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2 Peter 1:8 – A Growing Christian

Posted on April 13, 2009 by admin

2 Peter 1:8

For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Truth to Learn

We need to be continually growing in our Christian faith.

Behind the Words

The word “possess” is the Greek word huparchonta, which means “to begin to be” or “to come into existence.” It is expressed here as a present, active participle, indicating continual action. So we could translate the beginning of this verse as, “For if these things are beginning to be to you” or “For if you are continually acquiring these things.”

The words “in increasing measure” are translated from the Greek word pleonadzō, which means “to cause to increase.” In the Greek text this word and huparchonta are joined by the equivalent of our English word “and.” The implication is that we should be constantly acquiring these character qualities and consistently building on what we already have.

“Ineffective” is from argos, meaning “not working” or “inactive,” and “unproductive” is from akarpos, meaning “without fruit.”

Meaning Explained

Okay, so why is it so important that we develop these Christian qualities that Peter has been talking about? Why should we work hard at developing faith, morality, knowledge and understanding, self-control, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love? Peter says that if these qualities are constantly growing in us then we will neither be idle nor unfruitful.

The last phrase of today’s verse is a little misleading due to an unfortunate translation. The word translated “in” is the Greek word “eis” which means “into” or “unto” implying a result, and the word translated “knowledge” is the word “epignosin” which means complete knowledge or full understanding. Peter is saying that developing these Christian qualities in abundance will result in constant successful efforts in the service of the King, resulting in a complete understanding of Him.

This was the Apostle Paul’s desire in Philippians 3:8-10 where he expressed disdain for the things of this world in favor of knowing Christ,

But whatever things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. But no, rather, I also count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them to be dung, so that I may win Christ and be found in Him; not having my own righteousness, which is of the Law, but through the faith of Christ, the righteousness of God by faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable to His death;

Is that your desire, to disdain worldly accomplishments, to know God better, to serve Him more faithfully?

Application

Back in verse five we said: as a Christian you’re either moving forward, or you’re sliding backward. Which direction is your Christian life going? Which way does God want you to go?

In God’s service, for His glory,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

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2 Peter 1:7 – Lovely Focus

Posted on April 2, 2009 by admin

2 Peter 1:7

and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

Truth to Learn

The ultimate objective of a Christian is to love.

Behind the Words

Brotherly kindness is the translation of the Greek word philadelphia. This is a very familiar compound word made up of philos, which literally means “dear” but by implication means “fondness” or “familial love,” and adelphos, which means “brother.” Hence, the translation “brotherly kindness” or “brotherly love.”

The final word in this verse is agape. So much has been said about this word that it hardly seems necessary to say more. It refers to “benevolence, goodwill, or affection.” It is the kind of self-less love that is focused on doing what is best for the object of the love, in spite of what he or she thinks they want.

Meaning Explained

In today’s verse, Peter continues his list of character qualities that we are to work at developing. So far the list includes faith, morality (goodness), knowledge, self-control, perseverance, and godliness. The last two items he includes are brotherly kindness and love.

Brotherly kindness is the kind of affection that we have for close friends. It is a desire to do good things for them, making their comfort and needs equal to or greater than our own. Agape love, however, describes a type of love that displays the utmost in concern and care for the object of the love. It is a self-sacrificing love that endures pain and hardship for the sake of the loved one. The ultimate demonstration of agape love was when God the Father gave His Son to be sacrificed as payment for our sins, even though we didn’t ask for it (or even know that we needed it). There is no greater love than this. Jesus explained it to His disciples this way:

This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. (John 15:12,13)

The Apostle John says that this is how we know what agape love is:

By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (I John 3:16)

It is the love of the Son to the Father that even though He didn’t want to go through with it, Jesus was willing to do so because it was what the Father wanted.

“O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.“ (Matthew 26:39b)

This is not the kind of love that comes natural. It is not a feeling but an action. It’s evidenced not by what we say, but what we do. And, it only comes as we build up our Christian character and allow God to love others through us.

Application

Neither brotherly kindness nor love is focused on self. They are both focused on others. We cannot be focused on ourselves and focused on God at the same time. Our love of God is demonstrated by our submission to Him and His will. Where is your focus today?

In God’s service, for His glory,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

2 Peter 1:6 – Self-control, Perseverance, & Godliness

Posted on April 1, 2009 by admin

2 Peter 1:6

and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;

Truth to Learn

With hard work we can develop a more Christ-like character.

