The Regular Guys Bible Study

2 Peter 1

• Ken Strickland • Season 5 • Episode 1

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What does it mean to truly be a theologian? Is it reserved for the professionally trained, or can anyone earn that title simply by studying God and His Word? We promise you'll leave this episode with a fresh perspective on what it means to be a theologian. As we kick off Season 5 of the Regular Guys Bible Study Podcast by delving into the rich teachings of 2 Peter, you'll discover that we're all called to be theologians in our own right. Together, we'll unpack the qualities from 2 Peter 1:1-15 that are essential for growing effectively in our knowledge of Jesus Christ, such as faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love.

In this deep dive, we explore the profound concept of being "partakers of the divine nature," as discussed in 2 Peter 1:4-7, and whether this divine participation is limited to the afterlife or begins here on earth. We'll also share practical examples of self-control, addressing everyday struggles like food temptations and managing anger. As we reflect on 2 Peter 1:9-18, we confront the challenges of practicing brotherly affection and selflessness in our often self-absorbed society. By examining Apostle Peter's life and his emphasis on diligent faith, we draw inspiration on how to stand firm in Christ amidst persecution. Tune in for a thought-provoking and spiritually enriching discussion that emphasizes the importance of remembering and living out Peter's timeless teachings.

Ken:

You are listening to the Regular Guys Bible Study Podcast, the Bible study for regular guys by regular guys. We are your hosts, Ken and Steve, and we are just regular guys studying the Bible together.

Steve:

Not theologians.

Ken:

How you doing, Steve Doing all right, how about you? Ken. Well, we were just saying we're both tired. We are tired, yeah, and you know, I was just—somebody was talking about a theologian, because we say we're not theologians.

Steve:

Yeah.

Ken:

But I think I should have looked up the definition of a theologian.

Steve:

Someone who studies God.

Ken:

And that's what we're doing here.

Steve:

We are theologians.

Ken:

We are theologians, aren't we?

Steve:

Dang it, we've got to change our opening.

Ken:

But the point is we're not— Professionally trained. We've got to change our opening, but the point is we're not professionally trained. We're not trained. Yes, we're not professionally trained theologians, but we are theologians. In fact, we're all called to be theologians because we're all called to study the Word and to study who God is through His Word. Yeah, so I don't know, maybe we're done here.

Steve:

I hope everyone feels uplifted. All right, let's call it a night.

Ken:

All right guys, this is our first. I think this is season five, our first podcast of season five.

Steve:

We have seasons, we have seasons.

Ken:

So every time we do a new book, that's a new season, steve. So we did John, we did James. Hold on, no, we didn't do John.

Steve:

No, john's really long.

Ken:

We did what did we do Ephesians? No, we did. Do John, we did. What did we do Ephesians?

Steve:

No, we did do John.

Ken:

We did John.

Steve:

We did Ephesians John, james, james First, peter, and this is second.

Ken:

Peter. And now second Peter. Okay, yes, season five. Is that what I said? Yeah, season five.

Steve:

You did.

Ken:

All right, so this is our first one of second Peter. I you did All right, so this is our first one of 2 Peter. I think we can get through the whole thing, but I'm not sure. So did you research at all anything about 2 Peter, steve?

Steve:

I read the intro to the chapter.

Ken:

The ESV intro.

Steve:

Yes.

Ken:

Yeah, intro yes, yeah, so, um, it was written by peter uh, just before. This is peter the person that the apostle of christ, and it was written a few years before his death or shortly before his death, right? Isn't that what it says here? Yes, shortly, shortly before his death. I don't know what that means. I don't know if that means a year, I don't know if it means a few weeks, and maybe we don't really know. Steve, sorry, I'm trying to change books or translations.

Steve:

I'm on NIV right now. I did not realize I had switched to NIV and I usually normally Usually normally. Usually normally use ESV with Strong's references 50% of the time.

Ken:

It works every time. That's right.

