(2 Pet 1:1 NASB) Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:
2 Pet 1:1: Peter calls himself a bond-servant and apostle (missionary) of Yeshua Messiah. He tells us to whom he is writing. He is writing to those who “have received a faithfulness of the same kind as ours by the righteousness of our Elohim and and Savior, Yeshua Messiah.” Peter knows that faith, or faithfulness, is something that people received from Elohim. It is not something that they got from their own actions, even by asking for it. This is well founded in Scripture (Acts 15:8-9, Phil. 1:29-30, Titus 1:1-2, Acts 13:48, Eph. 1:4-6)
(2 Pet 1:2 NASB) Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;
(2 Pet 1:3 NASB) seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
2 Pet 1:3: Peter continues by telling us the His divine power has granted us everything pertaining to life and godliness (Romans 8:28-30).
(2 Pet 1:4 NASB) For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
2 Pet 1:4: Peter says that Elohim grants to us His precious and magnificent promises. What are His precious and magnificent promises that He granted? He is speaking of the New Covenant that states He will put His Spirit within us and give us a desire to obey His laws, commandments, statutes and ordinances (Ezek. 11:19-20, 36:25-27, 37:14, 24).
(2 Pet 1:5 NASB) Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge;
(2 Pet 1:6 NASB) and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness;
(2 Pet 1:7 NASB) and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.
2 Pet 1:7: Since we were given the promise to have His Spirit within us, we are to have (in our faithfulness) moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. These are all traits of those following His Torah.
(2 Pet 1:8 NASB) For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Pet 1:8: His Spirit within us is a work within us. We should have these qualities and they should be increasing. If we have these things, we will have a true knowledge of Yeshua Messiah (John 15:7-10, 1 John 2:3-7).
(2 Pet 1:9 NASB) For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.
2 Pet 1:9: Those who lack these things are blind or short-sighted and has forgotten about purification from his former sins. If we know Him, we are to obey His Torah or else we are blind (John 9:40-41).
(2 Pet 1:10 NASB) Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;
(2 Pet 1:11 NASB) for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.
(2 Pet 1:12 NASB) Therefore, I shall always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you.
2 Pet 1:12: It is through His Spirit within us that gives us faithfulness to obey His Torah that grant us entrance into His eternal kingdom (Rev. 21:25-27).
(2 Pet 1:13 NASB) And I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder,
(2 Pet 1:14 NASB) knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.
2 Pet 1:14: Almost all commentaries state that Peter is speaking of his future death. They state that Peter is speaking of John 21:18-19. The term “dwelling” is used here does not have the word “earthly” in front of it. It would appear that Yeshua was telling Peter in John 21:18 that he would be imprisoned, but verse 19 speaks that he would be killed while imprisoned.
On the basis of the prediction in those verses, church tradition from as early as Tertullian (c. A.D. 210) holds that Peter died a martyr’s death. Tradition states he was crucified upside down in Rome during the Neronian persecution of A.D. 64-68.
(2 Pet 1:15 NASB) And I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you may be able to call these things to mind.
(2 Pet 1:16 NASB) For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
2 Pet 1:16: Peter is writing these things so they have a reminder of them after he departs, or after his death. The eyewitnesses of Messiah did not follow fables or myths. They are testifying of what they saw and what they heard.
(2 Pet 1:17 NASB) For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased”–
(2 Pet 1:18 NASB) and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
2 Pet 1:18: Peter is speaking of the transfiguration of the Messiah. It was at the transfiguration of the Messiah that they witnessed the (v. 16) power and coming of Yeshua Messiah (Matt. 16:28 -17:6). Transfiguration means “transforming.” They saw a vision of the Messiah at His return and heard the voice of the Father.
(2 Pet 1:19 NASB) 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 Pet 1:19: Peter said that He witnessed the glory of the transformed Messiah and the voice of the Father, therefore the prophetic word is made sure. We are to pay attention to it as if it were a lamp in the darkness. We are to look for it until the morning star rises in our hearts.
(2 Pet 1:20 NASB) But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation,
2 Pet 1:20: The NKJV and KJV state “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation.” Peter could be saying one of two things:
He could be saying that prophecy in Scripture cannot be interpreted by man alone, but by Scripture.
He could also mean that prophecy in Scripture is not something made up by man, but it is something that is absolutely certain. The latter seems to be proper because the term for “interpretation” really means “explanation.” in light of how Peter continues his thought (v. 21).
(2 Pet 1:21 NASB) for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
Patrick McGuire
Copyright 2014 Patrick McGuire and Beit Yeshua Torah Assembly All rights reserved, no portion of this Lesson may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations in articles and reviews. Beit Yeshua Torah Assembly Fort Smith, Arkansas