2 PETER CHAPTER 1
by
Jim Bomkamp
1.
Date of writing: around 67AD.
2.
Author: the Apostle Peter.
2.1.
The author calls himself in
the first verse of chapter 1, “Simon Peter an apostle and servant of Jesus
Christ.”
2.2.
He claims to have been
present at the Transfiguration (1:16-18), and to have been warned by Jesus of
his impending death (1:14).
2.3.
He was either the apostle
Peter or an impostor, in which case we should not pay attention to anything
that he has written.
3.
Acceptance Into The New
Testament Canon:
3.1.
This book was slow being
accepted into the New Testament Canon.
3.2.
The critics said the book
was not Jewish enough and couldn’t have been written by Peter.
3.2.1. Peter had walked with the Lord for over 30 years by now, and he had
read Ephesians, Galatians, and Romans and thus we should expect Peter’s
theology and practice to be much like Paul’s.
3.2.2. The critics probably would have rejected the letter if he had written
from too Jewish of a point of view.
3.3.
Some critics claimed that it
must have been written by someone in the second century who went by the name of
Peter.
3.4.
There has been some
confusion about the source of the letter because a good part of chapter 2 is
mostly identical to portions of the book of Jude.
3.5.
The early church did accept
the book as scripture and genuine.
4.
Recipients:
4.1.
These are believed to be the
regions where the people lived to whom 1 Peter was written: ‘Galatia, Cappodicia, Asia, and Bithynia’
(primarily the Jewish Christians in that area).
4.2.
No recipients are
specifically mentioned in the book.
4.2.1. This may have been intentional since the letter could have more wide
spread circulation that way.
5.
The purpose of the letter:
5.1.
After writing the book of 1
Peter, Peter becomes aware of false teachers and prophets within the church,
and he seeks to equip the church in how to recognize false teachers and to
teach them about the punishment that is awaiting those who deceive and lead the
church astray.
5.2.
Peter exhorts the church to
make sure of their salvation by building 7 divine qualities into their
character.
5.3.
Peter exhorts the church to
the fact that God’s Word is sure and true, and he assures them this is so
because of his own first-hand testimony to the gospel events.
6.
The place of writing:
6.1.
This is not mentioned in the
letter, however perhaps it again is Babylon, the city itself, or “Babylon” a
code-word for Rome (1 Peter 5:13). This
was the place where Peter wrote 1 Peter.
7.
Content:
7.1.
Peter seeks first of all to
encourage the church to be sure of their salvation, and this to be accomplished
by allowing the Lord to build them up in seven areas of their character, one
upon another.
7.2.
Peter encourages the church
concerning the trustworthiness of God’s Word, citing especially his testimony
of being an eye-witness to the glorious gospel events. He reminds them of the precious promises
upon which their faith is built.
7.3.
He warns them of the
characteristics of those who are false teachers who will come within the
church, and how that they should deal
with these type of people. Peter warns
them that there will be false teachers and prophets coming into the
church. He reveals the character and
motivations of false teachers.
7.4.
Peter encourages the church
that though the Lord’s coming is imminent, that a thousand years is as a day to
the Lord, and that they therefore must patiently wait with confidence expecting
His return. In closing, Peter
encourages the church of the trustworthiness of the apostle Paul’s writings
being on the level of scripture.
8.
VS 1:1 - “1:1 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” - Peter identifies himself as
the author of the letter
8.1.
Peter identifies himself as
‘Simon Peter.’
8.1.1. In the Greek, curiously the word is actually ‘Simeon’ instead of
‘Simon.’
8.1.1.1.Some have questioned the authorship
as being from Peter, one of the 12, as a result.
8.1.1.2.Some have said that the real
Peter would not have identified himself with his pre-Christian name.
8.1.1.3.However, Peter is identified
as, ‘Simon Peter,’ 16 times in the gospels in the NASB translation.
8.1.1.4.In Acts 10:5,18, 32, and
11:32, post-conversion Peter is identified as “a man named Simon who is also
called Peter.”
