Why We Must Trust in Bible -- Peter's Plea in 2 Peter 1:12-21

Eventually, yes, we simply have to trust that Peter knows the truth.

Bible Study Ideas and Commentary for 2 Peter 1:12-21

Because the end result of their teaching (Peter: the narrow road; the false teachers: the wide road) is so dramatically different, Peter pleads with his readers to listen to his eyewitness experience and trust the Word of God which tells us what we need to know about Jesus and salvation in Him.

we were eyewitnesses of His majesty (1:16)

Getting Started: Things to Think About

Dying Wishes / A Last Word / The Long Wait. 

Based on what I saw in the aftermath of the Chicago Cubs finally winning a world series (after 108 years), let me offer a different take on an icebreaker. I was amazed at how this event brought families together—how many “I wish my grandpa . . .” or “I’m so happy for my great-grandma . . .” I saw. There are some great tearjerkers out there if you want to look some up and print them out! There are a number of ways you can turn this into a discussion that applies to the lesson (which is about Peter’s final wishes and the importance of seeing something with your own eyes). (1) What is a major event that would really bring your family together for a celebration? Like a football championship, or a miracle birth, or a homecoming? What would it take to get the kind of reaction they have had in Chicago? (2) What is something you really want to see before you die, not to be so blunt. What’s on your bucket list? (3) What’s something you really, really want to pass on to the next generation? Like fandom for a sports team, or a love for a location? Or (4) What are some dying wishes you have heard from a family member? Have you fulfilled them?

Here are some social media posts in the immediate aftermath of the Cubs victory.

Here’s the direction to take this discussion—Peter really, really wanted to see Jesus return before he died. Knowing that wouldn’t happen, he really, really wanted to make sure that the next generation was prepared to stand firm for Jesus.

This Week's Big Idea: How Was the Bible Written? Is It Inspired?

As part of Peter’s final wishes, so to speak, he really wanted to make sure that his Christian friends understood they had something they could trust going into the future. To this point, all of these young churches had been relying on the apostles for leadership and direction. They were eyewitnesses of Jesus and His teachings, and therefore they could be trusted. But now the apostles were dying. Who could they trust to lead and guide them? One school of thought arose that people could only trust the immediate followers of the apostles. And when they died, their immediate followers. And so on. In other words, a direct chain that could be traced all the way back to the apostles. This is why, for example, it is so important in the Roman Catholic Church that the Pope is considered the successor of Peter.

Peter gives us a different foundation on which to build our trust: the accounts of the apostles, what we now call the Bible. Well, kind of. Follow me on this one. Peter speaks of the words of the prophets (1:19), a phrase that everywhere else refers to the Old Testament. To the early church (because this is how Jesus used it), the Old Testament was one giant prophecy about the Messiah. This is important because the doctrine at issue was the Second Coming. You might remember from the week before that some false teachers had been claiming that the apostles had made up Jesus’ return in order to scare the people into obeying what they said. Peter says they’re wrong for two big reasons: (1) Peter, James, and John saw the Transfiguration with their own eyes, an event they took to be a preview of the Second Coming; but more importantly (2) God Himself revealed the truth of the Second Coming to the prophets of the Old Testament. Essentially, what Peter is saying is that the readers could trust him in his eyewitness testimony, but they could really trust the Old Testament which prophesied the same thing.

Frankly, that seems rather odd. Does that mean we can trust the Old Testament but not the New Testament? Again, follow me on this one. Peter says that Scripture, meaning to him the Old Testament, was brought about by God as the writers were moved by the Holy Spirit. Similarly, Paul says that the Old Testament was God-breathed (which is where we get the word “inspired”; 2 Tim 3:16). There are many places in the New Testament where the words of the Old are directly attributed to God: Matt 19:5, Mark 7:9-13, Luke 1:70, Luke 24:25, John 5:45-47, Acts 1:16, Acts 2:16-17, Acts 28:25, Rom 1:2, Rom 3:2, Heb 1:1-7; and particularly Luke 24:25-27, Acts 3:18, Acts 24:14, Rom 15:4. Everything in the Old Testament is what God wanted written down, even though he used humans to write it.

