Professor Peter’s Second Contemporary History
Introduction:
This contemporary history is Professor Peter’s second historical account, written to, supposedly, the first Letter’s same area of east and north Turkey. He is aware of his pending death and gives them warning and encouragement of the things coming upon Jesus’ Kingdom which could cost them their promised new eternal home. They need to stay vigilant and zealous in ‘the Faith’ under any attack or doctrine from in or out of the Kingdom that should attempt to corrupt His already given new Way.
Prof. Peter is aware of his coming death and wants this Treatise to be used as a reminder of the expectations and reforms of folks in Jesus’ Kingdom, who want assurances of entrance into the heavenly Kingdom for eternity when their time on Earth is over. Prof. Peter also says he has studied all of Dr. Paul’s Writing and that they are Scripture (or from God), indicating that Dr. Paul has already met his demise and of Dr. Paul’s God-given authority.
Date: A.D. 65-67
Text:
(1st) Symeon Peter, a slave and Apostle of Jesus Christ, to those with us, precious, having obtained faith in righteousness of the God of us and Savior, Jesus Christ: Grace to you all, and may peace be multiplied in the ‘complete understanding’ of the God and of Jesus, the Lord of us all.
His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the ‘complete understanding’ of Him, Who called us to His own splendor and excellency. By these, the precious and sublime promises have been given to us, in order that you all should become sharers of the divine nature, having escaped the ruin that is in the world by lust. {1:4}
(2nd) For this reason you must spare no effort to add to ‘the Faith’ of you all, excellence; and to excellence, understanding; and to understanding, self-control; and to self-control, endurance; and to endurance, godliness [like Him]; and to godliness, strong affection of others; and to strong affection of others, love. If these things are in you and abound, you will be neither useless nor unfruitful unto the ‘complete understanding’ of our Lord Jesus Christ.
But one who does not have these things is so shortsighted that he is blind, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins in past times. Therefore, brothers, you must be even more diligent to make your calling and selection sure, for by doing these things you should never fall. In this way the entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be richly provided to you all. {1:11}
(3rd) Therefore, I am always going to remind you of these things, though you know them, and are established in the present Truth. I think that it is right to stir you up by a reminder, as long as I am in this body, knowing that I will soon die, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. So, I will see to it that you always remember these things after my departure.
We did not follow cleverly devised tales, when we made understood to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but more so, we were eyewitnesses of His grandeur! He received honor and glory from Father God, when such a Voice was borne to Him by the Magnificent Splendor: “This is My beloved Son, with Whom I am well pleased.” We heard this Voice, which was borne out of heaven, while we were with Him in the sacred mountain [recorded in Prof. Matthew, Mark & Dr. Luke’s historical accounts]!
Besides, we have the altogether reliable prophetic Message, to which it is imperative that you do well, holding to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns, and the morning star arises in your hearts. Understanding this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of anyone’s own release, for no Prophecy was ever borne by the will of man, but more so, men, being borne by the Holy Spirit, spoke from God. {1:21}
(4th) But there were false prophets among the people, as also there will be among you false teachers, who will secretly bring in destructive opinions, even denying the Master, who bought them, and bring on themselves quick destruction. Many will follow their inclination to sensuality [indecency], and the Way of the Truth will be slandered because of them. They will greedily exploit you with deceptive words. From of old, condemnation hangs over them, and their destruction does not sleep. If God did not spare the angels who sinned (but more so, sent them to Tartarus, delivering them into chains of darkness, holding them for judgment); and [if] He did not spare the old world (but more so, protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, bringing a flood on the godless people in the world [Gen.6-7]); and [if] He reduced Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes (condemning them to ruin, and making them an example to those who live godless lives); and [if] He Himself rescued Lot, Who was tormented by the sensual manner of life of the lawless ones (for that righteous man, living among them, was tormented in his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds [Gen.19]); then the Lord knows how to rescue from trials those who are godly, and how to keep the unrighteous for the Day of Judgment, punishing them, especially those who walk after the defilement of fleshly lust and despise authority. [They are] Daring, self-willed, blaspheming, they tremble before no rulers. Angels (though greater in power and might) do not bring a harsh accusation against them before the Lord. But these (like unreasoning wild animals born to be captured and destroyed, ranting in their ignorance) will also be destroyed in their destroying, and receive the wages of wrongdoing. {2:12}
They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime; they are spots and stains, carousing in their deceit, feasting with you. Their eyes are full of adultery and are unceasingly looking for sin. They entice unstable souls. Accursed children, their heart is trained in greed. Forsaking the right Way, they have gone astray, and have followed in the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of wrongdoing. He was rebuked for his evildoing: a dumb donkey spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness. {2:16}
These are springs without water, mists driven by a storm, for whom the gloom of darkness is reserved. Uttering haughty but empty words, they entice – in the sensual lusts of the flesh – those who are just barely escaping those who live in delusion. They promise liberty, though they themselves are slaves of corruption (for a person is enslaved to that by which he is overcome).
If, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world, by the ‘complete understanding’ of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled and overcome, their last things are worse than the first. It would have been better for them not to have ‘completely understood’ the Way of Righteousness, than ‘having understood’ It, to turn back from the sacred Command delivered to them. It has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit {Prov.26:11},” and “a sow that has bathed herself to a wallowing in the mud.” {2:22}
(5th) Now I write this second Letter, beloved, in both of which I stir up your pure mind in remembrance, that you may keep in mind the words previously spoken by the dedicated Prophets, and the Command of the Lord and Savior through your Apostles. Understand this first, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, walking according to their own desires, and saying, “Where is His promised coming? Since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation!” They willfully ignore this: that the heavens of long ago, and the Earth, existed out of water and in water, by God’s pronouncement. The world of that time perished [Gen.6:1ff], being deluged in water; but more so, the heavens which now are and the Earth by the same pronouncement are laid up for fire, being reserved for a Day of Judgment and destruction of godless men. {3:7}
You all must not let this one thing escape you, beloved, that one day with the Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow about His Promise, as some count slowness; He is patient toward you, not wanting any to be lost, but more so, all to reform their minds and lives. The Day of the Lord will come like a thief: the heavens shall pass away with a loud noise, and the burning elements shall be destroyed; the Earth and its works shall be burned up. {3:10}
Since all things are to be destroyed in this manner, what kind of people ought you be in dedicated behavior and godliness, eagerly awaiting the coming of the Day of God, because the heavens will be destroyed in flames, and the burning elements will melt! {3:12}
According to His Promise, we await ‘new heavens and a new earth’ {Is.65:17}, in which righteousness dwells. So, beloved, as you all are looking for these things, it is imperative that you all are to be found in Him in peace: spotless and blameless.
You must consider that the patience of our Lord is salvation, even as our beloved brother Paul has written to you according to the wisdom given to him. He spoke of these things in all his Letters, which contain some things difficult to discern; these, the unlearned and unstable, distort – as they also do the rest of the Scriptures – to their own destruction. {3:16}
Beloved, since you understand these things in advance, you all must guard yourselves, so that you will not be carried away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own firm footing. You must grow in the Grace and understanding of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him is the praise, both now, and to the Day of eternity. Amen.