ruler in Rome, was killing Christians.

Peter wrote this letter in the *Greek language. In *New Testament times, many people could speak and read the *Greek language. This meant that the good news about Jesus could spread easily. The people who received this letter Peter did not say where he was sending the letter. In 3:1, he referred to this letter as his ‘second letter’. We believe that 1 Peter was his first letter to these readers. So, the readers of both letters were probably the same people. They were Christians who lived in the country that we now call Turkey. Peter probably wrote this letter to both *Jews and Gentiles who had become Christians. (Gentiles are people who are not *Jews.) Why he wrote this letter Peter wrote this letter for three reasons:

1. He wanted the people to be stronger Christians.

2. He wanted to warn them about false teachers. He also wanted to remind them about the true Christian beliefs.

3. He emphasised that Jesus Christ will return. Then God will *judge wicked people. So, Christians must be ready for that day.

Peter had the authority to say these things. He had been with Jesus while he was alive in this world. Chapter 1 Greeting v1 This letter is from Simon Peter, who is a servant and an *apostle of Jesus Christ.

I write to people with a *faith in Jesus that is as valuable as our *faith in Jesus. This *faith is a gift from our God and *Saviour Jesus Christ. He is fair.

v2 May God give you more and more of his *grace and peace. This will happen as you really know God and Jesus our *Lord.

Verse 1

In those days, the author put his name at the beginning of a letter. Also, people started letters with a greeting. Here, the author called himself ‘Simon’ Peter. He described himself as ‘a servant and an *apostle of Jesus Christ’. ‘Servant’ means a slave who served a master. Peter was being humble. He served and obeyed his master Jesus. But Peter was also emphasising his authority. He was the servant of Jesus who is the King and the Judge.

‘*Apostle’ means ‘someone whom God sends’. Jesus chose his *apostles to be special leaders. They taught people about all that Jesus did and said. False teachers were trying to change this good news. But Peter knew the truth. Jesus had sent Peter in the same way that God sent the *prophets in the *Old Testament (Jeremiah 1:7; Ezekiel 2:3). Therefore, Peter was writing his letter with God’s authority.

Peter sent his letter to people whose *faith in Jesus ‘is as valuable as our *faith in Jesus’. In this verse, ‘*faith’ means that people believe God and trust Jesus as their *Saviour. *Faith is a gift from God. God makes people able to believe and trust him. God always acts in a fair way. This means that he does not have favourite people. God’s gifts are for everybody.

Many Christians had never seen Jesus. But those people were just as valuable to God as the people who had seen Jesus. All Christians receive the same gift of *faith as the *apostles had received. It is a free gift from God. Nobody can earn it. Our ‘God and *Saviour Jesus Christ’ made this possible.

In verse 2, Peter referred to Jesus as God as well as *Saviour. The false teachers were denying that Jesus is God. Matthew 1:23 says that Jesus is ‘Emmanuel, God with us’. Therefore, Peter reminded his readers that Jesus is God as well as *Saviour.

Peter knew Jesus as a man for three years. The *Greek word for ‘Christ’ means the ‘*Anointed Person’. In the *Old Testament, they *anointed men who had special tasks. They *anointed the priests and kings whom God had chosen. (See Exodus 28:41; 1 Samuel 10:1.) The *Hebrew word for ‘Christ’ is ‘*Messiah’. ‘*Messiah’ was a title of the special king that the *Jews were expecting. They believed that he would rescue them from their enemies. God sent Jesus as the ‘*Messiah’. Jesus is both the Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16) and the King that the *Jews were expecting.

Verse 2

Peter wanted his readers to have more *grace and peace from God. ‘*Grace’ and ‘peace’ were the usual Christian greetings in a letter. Peter prayed for the same things in 1 Peter 1:2. Paul always prayed for these gifts for the Christians to whom he wrote. (See, for example, Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:3; Ephesians 1:2.)

‘*Grace’ means God’s kindness to people who do not deserve it. It means that God loves and forgives people. It also means that God helps and protects his people. *Grace is a gift from God. Nobody can earn it. God gives *grace because he is generous. The *grace of God comes by Jesus.

‘Peace’. In the *Hebrew language, this word is ‘shalom’. It is a traditional way to bless people in the *Old Testament (Numbers 6:24-26). *Jewish people still use ‘shalom’ as a greeting today. Peace is the opposite of war or noise. But also, it is God’s gift of a quiet spirit. This involves every part of a person’s life and relationships. God forgives and loves people. Therefore, people have peace with God (Acts 10:36). They can also have peace with each other (Ephesians 2:14). The peace that Jesus gives is ‘his’ peace. Circumstances cannot change it (John 14:27). This peace is too wonderful for anyone to understand (Philippians 4:7). Nobody can have true peace without *grace.

