2 Peter 1:1-2

I.

INTRODUCTION AND GREETING 2 Peter 1:1-2

CHAPTER I

2 Peter 1:1-2 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and the Saviour Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;

Expanded Translation

Simon Peter, a servant (bondman, slave) and apostle (commissioned messenger sent forth with orders) of Jesus Christ, to those having obtained an equally precious faith with us, in the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ. Grace, favour, and blessing be upon you and peace be increased and multiplied as you acquire a full and accurate knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

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Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ

(See 1 Peter 1:1.) This inscription varies from that of the first letter in two particulars:

1. He adds his original name, Simon (John 1:40-42).

2. Besides verifying his apostleship, he adds that he is a servant (doulos) of Jesus Christ.

What is a doulos? This word normally means a bondman, a slave, one who sustains a permanent servile relation to another. (But it sometimes indicates subjection without the idea of bondage.) Jesus employs this very word when he said to his apostles, ... whosoever would become great among you shall be your minister (diakonos); and whosoever would be first among you shall be your servant (doulos). (See Matthew 20:20-28, also Luke 22:24-27). We become great in God's eyes when we forget our own glory and become servants!

It is significant that most of the epistles were written by men who chose to wear the title of servant: Romans 1:1, James 1:1, Jude 1:1, etc. They were bondmen and slaves of Christ, happy and joyous that they could maintain such a relationship!

to them that have obtained a like-precious faith with us

The word obtained (lagchano) means to obtain by lot. They had been allotted a faith that was just as precious and valuable as the apostle's (if that is who is meant by us).[43]

[43] I have a hard time believing that the us here refers to the Jews generally, as some assert. Peter's first epistle was largely to Jewish Christians and this epistle was to the same group (1 Peter 3:1).

What is the faith here spoken of? I would refer it to the life of faith, or the Gospel with all its privileges (as in Galatians 1:12), It cannot be subjective (belief), for it is given to us by God.[44]

[44] A careful examination of Ephesians 2:8 will also reveal that the gift of God in that passage is not faith, but salvation, Belief is something we must exercise after the evidence is presented.

in the righteousness of our God and the Saviour Jesus Christ

Or, our God and Saviour Jesus Christ. Christ is God; Acts 20:28 (some MSS), John 1:1; John 10:30, 1 John 5:20. In the realm or sphere of his righteousness (not our own merit) we have obtained our salvation.

grace to you and peace be multiplied

A repetition of 1 Peter 1:2.

in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord

The word knowledge (epignosis) is a very important word in this second epistle, occurring again in 2 Peter 1:3; 2 Peter 1:8, 2 Peter 2:20, and the verb (epiginosko) in 2 Peter 2:21. It will be worth our time to notice a quote from Trench concerning it:

Of epignosis, as compared to ginosis.(knowledge), it will be sufficient to say that epi must be regarded as intensive, giving to the compound word a greater strength than the simple possessed. a deeper and more intimate knowledge and acquaintance. St. Paul, it will be remembered, exchanges the ginosko, which expresses his present and fragmentary knowledge, for epignosomai, which would express his future intuitive and perfect knowledge (1 Corinthians 13:12). It is bringing me better acquainted with a thing I saw before afar off.[45]

[45] Trench, Synonyms of The N.T., p. 285. See also Lightfoot's commentary on Colossians 1:9.

It is thus more than knowledge; it is a precise and correct knowledge. It is more than acquiring a bundle of facts and placing them in the memory; it is understanding those facts and their relation to one another. It denotes exact or full knowledge, and expresses a greater care and concern on the part of the knower.