Behind the Words

The word translated “self-control” (‘temperance” in some translations) is engkratia. This is a compound word made up of en, meaning “in” and a form of kratos, meaning “power or strength.” Some, today, equate this with refraining from the use of alcoholic beverages. That is not specifically what this word means. It refers to the ability to have “inward control.” In other words, controlling ourselves in whatever we allow ourselves to do in the sight of God.

“Perseverance” is translated from the Greek word hupomonē. This also is a compound word that is made up of hupo (or hypo), meaning “under” and meno, which means “to abide” or “to remain.” This is a picture of a beast of burden that remains under a load in spite of the weight.

The word “godliness” is from the Greek word eusebeia. This is another compound word made up or eu meaning “good” and a form of sebomai, which means “to worship” or “to revere.” Hence, eusebeia refers to a person who is devout, pious, and fully committed to God.

Meaning Explained

Continuing on from the last verse, you will remember that Peter is admonishing us to apply all diligence, that is to work hard and work consistently, to developing certain qualities or characteristics in our Christian faith. In the last verse we were told to increase in morality and knowledge (of God and what He has done for us). In today’s verse Peter adds three more things that we are to work hard at developing in ourselves. Let’s look at these three things.

The first of these is self-control. I like the way that Adam Clarke described this word:

It is a proper and limited use of all earthly enjoyments, keeping every sense under proper restraints, and never permitting the animal part to subjugate the rational.

The second thing we are told to develop in today’s verse is perseverance. As we develop self-control, the temptation or pressure lasts longer and we need to continue to endure it, to persevere. Like a beast of burden, we are to remain under whatever load God has placed on us without complaining. It means patience or endurance with regard to situations or circumstances, not letting oneself lose control or lose faith.

The third thing we are to develop is godliness. As we learn to persevere, we experience more of the unfaltering love that God has for us. From this personal experience we become more devout and committed to Him. This godliness refers not just to the outward show of piety, but loving and magnifying God in our hearts. This godliness begins on the inside with a deepened, total commitment to God and then evidences itself in all of our deeds and actions.

Application

Self-control, perseverance, and godliness are three essential parts of any Christian’s character. And, they come not by simply letting them happen, but by diligent, hard work.

Are you up to the challenge?

In God’s service, for His glory,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

2 Peter 1:5 – Diligent Growth

Posted on March 31, 2009 by admin

2 Peter 1:5

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;

Truth to Learn

No matter where we are in our Christian experience today, we need to be growing and maturing in our relationship to God.

Behind the Words

“Every” is translated from pas which means “all” or “every,” but it includes the idea of oneness, a totality or the whole. Hence Peter is telling us to use all of our effort. Today we might say “every ounce of effort.”

The word “effort” is from the Greek word spoudē, which refers to “speed, earnestness, diligence, or zeal.”

The word translated “add” is from the Greek word epichorēgeō, which means “to abundantly furnish.” It is not a mere adding a little more of what you already have, rather it is an intensive and abundant addition. It is expressed in the imperative mood, indicating a command, not a suggestion.

“Goodness” is a translation of the word aretē, which means “manliness” or “valor.” It denotes that which is good or worthy in a moral sense.

Meaning Explained

“For this very reason” is a connective phrase so we need to see what it is referring to. In this case, the reference is to the preceding two verses. Because He has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness, because of His exceedingly great and precious promises, because one day we will be partakers of His divine nature … we need to do the following:

We need to be using all of our effort to grow in goodness and knowledge. In other words, don’t take these promises and the saving faith that you have for granted, and don’t just meander through life knowing you now have your “ticket” into heaven. Rather, apply yourself with earnestness and diligence to add some things to your faith.

Peter uses words of force here to communicate to the Christians of his day, and to us today, the need to work long and hard at growing as a Christian. Simply being a committed Christian by itself is a difficult assignment for anyone, but Peter is saying that we need to work hard at developing our Christianity. We need to be growing!

He says that there are several areas where we need to apply that effort. The first is improving our faith and developing goodness. In other words, Peter is telling us in addition to growing our faith, we need to grow in our morality (something that is rapidly slipping away in the world today). And along with this, Peter tells us that we need to be diligent in growing our knowledge of God and His promises. That doesn’t simply mean listening to a sermon once a week. We need to be doing a lot more! We need to be reading the Bible regularly, attending Bible studies or studying on our own, and applying the things we learn to our relationship with God.

Application

I heard a preacher once say that in out Christian life we are never standing still, we’re either charging ahead or we’re sliding back. Which direction is your Christian life going today?

In God’s service, for His glory,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

2 Peter 1:4 – Eternally Divine

Posted on March 30, 2009 by admin

2 Peter 1:4

Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

Truth to Learn

In eternity, we will share in God’s divine nature.