What, then, do we do about the New Testament? Well, we get the sense that the New Testament writers were aware that Scripture was beginning to expand. For example, in 2 Pet 3:16, Peter applies the technical term for Scripture to Paul’s writings. And in 1 Tim 5:18, Paul applies the term to certain words of Jesus. In other words, there was already a widely held belief that Scripture was inspired by God. In the New Testament, there is the beginning of an awareness that the new writings tied to the apostles were also Scripture. There would be a very long process by which the early church determined exactly which writings those were.

The reason should be obvious—they were talking about words that would be attributed to God. That’s something no one could take lightly! This is where Peter’s reference to the Holy Spirit helps us. If interpretations and Scriptures came about by the movement of the Spirit, then so could the identification and understanding of those words. (Some ancient cults had a belief that a god would “possess” a prophet in some kind of trance in order to write down prophecies; Peter does not use that kind of language; the Holy Spirit did not “replace” the mind of the prophet.) If we could trust God to speak truth, then we can also trust God to point out to us which words are His. And that summarizes Peter’s argument. These false teachers are making up their own words, but we know they are false because they do not line up with God’s words as clarified in Scripture. To Peter, Scripture meant the Old Testament. To us today, it also means the New Testament. That, together, is the foundation on which we build our faith.

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Where We Are in 2 Peter

In keeping with last week, when Peter established for his readers that all Christians needed to “be useful” to God. This had become an issue because some false teachers had begun to appear saying that the fact Jesus had not returned proved that the apostles were wrong and should not be listened to. Peter makes a passionate appeal in response: I am an eyewitness to Jesus, please listen to me. The clearest instance was the Transfiguration, an event prophesied by the Old Testament. Those false teachers have no such knowledge, and they will lead you astray. Do you want to follow the testimony of God, or that of some wicked, immoral men? These are the words of life; they must be trusted.

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Part 1: Needed Reminders (2 Peter 1:12-15)

Therefore I will always remind you about these things, even though you know them and are established in the truth you have. I consider it right, as long as I am in this bodily tent, to wake you up with a reminder, knowing that I will soon lay aside my tent, as our Lord Jesus Christ has also shown me. And I will also make every effort that you may be able to recall these things at any time after my departure.

This would be the perfect time to pull back out some of your favorite teaching moments from last week. That’s what the “therefore” is there for—to tell his readers that he will keep repeating the same things until there is no doubt that he really, really means them. If your group discussion went anything like ours, it was a series of “we know this” observations. Which is fine! The Christian life isn’t as hard as we make it out to be; 9 out of 10 times, we know what we should be doing. So why don’t we? Why don’t we look at this diagram from last week and say “I’m actively climbing that ladder”? I wish I knew the answer. Sin, I guess. Laziness. Selfishness. What I would recommend you do is read the first sentence of this passage and then put back up this diagram.

Ask everybody—how did you do with these this week? Try to get your group to talk about real-life examples and struggles they had with making the right decision. The point would be that we know these things. We have been taught these things. Now we have to be reminded to do these things. That’s certainly the way it is with my kids. I can spend months saying the same thing over and over to them. And then when they get the chance to prove that they remember what I’ve said over and over again . . . nothing. So we’ll go through it again. And eventually they’ll get it. Why is it so hard to pick up the most basic good habits? Again, I don’t know. Sin? And so Peter essentially says that he will keep repeating the same things until he dies. Literally. That’s his point. As long as he keeps waking up in his body, he’ll keep saying the same things to Christians everywhere.

That leads to a rather sobering statement from Peter, acknowledging that his time on earth is short. We make a big deal of Paul’s final words in 2 Timothy 4:6ff (and rightfully so), but I think I’m drawn to Peter’s words more. Here was a man who walked with Jesus for years, who saw Him transfigured (see next section), who was personally appointed to responsibility over this fledgling movement. And now, about 40 years later, things seem just as dicey, with new challenges appearing every day, and there’s nothing else he can do about it anymore. He makes a reference to Jesus’ words in John 21:1-19, knowing that the nature of his death will not be pleasant. And yet, he will do everything he can with the time he has left to help these Christians fight their own good fight. That will include letters like this one, and it will also include his behavior as he faces death. He wants to leave a good example for them—actions, not just words. If you think you have time (and make sure you leave plenty of time to talk about the Bible in the next verses), ask about your group members’ legacy. If you didn’t use this as an icebreaker, talk about it here. Our time on earth is short, and the only thing we will leave of any lasting significance is our impact on other people. Will we be self-ish or self-less with our life?

