Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 2 Peter 3:18

"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him [be] the glory both now and for ever. Amen." — 2 Peter 3:18 (ASV)

With the word “therefore” and an affectionate reference to his readers , Peter begins his conclusion. These two verses touch on the main themes of the letter and summarize its contents. First, there is the reminder for his readers to watch out lest the false teachers lead them astray. Second, there is the exhortation to grow in Christ. The dominant motivation for writing this letter was Peter’s love and concern for the flock (cf. the repeated use of “dear friends”). Since he has told the believers beforehand about the false teachers, they are able to be on guard. The “lawless men” (GK 118) will attempt by their error to shift the believers off their spiritual foundation. The word translated “secure position” (GK 5113) occurs only here in the NT, but the related verb and adjective are important in Peter’s life (cf. Lk 22:32 of Jesus’ command to Peter) and also in this letter (3:16–17). The Christians’ guarding against false teachers includes (1) prior knowledge of their activities, (2) warning against their immoral lives (ch. 2; cf. Matthew 7:16), (3) reminders of the historicity of the apostolic message (1:16—18), (4) the prophetic teaching of the past (1:19; 3:1– 2), and (5) the warning of judgment (e.g., the Flood). Now Peter speaks positively: “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” In 1:3–11 he has already stressed the necessity for progress in Christian living. If Christians do not keep moving forward, they will regress or fall back. As Paul says, Christians never in this life attain all there is in Christ; so their goal is to know Christ in a fuller, more intimate way (cf. Ephesians 1:17). The closing doxology is notable for its direct ascription of “glory” (GK 1518) to Christ. For a Jew who has learned the great words in Isa 42:8—“I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another”—this doxology is a clear confession of Christ (cf. Jn 5:23: “that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father”). This supreme honor belongs to Jesus Christ today (“now”) and “forever.” So Peter finally points his readers to the new age, “the day of the Lord,” when Christ will be manifested in all his glory. The Old Testament in the New NT Text OT Text Subject 2 Peter 2:22Proverbs 26:11 Dog returns to vomit 2 Peter 3:13Isaiah 65:17 New heavens and new earth 1 John INTRODUCTION The letters of John are foundational to what is known in the NT as Johannine Christianity. Even as his gospel account is distinct from the others in content, structure, and theological emphasis, so John’s letters differ in style and content from the other NT letters. These letters are not concerned with the problem of institutionalizing the Christian Movement, nor do they fit easily into any historical reconstruction of the growth and development of the Christian church in the world. If John’s letters address the problem of heresy, they do so in unconventional terms. They insist that true Christian faith requires knowing that Jesus the Christ came in human flesh, lived a human life, and died in the flesh. But the evidence of that faith is measured more by the genuineness of one’s Christian lifestyle, rather than by what one “knows.” The knowledge that God is light is tested by whether one walks in that light and obeys God’s commands. The knowledge that God is righteous is tested by whether one lives righteously as befits one born of God. The knowledge that God is love is tested by whether one loves fellow believers even as one loves God. The single but radical requirement for love and obedience in these letters recalls the simplicity of Jesus’ own teaching and the response he required of those who would follow him. These letters have a special place preserved for them in the life and devotion of the church.