Steve:

But I don't see my ESV Strong. All right, well, anyway.

Ken:

There it is. This was written, I feel better now, between like around 67 or 68 AD, so that's about 37. No, how old was Jesus when he was on the cross? 33?.

Steve:

Something like that.

Ken:

So that would put this, that would put this Another 30 years, 35 years maybe after that, which means so Peter here is probably. I don't know if he was 20.

Steve:

Probably in his 50s or 60s.

Ken:

Yeah, he might've been younger, though he could have been teens when he started upper teens.

Steve:

In any case, he's close to what we are now.

Ken:

That's right. He's about my age and your age, and this is right before his death.

Steve:

So this podcast could be shortly before one of our deaths.

Ken:

It could be that's true. We never know.

Steve:

You need to save this one, because this is a special one.

Ken:

Okay, all right, you know, while that's funny and everything, one of us actually might die and that would be okay. Yeah, it would be okay. Yeah, it would be okay.

Steve:

To die is gain.

Ken:

To die is gain. I'm not seeking to die, but to die is gain, and it would make my wife sad, maybe.

Steve:

It would make my wife sad.

Ken:

Yeah, if I died.

Steve:

Yeah.

Ken:

All right, my wife sad. Yeah, if I died, yeah, all right. Well, um, oh, another thing about this. Um, I looked up when first peter was written, and it was written just a like a few years before this. So like maybe three years pass and peter writes another letter and let, and let's read 1 through 15. Do you want to read it, steve, or do you want me to?

Ken:

I'll let you do that one All right, Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ. That's the intro. Then he continues I don't know why I'm interrupting myself to say that.

Steve:

I don't either.

Ken:

But I did All right. I did All right, I did All right. He continues. He continues is granted to us his precious and very great promises so that, through them, you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.

Ken:

For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, for whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities, you will never fall, for in this way, there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior, jesus Christ. Therefore, I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me, and I will make every effort so that, after my departure, you may be able at any time to recall these things.

Steve:

That's interesting, which part that he knows he's about to die.

Ken:

Yep, as Jesus Christ made clear to him. Do you remember that?

Steve:

I do. And he said something about John. Is he going to live forever? Something along those lines.

Ken:

Well, he said what about this guy that was following them? So this was in John, this was in our. Was this our first season?

Steve:

That was the second season. What was the first season?

Ken:

Ephes season, oh, Ephesians In season two we did John, and Jesus is by the bank. This is after he's died.

Steve:

Was he at the ATM?

Ken:

Not that bank. This is after he's died and resurrected, and some of the apostles are in a boat fishing. And they see somebody on the shore. They see somebody on the shore. They see Jesus on the shore. Do they know it's him at first?

Steve:

They don't realize it at first.

Ken:

Yeah, and this guy calls to him it's Jesus, but they don't recognize him. And so they go to him and realize it's Jesus. And Jesus says something to Peter about his death, about what kind of death he would have and I don't remember the words he actually uses, but it's not a pleasant death and Peter says what about this guy pointing to John? And he says what is it to you if he lives until I return? Or something like that. So Peter knew he was going to die.

Steve:

Yeah, but that was 35-something years before. That's true, but I believe now he knows I think he was given more insight than what we've been told. Yeah, yeah, and I think the Holy given more insight than what we've been told.

Ken:

Yeah, yeah, and I think the Holy Spirit's made it clear to him and he sees, you know the circumstances, the writings on the wall.

Steve:

I think that's in Daniel.

Ken:

The writing. I know I got it.

Steve:

I figured you did. I didn't know if everyone else did. Well, they can't respond to, let I know I got it, I figured you did.

Ken:

I didn't know if everyone else did. Well, they can't respond to let you know. So I guess it's good that you said that, steve, all right.

Steve:

Thank you.

Ken:

Anyway, anyway, um, uh, I guess that's the end of my story. I don't know what I'm saying Good story yeah. Yeah.