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Part 2: Eyewitness Accounts (2 Peter 1:16-18)

For we did not follow cleverly contrived myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; instead, we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, a voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory: This is My beloved Son. I take delight in Him! And we heard this voice when it came from heaven while we were with Him on the holy mountain.

In my short asides on inspiration and the Transfiguration, I try to explain why this event is so important. Veteran’s Day makes an easy illustration of this. Men and women who have served in war know from personal experience the devastation and disaster it is. When they have heard politicians make casual remarks about a course that leads to war, they do what they can to intervene. And they have the credibility to speak on the matter because they have been there. They have seen it with their own eyes. We should listen to them because they know—don’t listen to some suit or some pencil-pusher. That’s basically what Peter is saying. “These false teachers who are trying to lead you astray don’t know what they’re talking about. But I was there! You can trust me!” And because his time on earth is growing short, these pleas get all the more desperate. None of this is for Peter’s sake, it’s for theirs.

Note Peter’s switch from “I” to “we” here. Peter likely didn’t establish those churches himself (he was the “apostle to the Jews”), and he didn’t want the readers to let that sway them. The central doctrine at stake here is the Second Coming. If Jesus is coming back, then everything He said must be taken seriously (see the back page). Now that the Gospels are in circulation, these early Christians can begin to see for themselves the stakes of disobedience. Will they throw their lot in with these new teachers who are telling them what they want to hear (tickling their ears with justification of sin), or will they stick with the apostles who were there and saw Jesus revealed in the glory He will have when He rides through the clouds of heaven?

Aside: The Mount of Transfiguration

In case you were wondering . . . Tradition placed the Transfiguration (Matt 17:1-13) on Mount Tabor in lower Galilee, but that is unlikely. Tabor was not a high mountain (1,800 ft), and it was probably fortified by Romans. A better guess is Mount Hermon (9,100 ft) north of Caesarea Philippi (the disciples had just been there). Mountains were associated with God’s revelation, particularly to Moses and Elijah, the men chosen to appear there with Jesus, representing the Law and the Prophets. Based on the connection in the narratives with the confession of the Christ and the prediction of His suffering, we believe that the Transfiguration is intended to encapsulate the mission of the Messiah: to fulfill the Old Testament Scriptures and to make it clear that the Messiah would be glorified (even if He suffered and died in the meantime). It was a foretaste of the Second Coming, intended to give comfort and assurance to the apostles in the dark days ahead. That’s why Peter defended this event so soundly—only 3 people got to witness it! Take their reports seriously!

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Part 3: Written by God (2 Peter 1:19-21)

So we have the prophetic word strongly confirmed. You will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dismal place until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. First of all, you should know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, men spoke from God as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

My articles attempt to summarize how Peter’s words describe the nature of the Bible as well as how they apply to what we now call the New Testament. For our purposes today (Christianity in general), these are probably the most important words Peter says. Essentially, they explain why we still trust the Bible today, 2000+ years later. These are not simply the words of some guys (like the Iliad, or Antiquities of the Jews, or whatnot). These are the words of God. God used ordinary people to write them down, so each part of the Bible has a unique flavor, so to speak, but what is recorded is what God wanted recorded. And we would do well to pay attention to it! In summary for Peter, his argument is that the Old Testament predicts the return of Christ. That prediction needs no confirmation (because it is the Word of God, it is valid), but Peter’s own personal experience validates/confirms the Old Testament! The Bible (and again, to Peter that meant the Old Testament but as I mention in a few different places we now realize includes the New Testament) is like a lamp. It shines on our path until the sun rises (Jesus returns) and we can see everything clearly. BUT Peter is writing to Gentiles; they don’t know this about the Old Testament, so he has to reassure them. The prophets behind the Old Testament weren’t making things up, they were communicating revelations from God. The phrase “as they were moved by” is also used of a ship by the wind. God would “breathe” on the authors and move them the direction He wanted them to go (which is appropriate, considering that “inspired” means “God-breathed”). Note that there is an additional layer you might want to discuss—proper understanding of the Bible also comes by the Holy Spirit. Anybody can read it and even learn from it, but the Spirit gives the final word on exactly what it means. Makes sense, right? But if you’re not careful, you can follow that truth right into Gnosticism, in which there is a secret truth behind the Bible that only special people can know. I don’t think we want to go there. But we can also say, without being condescending, that when you become a Christian, the Holy Spirit helps to “shine a lamp” into the Bible for you to help it make more sense.