Behind the Words

The expression “exceedingly great” comes from the Greek “megista,” which is the superlative form of “mega” (big or great), so the text tells us that He has given us the greatest promises which are of great value.

“May participate” seems to imply that there is a chance that we might not as well. This is not what the Greek says. It is from the Greek hina ginesthe koinonoi. The construction denotes the “telic subjunctive” mood of the verb, which means it is an act of purpose. That is to say, “it is certain that we will participate in the divine nature.”

Meaning Explained

Peter starts out this verse with “Through these,” which is one of those connective phrases that we need to look at more carefully. This phrase is translated from the Greek words di hōn, which literally mean “through which things.” Well, what “things” is he talking about? It could be “glory and virtue,” it could be the “grace and peace” referred to in verse 2, it could be all of these, or it could refer to “His divine power” and “the knowledge of him.” Why? Because Greek is very particular in that a relative pronoun (these) must agree with the noun(s) it is referring to in both gender and number. All of these things are feminine nouns and the Greek pronoun translated “these” is a feminine, plural, relative pronoun, so it can’t refer to only one of these things alone, and may refer to them all. However, as I read it, Peter seems to be referring specifically to His divine power and our in-depth knowledge of Him from verse three.

Through these things, Peter tells us, God has given us the greatest of precious promises. And what are these promises? They are promises of salvation by grace through faith, of a Savior who will never leave us nor forsake us, of eternal blessing in the presence of our divine creator, and of peace and protection in times of suffering, plus many more.

He then tells us that through these things we will “participate in the divine nature.” This verse is not telling us that we will be gods some day as some false religions erroneously teach. It tells us that we will experience the godliness of God in a very special way, which is reserved only for those who are saved. Peter tells us that we will experience it “… having escaped the corruption (literally “decay’) that is in the world through lusts.” In other words, we will experience this sharing in the divine nature after we die and are glorified with Christ.

As if the mere thought of being in Heaven and being in His presence eternally wasn’t enough, we will also, somehow, experience the godliness of God in a unique and special way. This, alone, should make the fear of death disappear for any born-again believer!

Application

This participation in the divine nature is a privilege that is reserved only for those who have professed Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. And, if we will share in God’s divine nature some day, shouldn’t our current behavior reflect that fact?

In God’s service, for His glory,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

2 Peter 1:3 – God-given Godliness

Posted on March 29, 2009 by admin

2 Peter 1:3

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

Truth to Learn

All that we need for life and godliness comes from God.

Behind the Words

“Divine” is translated from theios, which is derived from theos, meaning “God.” It refers to that which is uniquely God’s and proceeds directly from Him.

The verb “has given” is translated from dōreomai, which means “to give a gift” (one that is undeserved). It is expressed here in the perfect tense, indicating past completed action with an ongoing effect, where the emphasis is on the effect.

“Knowledge” is the same word, epignōsis that we looked at in the previous verse, meaning complete, in-depth knowledge.

The word translated “goodness” is the Greek word arêtes, which means “moral excellence” or “superiority.”

Meaning Explained

In this verse Peter continues his benediction by saying that it is through His Godly power that Jesus Christ has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness. Some have supposed that this means all things that pertain to spiritual life and godliness, but I am of the persuasion that he means all aspects of life, both earthly and eternal. As born-again Christians we have everything we need to live a peaceful life and to expect eternal life in the grace of God, not because we have done anything, but because He has given it to us through His divine power.

As we noted above, the act of giving was accomplished in the past, but it has current ongoing consequences. The point when the giving actually took place can be interpreted either as the point in time when we accepted Christ as Lord and Savior or the point in eternity past when He chose us:

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love (Ephesians 1:4)

Peter seems to imply that we receive everything we need for life and godliness by developing the in-depth, personal knowledge of God in Jesus Christ that we talked about in the last verse. He is the one who called us, and He is the one who empowers us:

And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:6)

What I want you to see from these two verses is that God shows His grace to us and gives us peace as we recognize and accept who He is and what He has done. And because of His divinity and power, He has called us to Himself and He has given us everything we need for life and for living in a godly manner. But we only get this through understanding and thoroughly knowing who He is, how glorious He is, and how powerful He is.

Application

We must recognize that we are what we are and we have the salvation that we have solely because of who He is, not because of what we have done.

In God’s service, for His glory,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

2 Peter 1:2 – Abundant Peace

Posted on March 25, 2009 by admin

2 Peter 1:2

Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Truth to Learn

Peace with God comes from complete knowledge of Him.

