It is interesting that the author identifies himself as a servant of Jesus Christ first, then an apostle. Earlier, he said that he was also an elder and a witness of the sufferings of Jesus. (1 Peter 5:1.) In a similar fashion, Paul likewise often referred to himself as a servant of Jesus Christ. This is the right attitude, though Jesus did say that he did not call them servants but friends. (John 15:16.) A servant does not know what his lord does. But Jesus made known to them all things from the Father.

The author’s name is Simon or Simeon and Peter (petros, or rock). See Matt. 16:18. Was the Church built upon one apostle, Peter? Obviously not, why would there be twelve appointed to serve? Paul wrote that the House of God was built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus being the chief cornerstone. (Eph. 2:20.)

Peter is writing to those who have obtained "a like precious faith" (KJV) or "a faith of equal standing" (ESV). Some people are prone to exalt some in the church to a standing higher than others. Peter just wrote that he was a servant (to the people) for the Lord. The greatest is the servant, according to Jesus. (Matt. 20:25-28.) We are all brethren, even along with our Lord. He called us his brethren.

"For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one origin. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing of your praise." (Heb. 2:11-12.)

We have this equal standing by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ. The righteousness of God is not Peter’s theme, but it is Paul’s theme in Romans. This phrase, the righteousness of God, probably refers to the plan of justification presented to man in the Gospel. According to Paul, this plan includes how God can be just and the justifier of those who believe in Jesus. (Rom. 3:26.) The Gospel message includes God imputing righteousness instead of imputing our sins. There is a way in which God can count us as righteous. (Rom. 4:3, 22-25.)

In a different approach from Paul, Peter presents how one can have this equal standing of faith. This method is not by adding the Jewish law to your faith, but by adding the Christian virtues.

This is a familiar greeting in New Testament letters to individuals and churches. "May grace and peace be multiplied to you" is a positive and gracious greeting. It is typical of the hospitality of those in the Middle East. It is designed to lift up those reading this letter from Peter. It opens the mind and makes it receptive to the message to follow. It is complimentary and hopeful. He just said that they had obtained a faith of equal standing.

We have already pointed out the theme of knowledge in second Peter. More will follow after this first mentioning of knowledge. If Gnostics are the ones troubling the churches, chapter two, it is understandable why he would say so much about knowledge. This was the Gnostics theme song. This was at the heart of their theology. Peter corrects their false views and teachings on knowledge. The right kind of knowledge is the knowledge of the Savior.

The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation. (Rom. 1:17.) All of the effects of the Gospel on the human heart can be traced to the power of God. The way the character of man is changed is by the preaching of the Gospel of Christ. The end result is that man has all that he needs to live as he should in the Kingdom of Christ. All that we need for life and godliness has been given to us. Nothing is lacking.

He has called us by or through glory and virtue.

"Exceeding great and precious promises": Peter continues to add encouraging words in his letter. He now refers to the exceeding great and precious promises of God. Albert Barnes wrote, "What would the world be without a promise?" (Barnes on the New Testament: James-Jude, 219.)

Here are just a few of the many promises of God in the Scriptures. 1) That he would never destroy the world again with a flood, 2) that Abraham and Sarah would have a son through which a seed would come and bless all nations, 3) that a virgin would conceive and bear a son which would be God among us, 4) that we would be saved by the sacrifice of Jesus (Isa. 53), 5) that Jesus would be raised from the dead, 6) that he would come again, 7) that the Lord would send his Spirit on Pentecost upon all flesh, 8) that all the dead will be raised, 9) that we can be forgiven of our sins through the blood of his Son, 10) that God does not impute sins to those in Christ, 11) that the saved will go to heaven, 12) that we can have peace in a troubled world.