Steve:

Yeah, do you think they had?

Ken:

any potatoes with that fish? I don't. All right. All right. What else do you see in this? Do you want to talk about the greeting at all?

Steve:

Let's see what do I have there. Who is he writing to?

Ken:

Who is he writing to? He's writing to all believers.

Steve:

Believers with faith, seeking to know the Lord.

Ken:

Yeah, to me. He's saying everybody who has put their faith in Jesus I'm writing this to you their faith in Jesus, I'm writing this to you. And I would like to point out, by the way, that the ESV I've got some things beeping at me, sorry when it is actually a neutral phrase in the Greek. So most translations now where it says brothers in here say brothers and sisters, because it doesn't mean just guys, just men. Yep, all right so, uh, all right so. He's writing this to all believers everywhere. He's not. He didn't send this to like believers, ini, or like Paul wrote to cities, peter, in his letters, he has always sent them to a group, not a city. I think 1 Peter was that to the Jews, or not?

Steve:

I believe it was to those being persecuted.

Ken:

Okay, so it was just a few years before this. I'm sure it was to all believers as well. It would make more sense.

Steve:

It doesn't really say I don't think specifically.

Ken:

All right, and so Peter, let's see. Okay, after the greeting, then he starts. I believe by now, by the way, paul has read some of I mean Peter has read some of Paul's letters.

Steve:

Yeah, and he goes hey.

Ken:

I really like those long sentences, yeah, that are hard to follow. Yeah, uh, because it's really difficult to read with all the commas and everything I'm sure it's. It might not be the same in in greek verse three and four are one sentence yeah, I know.

Steve:

I read it and what is that? 50?

Ken:

words. It's a lot. I didn't count Steve.

Steve:

Steve doesn't count, ken doesn't count we count alright so in that three and four, what is he so? In two, he says he's trying to grant them grace and peace. And then he goes on in three and four, kind of, I think, explaining what he wants to grant to them. So what are those things that will grant them grace and peace?

Ken:

By which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises. So what are those promises? Is that what you're saying?

Steve:

Where was that?

Ken:

That's in two. Where was that? It's in two.

Steve:

Two. May grace and peace be multiplied to you, in the knowledge of God and of Jesus, our Lord.

Ken:

What.

Steve:

Are you on the same chapter?

Ken:

Oh, I'm sorry, I meant to say four.

Steve:

Oh.

Ken:

I said two, but I meant two times two.

Steve:

All right. Well, I'll just go on with how I broke down three and four, because we're chasing our tails here. So his divine power has granted all things for life and godliness, which I think that just means how to live for Christ. And then there's through knowledge of him, and then there's called for his glory to also receive his deserved prize. He has given us promises. The promises allow us to avoid the corruption of the world and sin and instead participate in the divine nature. What does that participation look like?

Ken:

Is that a rhetorical question?

Steve:

No, it's a question from Steve to Ken.

Ken:

Ah, the participation. And what verse is that that you're referencing? Become partakers.

Steve:

Partakers of the divine nature. Yeah, I used participate.

Ken:

Yeah, that's not the same thing, is it Partakers? It means that.

Steve:

Partiers.

Ken:

I took it Well.

Steve:

Associate companion, fellowship partner.

Ken:

The thing is a partaker of the divine nature, I think means that we will be with Christ in glory when we die. That's what I think that means.

Steve:

Okay, that's not participating in the divine nature.

Ken:

Well, I mean but I think that's the way you worded it it sounded like how do we participate here on earth? And I don't really think that's what that's talking about. I think it talks a little bit about that later. I think that's talking about we are partakers of the divine nature and then it says, having escaped the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire, because of sinful desire, so we've escaped being corrupted by the world and we are going to partake in the divine everlasting. That's how I take it.

Steve:

Okay, you think it's all on the other side.