Behind the Words

The word translated “be … in abundance” is plēthunō, which is derived from plēthō, meaning “to fill.” Plēthunō means “to be filled up” or “to increase fully.” It is expressed here is in the optative mood, indicating a sincere desire on Peter’s part.

In our translation here (New International Version) the middle part of the verse, “through the knowledge of God,” is a little misleading. The normal word in Greek for “through” is dia, but that is not the word used here. The Greek word used here is en, which means “in,” that is, “in the sphere of.” This part of the current verse should be translated as, “in the knowledge of God.” It’s a fairly minor point but it is this: grace and peace do not come as a process (through the doing of something), they are found in something (in a full knowledge of Him, and in an intimate relationship with Him).

The word translated “knowledge” is the Greek word epignōsis, which is made up of epi, meaning “over or above” and ginōskō, meaning “to know, in an absolute sense.” Therefore, it is much more than simply knowing about God. It means having an intimate relationship with Him based on thorough knowledge. It’s not the knowledge that we get by simply being exposed to Him, but the complete knowledge we get by spending time with Him, studying Him carefully and thoughtfully.

Meaning Explained

Peter now offers a significant benediction to his intended readers. He proclaims that grace and peace should increase to the readers of this letter. Literally, he says, “Grace to you and peace to be filled-up.” That is, grace in the form of forgiveness of our sins by a righteous God through the sacrifice of His son, and peace, that elusive characteristic and quality that only comes to one who is firmly fixed within the body of Christ. Peter is not wishing for a little peace, but that his readers be filled with it.

If you search the New Testament carefully, you will see that God never promises Christians pleasure or comfort. Instead, He promises us peace. The Apostle Paul says that righteousness, peace, and joy are what the kingdom of God is all about:

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, (Romans 14:17)

Also, notice that Paul told the Christians in Rome that it is not just peace in general, but peace with God:

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (Romans 5:1)

Now we see that Peter tells us the blessings of grace and peace come as a result of having a thorough knowledge of God, which only comes by careful study and consistent fellowship.

Application

Do you have peace with God? The more you learn about Him and the more you submit to His lordship over you, the more peace you will have no matter what may be happening around you.

In God’s service, for His glory,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

2 Peter 1:1 – Humble Greetings

Posted on March 24, 2009 by admin

2 Peter 1:1

Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:

Truth to Learn

Peter humbly greets all Christians who read this letter.

Behind the Words

“Servant” is translated from the Greek word doulos, which means “a slave.” It represents one who is in a permanent relation of servitude to another, his will being altogether consumed in the will of the other. It is a person who has no rights of his own, one who exists only as the property of someone else.

The expression “who … have received” is translated from a single Greek word lachousin. The root of this word is langchano, which means “to receive by casting of lots.” The implication is that it is something received as a gift, not as something which was earned.

“As precious as” is translated from the Greek word isotimon, which is made up of isos, meaning “similar,” and a form of timos, meaning “value or honor.” Hence it means “equally valuable.”

Meaning Explained

Peter opens this letter in a similar manner to his first letter, though with a couple of differences. He announces himself not simply as Peter (petros) but as Simon Peter (simeon petros). Simon (or Simeon) was his given name, but Peter (petros) was the name that Jesus gave him:

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter … (Mat 16:17, 18a)

Peter introduces himself in this letter first of all as a servant then as an Apostle of Jesus Christ. This is similar to the way that the Apostle Paul introduces himself:

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— (Romans 1:1)

Though he had every right to call himself an apostle, it is out of humility that he sees himself first as a slave of God, then as an apostle.

The letter is written to “those who have received a faith as precious as ours.” This is a reference to the fact that the saving faith of non-Jewish believers is just as effective and priceless as the saving faith of Christians who have come out of the Jewish faith. It appears from this statement that this letter may have been sent specifically to encourage and build-up the Gentile converts to Christianity.

The end of this verse is sometimes translated, “righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ.” This has been used by some to try to prove that Jesus Christ is separate from God. However, a more accurate rendering of the Greek is, “righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ,” which makes it clear that Jesus is both our God and our Savior.

Application

Whether you were brought up in a Jewish family, a Christian family, a family of some other faith, or a family of no faith, this letter is written to you if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

In God’s service, for His glory,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

1 Peter 5:14 – Hugs and Peace

Posted on March 23, 2009 by admin

1 Peter 5:14

Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Truth to Learn

Peter encourages brotherly love and offers peace to all Christians.