Here’s how you might wrap up this lesson. Mainstream media and social media are presenting a lot of wild things as truth. We’ve all learned that trying to argue “truth” with a non-Christian can be nigh impossible. So, what do we do? First, we have to resolve to be convinced of real truth from God’s Word. What does the Bible say? Talk with your group members and strive for answers together. It is possible that we have made false assumptions about what the Bible says or means. Second, once you feel good about what the Bible says, you want to gently and respectfully explain that truth to whoever is speaking wrongly (remember 1 Peter 3:15). It is likely that that person misunderstands the Bible. But be kind and loving! As we’ve talked about in our group, that doesn’t mean barging in on every social and moral dispute. We do need to “pick our battles” so to speak. Talk as a group about situations they don’t know how to handle. Work together.

Aside: The Bible Confirmed?

This is one of my favorite images in the Bible: the “morning star” that rises in our hearts. And it’s used in the context of Scripture “being confirmed”. Well, some people misunderstand those words, saying either that some parts of Scripture are confirmed but others are still unconfirmed. Or that you know in your heart which parts of Scripture are true or not. No, no, no. Think of the Scriptures as a lamp. It’s putting out true light, but only so much light. Eventually, the sun will rise, and when it does, the light from the sun will completely overwhelm the little lamp, making it rather unnecessary. But both are true sources of light. Here’s Peter’s point: people doubt that Jesus will return. Well, for now, we simply have to trust the words of Scripture (and God gave the apostles key experiences to verify that they were understanding Scripture correctly). But one day Jesus will return, and when that happens the limited light of Scripture will be unnecessary. We are to trust the Bible, but our faith is in God. God has brought about these writings, and they are all certain. But when Jesus returns, the full revelation of God will shine on us all.

Bonus Aside: Peter’s Letters and the Gospels

According to the Gospels, Jesus had much to say about His return. This is where the dating of those books really matters. I take an early date (Matthew, Mark, and Luke were written between the mid-50s and mid-60s) because I believe that an apostle was directly tied to each Gospel (Mark with Peter, and Luke with the Jerusalem leaders while staying there with Paul). Peter wrote this letter after the first three Gospels were in circulation. The Transfiguration was prominent in each one because the apostles knew that their eyewitness of this event set them apart from every other so-called teacher and also validated everything Jesus said about His return and eternal reign. Peter’s version of this event can be found in Mark 9:2-8, and it’s not very flattering to Peter.

Closing Thoughts: Jesus on His Return

One of the most amazing passages in Scripture is the section where Matthew records what Jesus had to say about His return. We call it the Olivet Discourse (they were on the Mount of Olives), and it is in Matthew 24-25. Most of the attention goes to Matthew 24, in which Jesus talks about the signs of His return, but I want to call your attention to Matt 24:36 through chapter 25. There are five parables told: (1) the master of the house who failed to keep watch, (2) the foolish servant whose master returned before he was ready, (3) the foolish virgins whose master returned later than they were expecting, (4) the stewards whose master took a very long time to return, and (5) the division of the sheep from the goats. In the first four, special attention is given to how long it takes for the master to return, and the emphasis is on being ready—whether early or late. But in all of them, the real theme is simply on being ready. Those servants who are doing what the master expects of them when he returns are welcomed into their master’s happiness. But those he finds unprepared, acting wickedly, or failing to do good, he casts out into the outer darkness. This is very, very serious!

In Mark, the Gospel we associate with Peter, Jesus’ words that “some standing here will not taste death until they see the kingdom” is directly connected with the Transfiguration (9:1-13). At the very least, Peter recognized Jesus’ transfiguration as a taste of His coming back in power. Therefore, if the Transfiguration happened (something that Peter insists in our passage today), then everything Jesus warned in Matthew 24-25 will also happen. It is no laughing matter to be caught unprepared for Jesus’ return. And this is why Peter is so upset by the teachings of these false apostles. The road they would lead the church down would lead to utter ruin when Jesus does come back. This isn’t Peter’s ego we’re talking about, it’s the fate of the souls of millions. And it all hinges on the truth that Jesus will come back, even though He hasn’t done so yet. But will we be ready?