8.1.1.5.The name ‘Simeon’ is another
form of the name ‘Simon,’ so we should be too concerned about the name being
‘Simeon.’
’
8.1.2. Another Peter would have gone to some lengths to identify himself,
therefore when Peter does not establish his identity except to identify himself
as an apostle and uses the name ‘Simon Peter,’ this is evidence that he is the
author.
8.2.
Peter not only states his
God-given calling as an apostle, he is also not ashamed to call himself God’s
‘bond-servant.’
8.2.1. A ‘bond-servant’ is one who of his own free-will has submitted himself
to be a slave for life to someone.
8.2.2. In the Old Testament law, if a slave were to be given his freedom, he
could choose instead to serve his master for life as a slave, and they would
then pierce his ear lobe with an awl to signify that he was now a bond-servant.
8.3.
The only identity
established for the recipients of Peter’s letter is, ‘to those who have
received a faith of the same kind as ours.’
8.3.1. Peter does not claim that since he is an apostle that he has ‘a
superior faith’ to others.
8.4.
Salvation has come to us
because of ‘the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ,’ for it
reveals His righteousness.
8.4.1. One person has written that, “this righteousness gives glory to
all. As we know it in Christ (1) it
reveals itself; (2) it vindicates
itself; (3) it communicates itself. We
cannot attain it or maintain it without Christ.”
8.4.2. Charnock Wells says concerning God’s righteousness, “Without it his
patience would be indulgence to sin, his mercy a fondness, his wrath a madness,
his power a tyranny, his wisdom an unworthy subtlety.”
8.5.
Peter clearly believed in
the divinity of Christ, as he here calls him, ‘our God and Savior.’
9.
VS 1:2 - “2 Grace and peace be multiplied
to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord” - Peter sends to them his salutation of ‘grace and peace’
9.1.
Peter knew that God’s ‘grace
and peace’ only come as we grow in ‘the knowledge of God and of Jesus our
Lord.’
9.1.1. Peter now will continue to exhort his readers in the things that are
essential for growth in the knowledge of God.
10.
VS 1:3 - “3 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” - God has provided
everything for us to grow in life and in godliness through the true knowledge
of Him in the scriptures
10.1. God’s ‘divine power’ has granted us these things, and it must be
through His divine power working in us that we are able to grow in godliness
and the knowledge of Him.
10.1.1.We Christians must learn to
walk by the Spirit and not lean on our own understanding but let Him lead and
teach us.
10.2. It is as we as Christians grow in our knowledge of Him that we grow in
life and godliness.
10.3. We do not need to look to any human source of wisdom or knowledge in
order to have all that we need to grow in life and godliness, for He has
provided ‘everything’ we need in His Word.
10.4. God called us to salvation not because He knew that we were in any way
righteous in and off ourselves, but rather it was ‘by His own glory and
excellence’ that He did so.
11.
VS 1:4 - “4 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” - Because of
His glory and excellence He has granted to us precious and magnificent promises
to trust in
11.1. Each of us were saved initially because we trusted in His promises for
salvation, now He calls us to walk trusting in His promises.
11.2. The promises that we claim in scripture pertaining to us as God’s
people Peter calls ‘precious and magnificent.’
11.2.1.We Christians need to search
out the promises of God’s Word for us as if they were a treasure more valuable
than gold or silver.
11.3. Peter writes that the promises for us in scripture are given so that
‘by them,’ or ‘by believing in them,’ we might as a result ‘become partakers of
the divine nature.’
11.3.1.To “partake of the divine
nature” means to be purified and made to be like Christ in our character.
11.3.2.This is ‘the crucified life’
where Christ is on the throne of our life and we are walking in the power of
the Holy Spirit.
11.4. God’s promises which we claim as Christians also help us to escape the
‘corruption that is in the world.’
11.4.1.Instead of going with the
flow of the world and ungodliness and worldliness, we Christians can swim
upstream like the spawning salmon.