"Partakers of divine nature": This cannot be taken to mean that we can be partakers of God’s divine essence. We do not become gods either on earth or in heaven, as some maintain. Among created beings, man is the only one that can partake of divine nature. The Hebrew writer said that we can be "partakers of his holiness." (Heb. 12:10.) Tommy South has titled a book that he has written by this expression. We sing a song, O to be like Thee, Blessed Redeemer. Peter tells us how we may be like Him in the following passages. We do not exchange our nature from human to divine, but we can change our nature from sinfulness to godliness. Peter explains that this is done by escaping the corruption that is in the world through a knowledge of the Savior. (1:4, 2:20.)

These are well known and loved passages. Peter lists seven things that believers should add to their faith. Therefore, there are eight graces or fruits of the Spirit or attributes named in all. In the symbolic description of the Kingdom in Ezekiel, the prophet wrote that there are eight steps that lead up to the inner court. (Ezekiel 40:34, 37.) In the spiritual temple, there are likewise eight steps.

The Bible writers are fond of lists. I have a message on the role and value of biblical lists. (Exodus 20, Deut. 5, Gal. 5:19-21, Heb. 7:26, 2 Peter 1:5-7, Rev. 6:15, 1 Tim. 3:16.) Here is one of those well-known lists. Why did Peter name seven things to add to our faith? It may be because of the common use of seven to stand for complete things. We do not know why he did not name some other things as well. Paul named nine items in his list of Galatians 5:22-23.

Note some things about this list generally.

1. Since we have noted the doctrine of the Gnostics, think how they must react to Peter listing knowledge just as one of eight attributes and it is not the greatest. Love is the greatest. (1 Cor. 13:13, 1 Cor. 8:1-2.)
2. Faith is not the only thing that sinful man needs to be a partaker of divine nature. James is the author known for pointing that out, but so also does Peter. (James 2:24.) Peter said, Giving all diligence add to your faith.
3. There are two kinds of love named---they are philadelphia and agape.
4. A believer is not complete without all of these traits. We should not emphasize knowledge over the others. In our rational faith in the Restoration Movement, we might tend to do that. We must not leave out brotherly love or agape. (John 13:35.) Charles Hodge said that many Christians will miss going to heaven by eighteen inches---the distance from the head to the heart.
5. Virtue is probably the most difficult of the eight to describe. It seems so general. But it means courage, manliness and vigor. It means having the courage of your faith and conviction. It gives strength spiritually to faith. Faith should not be timid and weak. Solomon said that the wicked flees when no man pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion. (Prov. 28:1.)

If a believer adds these things to his faith, Peter said that he will be fruitful in the knowledge of the Lord (vs. 8), that he will never fall (vs. 10), and an entrance into the eternal Kingdom will be richly provided (vs. 11). Later, Peter discussed the sad state of one who falls. (2:20.)

Adding these qualities will be making your calling and election sure. This passage causes many difficulties for those who say that one cannot fall from grace. If one cannot fall from grace (Gal. 5:4), then why did Peter write the following: 1) To warn about false teachers, 2) tell us how to keep from falling, 3) if election is an act of God, then how can believers make their calling and election sure, 4) why did he remind us of fallen angels, why did Jude remind us of fallen Israelites in the wilderness after being saved?

The doctrine of election has been one of the most difficult biblical doctrines. Here are my reflections upon that doctrine: 1) It occurs six times in the New Testament---Rom. 9:11, Rom. 11:5, 7, 28, 1 Thess. 1:4,

2 Peter 1:10. 2) Christians are chosen of God (1 Peter 2:5). 3) If the saved are selected as a sovereign act of God, how do we know if we have been selected? 4) The Bible describes God as not being a respector of persons and that he desires all be saved. (2 Peter 3:9.) If God wills that everyone be saved and they are not, then who determines who will be saved? Does not man have a will or choice in the matter? 5) There is nothing contradictory in saying that God wills for everyone to be saved (1 Tim. 2:4) and that man chooses not to do God’s will. 6) Older preachers use to preach that the Bible teaches a conditional will of God and an eternal will.