Behind the Words

“Kiss” is translated from the Greek word philema, which is derived from phileō, meaning “to be a friend to.” Hence, in its original form, this represents a kiss of friendship, not a sensual kiss. Some people have wondered whether this is a kiss on the cheek or a kiss on the lips. Both of these customs were practiced by the early church and still exist in parts of Europe and Asia today, although most of us in Western countries think it odd for two men or two women to kiss on the lips.

The word which modifies “kiss” is agapē, which means “love.” But, again, it does not represent sensual love, rather the type of self-sacrificing love that only comes from God. In human terms this type of kiss is most exemplified by the love a father or mother has for his or her children.

Meaning Explained

Peter closes this letter with a command and a benediction. He tells us to hug one another (as explained in the previous verse) with a loving kiss. There is a similar expression from the Apostle Paul in the last chapter of Romans:

Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you. (Romans 16:16)

Peter then proclaims peace unto all those who are in Christ Jesus. This, it is said, was Peter’s standard way of parting. He may have been following the example set by Christ himself to declare peace upon those whom he knew and loved. In John 14:27 Christ expressed it this way,

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

After all, what greater blessing could anyone have than to be at peace! Remember that this letter was sent to Christians who were being persecuted and who were suffering simply because they had claimed Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. What better blessing could they receive than the peace that passes all understanding in a time of trial and suffering?

There is a variant reading at the end of this verse. Some Greek texts have “in Christ Jesus. Amen” while others have “in Christ.” Once again we see that even though there are differences in the various Greek texts, there is no doctrinal confusion created by the different readings.

So concludes the Apostle Peter’s first general epistle to the churches in Asia Minor and, subsequently, to all Christians everywhere. It is an encouraging letter given to all of us for those times when we are undergoing suffering for righteousness’ sake.

Application

If you are undergoing persecution or are suffering because of your faith in Jesus Christ, take some time to open your Bible and read through this first general epistle of Peter again from start to finish, and be encouraged that you are not alone. God knows of your suffering and will use it to bring glory to Himself. Give Him thanks, and endure your suffering patiently.

Peace be unto you!

In God’s service, for His glory,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

1 Peter 5:13 – Embracing the Faithful

Posted on March 22, 2009 by admin

1 Peter 5:13

She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you; and so does Mark my son.

Truth to Learn

A greeting may come in many forms. The early church used a hug.

Behind the Words

The word translated “elect together with” is suneklektē, which is a feminine noun. It is made up of sun, meaning “together” and a feminine form of eklektos, meaning “selected one” or “chosen one.” The case of this noun indicates that it is the subject of the sentence.

“Greets” is from the Greek word aspadzomai, which is made up of the particle a, implying “union” and a presumed form of spaō, meaning “to draw” or “to pull.” Hence, it literally means “to pull into an embrace.” This “hug” was used as a common salutation either in greeting or bidding farewell to guests.

Meaning Explained

Today’s verse is one of those that looks innocuous enough but which has been discussed and argued over almost since the day it was written. None of these issues concern any particular doctrinal view, so they become nothing but a tempest in a teapot. Nonetheless, here’s some of the discussion.

The verse literally reads (with the word order of the original Greek): “greets you the in Babylon together-elect one and Mark the son my.”

The first thing you will notice is that there is no mention of “the church” at all in the original (some translations say “the church in Babylon …”). Hence, we get, “The together-elect one in Babylon greets you.” Some have argued that Peter is referring to his own wife who is one of the elect, as are the people to whom Peter is writing this letter. Others, however, argue that it makes no sense for Peter to single out a particular woman and, since “church” is a feminine noun in Greek, he must be referring to the church which is in Babylon. We leave it to you to decide for yourself. Either way, she offers you a greeting in the form of a warm embrace.

The second point of contention is whether Peter is referring to the literal Babylon on the Euphrates River (in modern day Iraq) or whether he is using this as a code word for Rome itself. There was a fairly large population of converted Jews in Babylon at that time and Peter, as the apostle to the Jews, could certainly have been there. Given that there is no obvious reason that he would have been trying to conceal his presence in Rome from other Christians (if he were there), it doesn’t make a lot of sense for him to use a code word. The vast majority of Biblical scholars believe that Peter was actually writing from Babylon on the Euphrates.

The final discussion point in this verse is over who Peter is referring to as “Mark my son.” Most scholars are in agreement that this is John Mark, the author of the second Gospel. It is believed that Mark wrote his Gospel account based on what was told to him by Peter. He is referred to as a son, perhaps because Peter had a significant part in Mark’s conversion.

Application

Regardless of what you believe about the contentious portions of this verse, it is clear that the early church considered hugging a proper way to greet and to say good-by? Hugs to you!

In God’s service, for His glory,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –