2 Peter: Faith In A Skeptical World Sample

It is here that Peter helpfully expresses the reason for his letter. He says it is his second letter to them, and most Christians take it that 1 Peter was the first letter to the same recipients. Both letters are ‘reminders’ (v. 1) of things they may have known. And both letters seek to ‘stimulate [them] to wholesome thinking’ (v. 1, NIV), or ‘stirring up [their] sincere mind’ (v. 1, ESV). 

This explicitly stated purpose helps us to know how we are to benefit from 2 Peter; we are not to be embittered by the false teachers, nor are we to focus on their methods and arguments. Peter intends better for us – that our minds be stirred by the truths of Christ, including the prophetic anticipation about Jesus before His arrival and profound teaching (v. 2). 

Peter refers to ‘the command given by our Lord and Saviour through your apostles’ (v. 2). Which command is Peter referring to? Just as ‘the Law’ (singular) refers to the collection of many laws in the Old Testament, so too the ‘command’ (also singular) ‘given by our Lord’ is probably referring to the new body of instruction that Jesus brought (as also in 2 Pet. 2:21). The ‘command’ of Jesus is probably a similar way of describing what Jesus called ‘everything I have commanded you’ (Matt. 28:20). 

In the following verses, Peter will engage with some who dispute aspects of Jesus’ teaching, but for now Peter urges them to feed upon the Old Testament’s anticipation of Jesus, and upon what Jesus taught. We never move beyond the essence of Christianity, which is Christ as described by both the Old and New Testaments. 

We realize it is good for us to never lose sight of Christ, but we are easily distracted and sidetracked. We would like to be the good soil, but are often choked by the over-riding concerns of the world. We know it is important to be anchored to Christ alone, but we can find ourselves swept along into unhealthy preoccupations with good but inferior alternatives. I have seen Christians sidetracked by their fascination with end-time prophecy, a certain approach to Christian counselling, academic performance, fundraising for buildings or even missionaries, defence of creation in Genesis, and church growth initiatives. Even Christian ministry can be a substitute for Christ Himself. 

The Bible keeps us from these distractions when read regularly and with eyes open to Christ. A neglected Bible is like a buried treasure chest. It contains, but will not convey to its distracted owner, the riches and pleasures of Christ. 

Reflection

Will you allow Peter's plea, his reminder, to regularly stir up your mind to these excellent things? Will you feed upon the Old Testament's predictions and upon the apostolic message about your Lord and Saviour?