Christians have already received *grace and peace. But Peter prayed that they may know God’s *grace and peace more and more. God loved and forgave them. But Peter wanted them to understand this more deeply.

These gifts of *grace and peace come as people ‘know God and Jesus our *Lord’. ‘Know’ means to know in a personal way. This is like the special way that a husband and wife know each other. The title ‘*Lord’ means that people should love and obey Jesus. The *apostle Thomas called Jesus ‘My *Lord and my God’ (John 20:28). Jesus is both master and close friend to Christians. Jesus has given us everything v3 God’s great power has given us everything that we need. So we can live in a way that pleases him. This happens because we know him. He called us because of his *glory and goodness. v4 He has given to us very great and precious promises. And through these promises, we can receive God’s nature. In that way we can escape from the effects of evil desires that are in the world. Otherwise, they will ruin you.

Verse 3

Jesus calls people to trust him. His *glory and goodness attract people. ‘*Glory’ refers to his excellent moral character. He is a holy and wonderful person. ‘Goodness’ refers to all that he does. Everything that Jesus does is perfect. He never does anything that is wrong. Jesus has shown us what God requires. When we trust Jesus, we start to know him in a personal way. Jesus is generous. He gives us everything that we need. We receive his power. He makes us able to obey all his commands. We can live a holy life. We can please God (1 Peter 1:15-16). ‘God’s great power’ refers to the work of the Holy Spirit in a Christian. The false teachers taught that people needed to know special secrets. But Peter said that Jesus’ power is sufficient for people who trust Jesus.

Verse 4

When Christians know Jesus personally, they receive the nature and character (*glory and goodness) of Jesus. Their old nature goes. They are like new people (2 Corinthians 5:17). Paul said, ‘Now it is not I who live. But Christ lives in me’ (Galatians 2:20). We do not become God, but God lives in us by his Holy Spirit (John 14:16-17). We also know that Jesus will return. When that happens, we ‘shall be like him’ (1 John 3:2).

‘World’ here means human society that opposes God. The false teachers said that it was right for people to satisfy the evil desires of their human nature. Peter taught that Christians have escaped from their evil desires. They must not return to them. Instead, Christians must aim to become more like Jesus. The character of a Christian v5 Because of this you now share God’s nature. So now, you must work hard to add these things to your lives. Now that you trust God, you must develop moral goodness. v6 Increase your knowledge. Learn to control your own feelings and desires. Be patient. Do not give up when life is difficult. Behave in a way that pleases God. v7 Be kind to other Christians. Love all people in the same way that God loves them. v8 Do all these things and continue to do them. Then you will know our *Lord Jesus Christ better. And you will be an active and useful Christian. v9 But if someone does not do these things, he cannot see properly. He has forgotten that God has removed his past *sins.

Jesus has given Christians everything that they need. But they are responsible to use what he has given them. Because of the promises in verse 4, Christians must work hard to behave in the right way. This will take a lot of effort and a long time. Peter names seven qualities of character. Christians do not work on one quality at a time. Instead, Christians should develop all the qualities and keep increasing them. All the qualities link together. However, the greatest quality is love (1 Corinthians 13:13). Jesus said that the two most important commands are ‘love the *Lord your God’ and ‘love other people’ (Mark 12:29-31).

Verse 5

A Christian’s character begins when he trusts God. The Bible calls this ‘*faith’. ‘Add’ means to add very generously. Goodness is one of Jesus’ qualities (see verse 3). So a Christian should become more like Jesus.

Verse 6

The false teachers claimed to know special secrets. However, they did not know the difference between what is right and wrong. So, Peter wanted Christians to know more and more about Jesus. Then they would learn what pleases him. And they would understand what the *Lord desires (Ephesians 5:17).

When Christians really know Jesus, they behave differently. They learn to control their own feelings and desires. They know that Jesus’ power helps them (verse 3). The false teachers said that their special secrets freed them. But they allowed their feelings and desires to control them. So, they often behaved very badly.

The true Christian knows that God has authority over everything. So Christians should continue even when troubles come. Life is like a race. Christians must patiently run and not give up (Hebrews 12:1-3). They should also remember what God has promised for the future (1 Peter 1:3-7). This will help them to continue to the end.

A Christian should behave in the right way. This means to have the right attitude towards God and towards other people. Every part of a Christian’s life should give honour to God. The selfish way that the false teachers behaved did not give honour to God. The wicked people in the time of Noah also behaved in a selfish way (2: 5).

Verse 7

In chapter 1 verse 10, Peter referred to Christians as ‘my brothers and sisters’. Jesus said, ‘Whoever does what God desires is my brother and sister and mother’ (Mark 3:35). This does not refer to a physical family. Christians are part of God’s family. God is our father. John said that whoever loves God should also love his brother (1 John 4:21). Christians are all different ages. They come from different nations with different customs. They *worship God in different ways. But that should not affect the way that Christians behave towards each other. They must be loyal and kind to the other members of God’s family.

‘Love’. This translates a special *Greek word. This word describes the pure way that God loves us. God always gives people more than they deserve. God’s gifts are for all people whether they are good or bad. He sends the sun and the rain on both the good and the bad people (Matthew 5:43-48). God loves Christians. But he also loves people who are not Christians. God loves his enemies as much as he loves his friends. Therefore, God loves everyone. He always does what is best for each person. Paul says that we ‘build up’ people when we love them (1 Corinthians 8:1). This makes them strong. This is the purpose of all the qualities in verses 5-7.

Verse 8

Christians must develop these qualities. Then they will know Jesus better. They will also become mature Christians. They will be active, not lazy. They will be useful. ‘Useful’ actually means ‘full of fruit’. (See John 15:1-7.) It reminds us of the story that Jesus told about the seed in Matthew 13:22-23. Sadly, many Christians do not become mature. 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 and Hebrews 5:11-13 describe such people.

Peter referred to our ‘*Lord Jesus Christ’. This is his full title. ‘*Lord’ means that he has complete authority. He is head over everything. ‘Jesus’ is his human name. The name Jesus means ‘God is the one who saves’. Jesus saves people from their *sins (Matthew 1:21). ‘Christ’ means ‘the one whom God has *anointed’ (see verse 1).

Verse 9

Any Christian who does not have these qualities is like a blind person. He is not physically blind. His mind cannot ‘see’ (that is, understand) what God requires. Such a person has forgotten that God has forgiven his *sins. Otherwise, he would become a stronger Christian.

v10 Therefore, my Christian brothers and sisters, be very eager to show that God has invited you. And show that God has chosen you. If you do these things, you will never fail. v11 And the *Lord Jesus Christ will give you a great welcome into his *eternal *kingdom.

Verse 10

‘Be very eager’ means the same as ‘work hard’ in verse 5 and ‘try hard’ in verse 15. Peter urged his Christian family to show true qualities of character. God had invited and chosen them. Their good character was the evidence. ‘Chosen’ describes God’s action. ‘Invited’ means that they had to reply to God. They had to believe and trust Jesus his Son. A Christian with the qualities in verses 5-7 will not easily follow false teachers. ‘Fail’ means to turn away from God.

Important note: A person does not become a Christian because he works hard. A person does not become a Christian just because he behaves in the right way. This is not what Peter taught. First a person has to confess that he has *sinned. Then he believes and trusts God’s Son Jesus as his *Saviour. Once a person becomes a Christian he wants to please God. His good qualities are the evidence that he is a Christian.

Verse 11

Jesus will give Christians a great welcome into his *eternal *kingdom. Again, Peter used Jesus’ full title (see verse 8). People enter this *kingdom as soon as they accept Jesus as their king. But God’s *kingdom will only be complete in the future. This will happen when Jesus returns to this world in *glory. There will be nothing evil in this *kingdom. This is good news for people who have troubles in their lives. John used picture language to describe it in Revelation 20:10-22:6. Peter reminded his readers about the truth v12 You already know these things. You firmly trust the true *gospel message. But I shall always remind you about these things. v13 I think that this is the right thing for me to do. While I am alive, I shall continue to remind you. v14 I know that I shall soon die. The *Lord Jesus Christ has told me about this. v15 I shall try hard to help you now. Then after I die, you will be able to remember these things.

Verses 12-13

Peter did not think that his readers were weak Christians. They already knew the true *gospel message. They may have heard this message from Peter himself in his first letter. They may have heard it from Paul or from other Christians. Peter did not want them to forget it. There were false teachers who taught them the wrong things. So Peter wanted to remind the people about the true *gospel message. In John 21:15-17, Jesus said to Peter, ‘feed my young sheep’, and ‘look after my sheep’. Jesus meant that Peter should teach and care about Christians. Peter was doing this by his letter.

Verses 14-15

Peter knew that he would die soon. Jesus had told him how this would happen. Jesus said that Peter would ‘stretch out his hands’ (John 21:18-19). This meant that Peter would die on a cross. Nero, the wicked ruler in Rome, was already killing Christians on crosses. Peter knew that he would soon leave this world. Then he would receive his great welcome from Jesus (verse 11). But while Peter was still alive, he wanted to help the Christians. He wanted them to remember what he had taught them. Peter may have been referring to the *New Testament book of Mark. Some Christian writers at that time said that Peter had taught Mark. Then Mark wrote what Peter had told him. After Peter had died, Mark’s account would help the Christians. Evidence from the *apostles v16 We told you about the *Lord Jesus Christ. We told you about his power. We told you that he will return. We did not tell stories that a clever person made up. We actually saw his splendid greatness. v17 God the Father gave honour and *glory to Jesus. A voice spoke from the cloud of *glory. The voice said, ‘This is my Son whom I love. I am very pleased with him.’ v18 We heard this voice that came from heaven. We were with Jesus on that holy mountain.

Verse 16

Peter and the other *apostles had told people that Jesus would return. The *Greek word for ‘return’ means ‘the splendid arrival of a king’. It describes the way that Jesus will return. He will have great *glory and power. The false teachers said that this was not true. They said that Peter and the *apostles made up these clever stories. But Peter denied this. He told them what had happened to Jesus. You can read about it in Matthew 17:1-9, Mark 9:2-9 and Luke 9:28-36. Jesus’ face shone like the sun. His clothes became as bright as light. Peter and two other *apostles, James and John, were witnesses to this. They saw for themselves the ‘splendid greatness’ of Jesus. They had seen what Jesus will be like when he returns.

Verse 17

Peter, James and John saw God the Father give ‘honour and *glory’ to Jesus. They did not see God. But they saw a great cloud which was full of bright light. They heard the voice of God, which came from the cloud. It showed how much God loves Jesus. God’s words ‘This is my Son whom I love’ are like the words in Genesis 22:2. Abraham loved his only son Isaac. But Abraham was going to offer his only son to God. Like Abraham’s son Isaac, Jesus is God’s ‘only son’. ‘I am very pleased with him’. God says similar words about his servant in Isaiah 42:1. Jesus is that servant.

Verse 18

Peter, James and John were with Jesus on the ‘holy mountain’. This mountain was either Mount Tabor or Mount Hermon. It was ‘holy’ because God spoke there. God spoke to Moses when he gave his law to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:23). God spoke to the *prophet Elijah there as well (1 Kings 19:8-18). However, Peter did not mention in this letter that Moses and Elijah were with Jesus. Peter emphasised what the *apostles saw and heard. This showed that they had authority. They had not made up the stories. In Jerusalem, Peter had spoken to the *Jewish leaders. He said, ‘We have seen and heard many things. We cannot stop speaking about them’ (Acts 4:20). Evidence from the *Scriptures v19 We are even more certain about the message that the *prophets gave. So you must concentrate on it. It is like a lamp that shines in a dark place. It shines until the day begins. It shines until the morning star rises up in your spirits. v20 First, you must understand this. No *prophecy in the *Scriptures ever came from the *prophet’s own mind. v21 *Prophecy never comes from what a person thinks. Instead, the Holy Spirit gave the *prophets the words of God’s message.

Verse 19

The *Old Testament *prophets said that the *Messiah would come. They spoke about his power and his *glory. Peter’s experience on the holy mountain showed that the *prophets were right. So the readers could completely trust the *Scriptures. People also call the *Scriptures ‘God’s word’. Peter described them as ‘a lamp’. Psalms 119:105 says, ‘Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.’ People often describe the world as a dark place. It means that there is much *sin in the world. In the dark, people cannot see where to go. But the *Scriptures are like a light. They show people how to live in the right way.

’The day’ is what the *Old Testament calls ‘the day of the *Lord’. It refers to the time when God will *judge the world. Malachi 4:5 calls it ‘the great and terrible day of the *Lord’. This is the day when Jesus will return. For Christians, it is a day of *salvation. They eagerly expect it.

’The morning star’ is what we call Venus. It appears just before dawn. It shows that a new day is going to start. Jesus said ‘I am… the bright morning star’ (Revelation 22:16). Numbers 24:17 says, ‘A star will come out of Jacob’. *Jews believed that this was a promise about the *Messiah.

When Jesus returns, he will fill Christians with his *glory and his light. They will know him and they will be like him (1 John 3:2). But people must use the ‘lamp’ of the *Scriptures until the day that Jesus returns.

Verses 20-21

Peter explained why people could trust the *prophets’ message. Jeremiah 23:16 says that the false *prophets of the *Old Testament spoke ‘from their own minds’. They did not speak words that came from God. But the true *prophets did not make up their message. They did not decide what to say. True *prophecy is a message from God. The way that God gave his message means ‘to carry along’. In Acts 27:15-17, the same word describes the way that the wind blew the ship on the sea. In a similar way, the Holy Spirit ‘carried’ the *prophets along. God told the *prophets what to say. The Holy Spirit gave them the power that they needed. Then they declared God’s message.

© 1997-2004, Wycliffe Associates (UK)

This publication is written in EasyEnglish Level B (2800 words).

May 2004

Visit our website: www.easyenglish.info

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