prophet – Ministry of Grace Church

2 Peter 3:2

I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.

Truth to Learn

Christians need to allow God to speak to them from both the Old Testament and the New Testament.

Behind the Words

The word “prophets” is transliterated from the Greek word prophētēs. This is a compound word made up of pro, meaning “before, in place or time” and a form of phēmi, which means “to show or to make one’s thoughts known.” As used in the New Testament, the most common use of prophētēs is to refer to someone who makes proclamations before they happen, though it can refer to someone who stands before others and makes proclamations.

“Savior” is translated from sōter, which is derived from sōdzō, meaning “to rescue, to save, or to deliver.”

The word “apostles” is from the Greek word apostolos. This is made up of apo, meaning “from or away from” and stellō, meaning “to set firmly.” Hence, apostolos refers to a person who has been “sent away” with a specific commission.

Meaning Explained

Peter stated that he has written this second letter in order to stir up the memories of those to whom he is writing. He wants them to remember things that they have thoroughly investigated and have learned. He now gets a little more specific in today’s verse, and he will get more specific yet in the next verse.

He wants his readers to remember “the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets.” Clearly he is referring to the writings of the prophets in the Old Testament (which to his first century readers was the only testament). Peter is not asking Christians to throw out the Jewish Scriptures; rather, he is encouraging us to continue to read and study the Jewish Scriptures as well as “the command given by our Lord and Savior.”

Jesus Christ brought in a new dispensation with new revelation about the person and work of God and His desire for a personal relationship through faith. Peter is now closely tying that in with all the previous revelation about God contained in what we now call the Old Testament.

Much can be learned about how God wants us to relate to Him by studying the lives of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob along with other spiritual giants of the Old Testament like Noah, Moses, Elijah and David. It’s not just a book of Jewish history, it’s filled with examples of faith and obedience that we New Testament Christians can learn and grow from. Furthermore, the Old Testament contains numerous prophesies about the birth of Christ, the life of Christ, the death of Christ, and the return of Christ in His triumphal glory.

Application

There are many foundational truths contained in the Old Testament that are of vital importance to our understanding of God. Christians need to have a firm grasp of God’s teaching in both the Old and New Testaments. If you haven’t already done so, commit today to reading through the entire Bible. Also, commit to studying the lives of Abraham, Moses, and David. The same God who loved them and blessed them for their faithfulness also loves you, and He hasn’t changed!

In God’s service, for His glory,

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2 Peter 2:16

But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—a beast without speech—who spoke with a man’s voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.

Truth to Learn

Following God’s leading may be hard, but it is the best way.

Behind the Words

The word translated “wrongdoing” is paranomia. This is a compound word made up of para, meaning “against or opposed to” and nomos, meaning “law.” Hence, paranomia refers to action that is, as we might say, “against the law.”

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse we talked about the prophet Balaam who “loved the wages of unrighteousness.” We talked about how he initially refused to go with Balak, the king of Moab, to curse the Israelites as they were about to enter the promised land. The reason that he refused is because God told him not to go. When Balak promised him great honor and riches, Balaam decided to go with them after all.

He traveled on a donkey, and part way to his destination the Angel of the Lord stood in the road and the donkey refused to go forward but turned aside into the field instead. As a result, Balaam struck his donkey and brought him back into the road. Then the Angel of the Lord stood in the road in a narrow spot with walls on either side of the road. When the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, he refused to go forward and turned into the wall, smashing Balaam’s foot against the wall. In response Balaam again struck his donkey. Then the Angel of the Lord stood in yet another place where there was no way for the donkey to turn either way, so the donkey simply lay down. At this point Balaam struck the donkey with his staff. Here is what happened then, from Numbers chapter 22.

And Jehovah opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have beaten me these three times?”

Then Jehovah opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the Angel of Jehovah standing in the way, and His sword drawn in His hand. And he bowed down his head, and fell on his face.

As a result, the Angel of the Lord allowed Balaam to proceed but strictly charged him to only speak the words that were given him from God. Balaam did go to Balak and when told to curse the Israelites, he blessed them instead because those were the words given him from God.

The point that Peter is making is that the false teachers of his day and of ours are willing to preach their own message instead of the message that God wants to be preached, and they do so for personal gain. They know that a message of acceptance and tolerance will attract many more listeners (and their money) than a message of willful submission and obedience to God as the supreme authority for our lives and actions.

Application

Which do you want from your pastor? Do you want a message that will make you feel good and allow you to indulge in the sinful practices of your flesh? Or, do you want a message that is straight from the Word, a message that demands obedience and submission to the Spirit of God?

In God’s service, for His glory,

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Ministry of Grace Church

Tag: prophet

2 Peter 3:2 – The Old and The New

2 Peter 2:16 – Donkey Speak