11.5. The problems which we have in our life caused by sin do not stem from
without us, rather they come from within us, for they come from our ‘lusts’
which we fail to control.
11.5.1.James wrote about this in
James 1:14-15, “14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and
enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to
sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.”
11.5.2.We can’t blame the world,
the devil, nor anyone else for the origination of sin because it originates
within our own fallen hearts, from our own lusts.
12.
VS 1:5 - “5 Now for this very reason also,
applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your
moral excellence, knowledge” - Peter now begins his
exhortation to us as Christians to add on top of one another 7 virtues
12.1. Initially, Peter exhorts that we are to apply ‘all diligence’ to
letting these virtues have their place in our life.
12.2. It would do us no good as Christians if we only demonstrated in our
life one, two, or a few of the fruits of the Spirit, but rather we must grow in
all areas of our life and character if we are to walk as pleasing the Lord.
12.2.1.Therefore, Peter gives us a
list of seven traits of character which we are to build one upon another, and,
the building of each one leads naturally to the building of the next.
12.3. Peter will later make the point that as we as Christians apply
ourselves to allowing the characteristics of godliness fill our life, we will
then confirm our faith until the end as we will be kept from stumbling and
falling away.
12.4. The virtue of ‘faith’ is assumed, and this is the starting place for a
Christian, for if we are not walking by faith we will not be able to make any
progress in any area of our Christian life.
12.5. First of all, Peter exhorts to apply to our faith ‘moral excellence.’
12.5.1.This word translated ‘moral
excellence’ really means “manliness” or “courage.”
12.5.2.We Christians must diligently
apply ourselves to walking courageously as we take our stand for right and
truth against all that is darkness.
12.6. Secondly, Peter exhorts us to apply to our ‘moral excellence’
‘knowledge.’
12.6.1.This word really means
“practical wisdom” or “prudence.”
12.6.2.A head knowledge or book
knowledge will not suffice, we as Christians must apply ourselves to allowing
God to gives practical knowledge of Him so that we might act wisely and
discreetly as Christians.
13.
VS 1:6 - “6 and in
your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in
your perseverance, godliness” - Peter now exhorts us as
to the next four of the seven character traits that we are to apply ourselves
to producing in our life
13.1. Third in the list, Peter says that in our knowledge, or prudence, we
are to exercise ‘self-control,’ or what some have defined as “temperance.”
13.1.1.We as Christians must learn
to keep the appetites of our body under control if we are to grow in godliness
as the Lord is able to make us grow.
13.1.2.As Christians we must learn
the wisdom of doing things in moderation if we are to grow maximally in
godliness.
13.1.3.Applying ourselves to living
temperately with self-control will allow us to be the best witness to the
non-Christians which are around us.
13.2. Fourth in the list, Peter says that to our temperance we are to add
‘perseverance’ or what some have defined as ‘patience.’
13.2.1.We Christians must learn to
persevere in doing good and walking in godliness because it does not help us to
run this race before us for a short while and then give up. The race lasts our lifetime, and the finish
line is reached when we meet Jesus face to face.
13.2.1.1.Paul wrote about this in
Gal. 6:9, “9And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we
shall reap, if we faint not.”
13.2.1.2.Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 9:24-27
that we are to keep this body under control and run this race of our lives as
if to win the prize by passing the finish line in first place, “Do you not
know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run
in such a way that you may win. 25 And everyone who competes in the games
exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable
wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not
without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27 but I buffet my
body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I
myself should be disqualified.”
13.2.1.3.Many seemingly start out
well in their walk with the Lord, but they end up disqualified, eventually
falling completely away from the Lord.
13.3. Fifth in this list, Peter writes that we are to add to our temperance
‘godliness’ or as some have defined it ‘godly reverence.’
13.3.1.We Christians must learn to
walk in that reverence for the Lord that desires that nothing ever done in word
or deed will bring Him dishonor or displease Him.
13.3.2.The Psalmist wrote in Psalm
110:11 that the fear of the Lord is the first place, or principle, that we
begin in understanding true wisdom, “10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning
of wisdom.”
14.
VS 1:7 - “7 and in
your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love” - Peter now exhorts us as to the last two of the seven character
traits that we are to apply ourselves to producing in our life
14.1. Sixth in his list, Peter writes that to our godliness that we are to
add ‘brotherly kindness’ or what some have defined as ‘love of the brethren.’
14.1.1.We Christians must always
strive to make our love of our brethren in Christ have a central place in our
life. Love of our brethren is really a
treasure that we must be sure to protect.
14.2. Seventh, and last in his list, Peter writes that to our brotherly
kindness we are to add ‘love’ or what others have defined as ‘charity.’
14.2.1.This is the agape love of
God that is to go even beyond those who are our brethren in Christ to all those
who are in the world.
14.2.1.1.Jesus taught that it would
be by ‘our love’ that all men would know that we are Christians, for this is
what will set us apart from all else who are in the world.
14.2.1.2.As a testimony to God’s
working in the world, virtually every single charity that exists and has
existed since the birth of the church was begun as a ministry of the church to
the world.
14.2.1.3.When people cannot explain
our actions by any other means other than the love of God working within us,
then we can have a tremendous impact on the lost world around us.
15.
VS 1:8 - “8 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” - Peter here emphasizes what benefit will occur to our lives if we
will apply ourselves to allowing these seven characteristics dominate in us
15.1. Peter tells us that if all of these qualities are in our life and growing
in our life, then we will be able to bear fruit for the Lord.
15.2. So many people have potential in their life for the Lord to use them,
however they have been resisting the Lord’s working of these qualities in their
life, and thus they aren’t being used by the Lord as the could and should be.
15.3. Some people have these qualities in their lives at times, but they are
not really fruitful because they are not diligent in applying themselves to
letting these qualities be in their lives, and they often or periodically lapse
back into their fleshly patterns of the B.C. life.
15.4. Peter actually says that having all of these qualities in our lives and
growing will not keep us from being ‘unfruitful in the true knowledge of our
Lord Jesus Christ,’ for as we grow in the knowledge of Christ, we will likewise
grow in godliness and fruitfulness for the Lord.
16.
VS 1:9 - “9 For he
who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his
purification from his former sins” - Peter answers the
question as to what is the condition in a Christian’s life and walk with the
Lord who does not possess these seven character traits
16.1. First of all, Peter writes that one who lacks these qualities is
‘blind’ since he is not able to see the importance of and perhaps does not have
the desire to have these qualities.
16.1.1.If we as Christians do not
apply ourselves to allowing these seven character traits reign in our life, we
cannot really see what is important in life, the eternal realities, for we are
living only for the things of this life.
16.1.2.If we as Christians do not
apply ourselves to allowing these seven character traits reign in our life, we
have lost sight of what it is that the Lord has done for us and why He did it.
16.1.2.1.We have forgotten that it
was our sin that had been destroying our life and would have sent us to hell
had not Jesus rescued us through His death on the cross for us and our
acceptance of Him as Lord and Savior.
16.1.2.2.We’ve also forgotten the
many blessings that the Lord has for the man who seeks to walk righteously before
Him, for to know Him is greater than anything else in life.
16.2. Secondly, Peter writes that one who lacks these qualities is
‘short-sighted’ since he cannot see that the things that are of real importance
and lasting value are those where Christ can be Lord of our life and use us
according to His eternal plans and calling for us.
16.2.1.We Christians must come to
grips with the fact that all of the material things in this life are just going
to burn, and only those things that are eternal in nature will survive: The Word of God and the souls of men.
16.3. Third, Peter writes that one who lacks these qualities has ‘forgotten
his purification from his former sins.’
16.3.1.When we as Christians have
not been applying ourselves to letting these seven character traits dominate in
our lives, we have forgotten the fact that once Christ forgave us for the sins
associated with not allowing these things in our lives.
16.3.2.We’ve forgotten the blessing
of having the weight and burden of sin lifted from our shoulders that happened
when we received Christ into our life, and we are now living in a state of
‘condemnation’ as we habitually sin.
17.
VS 1:10 - “10 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” - Peter explains in this verse that as we Christians are ‘diligent’ in
applying ourselves to these seven character traits we in a sense are confirming
ourselves in the genuineness of our salvation
17.1. The apostle John wrote in 1 John 3:9 that if we are truly a Christian
that we will not be able to continue to habitually live in sin since we have a
new regenerated nature within us, “9 No one who is born of God practices
sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of
God.”
17.2. As we apply ourselves to godliness, we show the work of God that is
happening within our heart as Christians as Paul wrote in Phil. 2:12-13, “12 So
then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only,
but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and
trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for
His good pleasure.”
17.3. The recipients Peter is writing to were already trying to apply these
seven traits to their lives, so here Peter exhorts them to ‘be all the more
diligent’ to do so.
17.4. Many Christian leaders have taught that if people are trying to do
God’s will that this is a wrong approach, for they must instead just ‘let go
and let God.’ However, on the contrary Peter exhorts us to apply ourselves
diligently to the task of perfecting godliness in our lives. We have to be very much involved and diligent
in working on our Christian walk, working out what the Lord is working into our
life (see Phil. 3).
17.5. It is a great promise from God here that if we will diligently apply
ourselves to applying these seven traits in our lives that we ‘will never
stumble’ in our walk.
18.
VS 1:11 - “11 for
in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ will be abundantly supplied to you” - In this
verse Peter gives us a further promise for being diligent to apply ourselves in
allowing these seven character traits dominate in our lives
18.1. Peter promises that ‘the entrance’ into God’s ‘eternal kingdom’ will be
‘abundantly’ supplied to us.
18.1.1.God will lead us in every
step of the way in our life as He works in and through us the things that He
desires to do.
18.1.2.Every step in this life as
Christians will be leading us down the road to His eternal kingdom, and every
part of what we do here in this life will impact positively our eternal life in
His glorious kingdom.
18.1.3.God will abundantly supply
us all of the resources that we need to do everything that He commands and
leads us to do in serving Him faithfully.
19.
VS 1:12-13 - “12
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. 13 And I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling,
to stir you up by way of reminder” - Peter never held back nor
was ashamed to remind them of these things concerning the importance for the
Christian to perfect godliness in his life
19.1. As a pastor, we must realize that people already know what is right and
wrong in large measure, however they still need constant reminder.
19.1.1.We as Christians tend at
times to forget the importance and urgency of walking in godliness.
19.1.2.We as Christians have
constant temptations to walk in a way other than that which is godly and honors
God.
19.1.3.We in the church need
fellowship with each other in order to gain the strength to continue
persevering in godliness.
19.1.4.Pastors do not need to be
always be trying to come up with the latest method or fad or teaching from
scripture in order to have a powerful ministry, but rather we must always be
sure to ‘make sure that the main thing stays the main thing.’
20.
VS 1:14 - “14 knowing
that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord
Jesus Christ has made clear to me” - Peter knew that he was
soon to go to be with the Lord
20.1. Jesus told Peter that he would die a martyr’s death in John 21:18-19,
“18 “Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird
yourself, and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch
out your hands, and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not
wish to go.” 19 Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would
glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He *said to him, “Follow Me!””
20.2. As I mentioned previously, this verse is another evidence that the
author is Peter, one of the 12 apostles.
20.3. All of us as Christians are called by the Lord to die with Him, die to
self (the old nature), and as was the case with Peter, when we have settled the
fact of our death, it helps us begin to live.
21.
VS 1:15 - “15 And
I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you may be able to call
these things to mind” - Peter had a goal for his
ministry such that he wanted the fruit of his labor to remain after he left
21.1. All pastors and teachers should seek to have such “diligence” in their
ministry and teaching as did Peter.
21.2. Again, we can see that Peter was not ashamed nor afraid to repeat
himself concerning the basic principles affecting Christian growth and
maturity.
22.
VS 1:16-18 - “16 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.
17 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”— 18 and we ourselves heard this utterance made from
heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain” - Peter
reveals to his readers that he was part of the group who were eye-witnesses of
the events that occurred in Jesus life
22.1. In the gospel events, God spoke aloud these words, “This is My beloved
Son with whom I am well-pleased,” to Jesus at His baptism and at His
Transfiguration.
22.1.1.Peter speaks of Christ’s
‘majesty’ here and the ‘holy mountain’ upon which Christ’s Transfiguration
occurred. Only Peter, James, and John
were present at the Transfiguration.
22.1.1.1.The inclusion of this shows
then that the author of this epistle is either Peter, one of the 12 apostles,
or an impostor whom we should not listen to at all.
22.2. Peter seeks to encourage the church to believe the gospel events because
of his personal testimony.
22.2.1.Peter says that the gospel
events did not come about through the wild imagination of any people, nor did
anyone seek to deceive by making up the stories.
22.2.2.Peter says that to the
contrary that he and the other apostles were there and heard the Father’s
voice, and they saw firsthand the ‘majesty’ of Jesus revealed to them at the
Transfiguration.
22.3. When we think about the fact that each of the 12 apostles, with the
exception of John who died of old age, sealed their testimony with martyr’s
blood, then we should realize that all of these men would not have made up the
story of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead and been willing to die to continue
that deception.
22.4. Peter writes that Jesus received ‘honor and glory’ from God the Father when
these words were spoken.
22.4.1.Since His ascension, Jesus
now sits at God’s right hand, for God The Father is still pleased with His Son
and what He accomplished for the salvation of men.
23.
VS 1:19 - “19 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” - Peter says that because
of his personal testimony that the church can have more faith in the scripture
which prophesied before hand that these things would occur concerning Jesus
23.1. Peter writes that we should consider the scripture to be ‘a lamp
shining in a dark place,’ for of all books on earth it alone contains absolute
truth and a reliable revelation of God.
23.2. The day that will dawn is the day in which Jesus will be coming to “rapture”
His church to Himself.
23.3. Venus has always been considered ‘the morning star’ because you can see
it early in the morning.
23.4. Just as the rising of the sun brings new life each day to the earth
when it rises, so the Lord’s return for us His church will be the beginning of
a new day and regenerated life in resurrected glorified bodies of the saints.
24.
VS 1:20-21 - “20 But
know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own
interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but
men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” - Peter
encourages the church in this verse about scripture as coming about from
inspiration from God
24.1. Peter seeks to set down that which is a “first principle” to our faith
as Christians, thus he writes ‘know this first of all.’
24.2. What Peter writes about is “all scripture,” not some, not most, not all
but some. “All scripture” in the Bible
has all come from inspiration from God.
24.3. When Peter writes that no Scripture ‘is a matter of one’s own
interpretation,’ he means that scripture does not have a private
interpretation, rather since it comes from inspiration from God, there is only
one correct interpretation, and when God reveals that interpretation to people
they must come to the same conclusions.
24.4. Peter writes that no scripture was ever written down ‘by an act of
human will,’ rather the revelations of scripture were strictly God’s idea and
His working in men’s lives in order to reveal Himself.
24.5. The inspiration of scripture came from ‘the Holy Spirit,’ as His
special work.
24.6. The manner in which scripture came to us has been called “plenary
verbal,” meaning that the very words themselves are inspired by God, and thus
Peter says that the prophets from old ‘spoke from God.’
24.6.1.The scriptures that we have
are not the revelation of God itself, rather they are “the record of God’s
revelation” to us.
24.6.2.Scripture did not come to us
by “mechanical dictation” as some teach, rather the writer’s thoughts were
stimulated, and inspired words were given to write down.
24.6.2.1.This is obvious because of
the fact that the writer’s personalities and thoughts are meshed into the
writings of scripture.
24.6.3.Liberal theologians teach in
error that the inspiration of scripture is like the inspiration that a painter
has to create a great painting.