Ken:

Man, gee, I don't want to say all on the other side because you could say that partakers of the divine nature, we are partaking of the Holy Spirit while we are here. So I don't know. But then it says why I mean. Then it says for this very reason. So what does that mean? What reason?

Steve:

In 5, it says for this reason, because we have escaped the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

Ken:

So because of that, you overcame over there.

Steve:

I keep having burps and I'm trying not to do it over the mic.

Ken:

All right, well you know this is a regular guy's Bible study, You're right. Well, you know this is a regular guy's Bible study.

Steve:

You're right, oh gosh, oh, that's a letter. All right, maybe you should not do that.

Ken:

I regret asking you to do that.

Steve:

Encouraging.

Ken:

Yeah, all right. So, anyway, because? So, in other words, it says because I'm reading this, because we are saved from the corruption of this world and because, or since, we are partaking in God's divine nature, then he lists these things Make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue. Okay, first of all, faith, that's.

Steve:

So I gotta have faith, faith, faith. No, I gotta have faith, faith.

Ken:

No, no, baby, stop it. That's ridiculous. Is what that is. Faith is the belief that Jesus came and forgave our sins. Is that right? Is that how you would call?

Steve:

faith. Sure, I can buy that. I believe that.

Ken:

Jesus came, he died and was resurrected. That's faith. Then it says supplement that faith with virtue. What is virtue?

Steve:

So Strong, uses some interesting words. Now, one of them uses excellence. Okay, that's easy enough. This is excellence. Okay, that's easy enough. Another is properly. But then there's this one.

Ken:

Manliness.

Steve:

Manliness, and then it has in parentheses valor.

Ken:

All right, I looked up virtue, not you know. One thing I don't like about Strong's for definitions is it tries to put everything in a biblical context.

Steve:

Well, it takes it from the Greek root.

Ken:

Oh, is that? And it's using the word here.

Steve:

Yeah.

Ken:

Okay, manliness.

Steve:

Yeah.

Ken:

Okay.

Steve:

Moral goodness.

Ken:

Okay, that's what I've read moral goodness, and so to have good morals that's how, so don't just have faith.

Steve:

It's not enough just to have faith, but also be a morally good person. Well, you supplement your faith with moral goodliness, yes, and then you supplement that with knowledge.

Ken:

With knowledge. That's right. What does that mean?

Steve:

I think we're doing it right now.

Ken:

Exactly that's what I was going to say. Studying the Bible is man. That is knowledge. The more you study the Bible, the more knowledge you will have. But, that's not all we're supposed to do.

Steve:

No.

Ken:

Then you supplement knowledge with self-control. Okay, all right. So what does that mean, steve?

Steve:

For some reason, I think of food when I think of self-control.

Ken:

So I think at different ages we have a different problem. As a young man I would say self-control was all about lust for me.

Steve:

I can see that.

Ken:

I don't really have that problem anymore because not much. I'm too lazy to have lust issues. It's a lot to have lost issues. But yeah, self-control around food, that's a big deal for me. I've gained some weight lately and I'm trying to get rid of it. And then all of a sudden I'll see my daughter will make a batch of cookies or something and it's like five cookies later. You know what I'm going to stop after the sixth, I'm just going to have one more. This is the last one.

Ken:

Because it is the last one. I wish I was joking and I would say I still have occasional just un like anger. I still can get angry when I like. Just if I've had a bad day, I can still get angry. I had a much bigger problem with that younger than when I was younger, but I still can.

Steve:

Now that all your testosterone is gone. It solved both the anger and the lust problem.

Ken:

Yeah, probably so. All right, so self-control, but it's also, steve, I would say, it's more than just self-control for the bad things, it's also self-control for those good things, nah.

Steve:

Like how do you mean that?

Ken:

No, never mind, it doesn't make sense. I'm going to take that back. All right, then supplement self-control with steadfastness.

Steve:

I think that's just like consistency.

Ken:

Consistency. That's a good word, I like it.

Steve:

It actually says constancy.

Ken:

Okay.

Steve:

Endurance.

Ken:

I would say this Be constant in your affection for others and for Christ, and the way you live your life needs to be consistent, constantly living for Christ, and supplement that With godliness, with godliness, ooh, okay, now that I'm doing everything consistently, I need to. Okay, this is where the godliness comes in right. I'm not only consistent, but it's going to be godly consistent.

Steve:

Doesn't that fall back on the second one virtue?

Ken:

No virtue is morals. Godliness is beyond morals. Godliness is beyond morals there's. You don't have to be a believer to have good morals.

Steve:

True very true. Give me an example of godliness I'll tell you isn't also right, I'll tell you an example of godliness.

Ken:

So, as you know, my son was laid off not too long ago.

Steve:

Yep.

Ken:

Oh, I'm sorry, Isaac. I just told the world. The whole world is listening to this he's looking for work. But you know, godliness is how you approach that. Is that just a horrible, devastating thing? No, it's not, because it's part of God's plan. And so godliness is realizing that God is in control of these things and that your situation is better because of this, even though it might hurt right now and it might be a struggle.

Steve:

I see it's more of a worldview attitude, sort of thing.

Ken:

Yeah, yeah.

Steve:

All right, I could buy that.

Ken:

All right. And then you supplement godliness with Brotherly affection. Brotherly affection. I love you man.

Steve:

Yeah, man.

Ken:

So what's that Brotherly affection? What does that mean?

Steve:

That's a great question.

Ken:

Well, I think it means you care about your brothers and sisters in Christ. For this one, I don't know if brotherly means both.

Steve:

Well, the Strong's definition does bring up brothers and sisters.

Ken:

Okay, then that's probably right.

Steve:

Brotherly love basically.

Ken:

So love the people around you. And what does it mean to love the people around you, though? It means to care for them when they are hurting. It means to like, if they have a rainwater collection system that is not working right, to come and fix it for them, Steve.

Steve:

You know it's funny because not last weekend I couldn't do it because of her shoulder, but the weekend before I was like you know what. I should ask ken if what he wants me to come down and help look at that.

Ken:

You know what I would have.

Steve:

Thanks huh, and I failed to follow up on that's really good.

Ken:

Yeah, I would think that would be part of steadfastness yeah, I need to work on yeah, you need to work on that Supplement.

Steve:

I'm still way up here at the top.

Ken:

All right, Anyway it is. And then supplement brotherly affection with Agape. With love, with agape. Is that the love they use there? That's the one they use there, so unconditional love man, so that's a big deal. It's a much bigger deal than just loving your brothers and sisters, because agape means my brother and sister in Christ were rude to me, so what am I going to do? My brother and sister in Christ were rude to me, so what?

Steve:

am I going to do?

Ken:

Love them. I'm still going to go help unclog Ken's rainwater collection system even though he's a jerk.

Steve:

That's right.

Ken:

So think about that, steve. That's right. So think about that, steve. Just because I'm a jerk doesn't give you any kind of permission here. All right, no, but that's a big deal. I mean, it's easy. It's easy to you know, you have this life group at our church. It's easy. Somebody in there has a problem. You want to go help. You know they're, they're sick. You want to go take them food or whatever. Um, but what about that person that is kind of a jerk and annoys you, but you know you still? You say, ah, I will still love them in Christ. But do you really it is tough.

Steve:

I've known people like that.

Ken:

Yeah, I know, I mean, you're sitting across from one right now.

Steve:

No, you're just saying that. I'm talking about someone that we found very annoying and yet have put up with.

Ken:

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Steve:

I know, but is putting up with really agape.

Ken:

No, it's not. It would be, would we go and help that person and you know, I think I would actually.

Steve:

I have yeah, the particular person I'm thinking of. I have gone and helped.

Ken:

So all right, so you might fall in that category, steve. All right, so where does it go after that?

Steve:

If they're yours and they're increasing they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. What does it mean? Unfruitful in the knowledge? Unfruitful.

Ken:

Because if it was just unfruitful?

Steve:

I would think, fruits of the Spirit.

Ken:

Yeah, you're right. Let's see. I'm going to look at another translation really quick. What verse is that? Eight Eight, okay, this is the NLT. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge, in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ken:

Maybe because we're emulating the way he lived maybe so, um, okay, well, it is true, one of these things is supplement with knowledge. Um, so reading the word, reading scriptures, will gain us knowledge, right? I mean, one of those things is knowledge and we will be more fruitful in our knowledge. Does that mean that the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ?

Steve:

So maybe it means when somebody asks you a question, you will have an answer, Rather than being ineffective and unfruitful. You'll actually be able to respond.

Ken:

So I'll say I'm one of those people who says you know, it says somewhere in Scripture blah, blah, blah. And I'll paraphrase something that's very, it's kind of close but it's not exact. I do have a friend named Tim that he will say oh, it says in and, and he doesn't. He's not opening his Bible here. He just says oh, it says in Hebrews, chapter three, verse whatever to whatever, and he'll just quote it and it applies to what you're talking about. And it's like dude, how do you do that?

Steve:

Yeah, he is really good at that.

Ken:

That's incredible to me.

Steve:

if it's the tim, I think you're talking yes it is, you know, this guy, um and um.

Ken:

He sometimes listens to this, so maybe no, hi tim I hope I hope he's.

Steve:

I'll see you on october 7th october. 7th october, 7th we're doing a lunch with our old pastor oh cool, he's in town.

Ken:

That'll be fun.

Steve:

Yeah.

Ken:

Alright and alright, so anyway, yeah, I think that you know he's grown in that knowledge and it's been useful. The knowledge is more useful because of it. Okay, oh, let me go back to the ESV.

Steve:

But whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

Ken:

Hmm.

Steve:

And then it goes on to talk about Trump versus Kamala.

Ken:

No, he does not.

Steve:

It says be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election.

Ken:

Uh-huh, it's talking about the presidential election, obviously.

Steve:

Clearly.

Ken:

All right, so let's go back to verse 10, where it talks no, not 10,. 9, where it says for whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Well obviously, well obviously, we have these qualities in some measure. All right, because we have not forgotten that Now. Do I need to work on some of these things?

Steve:

Yes, Well, I was. Oh, was that rhetorical.

Ken:

Well, it's really I'm asking myself. I wasn't really asking you, but thank you for the confirmation. Yes, I do need to work on some of these things, um, and I would say you know honestly, um, sometimes I like to skip out on, I would say, brotherly affection. I'm sometimes self-absorbed, I don't feel like.

Steve:

I live in a society that promotes being very selfish.

Ken:

Yeah, I'm not saying that as an excuse, I'm just saying it's part of the problem. That is part of the problem Because I've done, you know, like you said, that you thought about helping me do that thing.

Steve:

And I didn't have anything to do that day. I was like, yeah, I could go down.

Ken:

The truth is I do that all the time with people Thinking you know what I should call that person and see if they need help. And then I think maybe they probably don't need anything, or oh, but the game's about to come on TV.

Steve:

I was just gonna say, yeah, those kinds of things alright.

Ken:

So that's somewhat convicting to me, alright. So therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if, if you practice these qualities, you will never fall. Do you believe that, steve? You will never fall if you practice these things.

Steve:

I don't think it means physical falling.

Ken:

What does it mean?

Steve:

That's what I'm trying to answer in my head right now. What does that mean? I think it means see if it said you would never fail, I think it means you're gonna.

Ken:

You will never have difficulty standing firm in christ yeah, I like that answer. And if you think about Peter's situation, he's in Rome right now, about to be crucified upside down, or something.

Steve:

Is that where he ended up?

Ken:

I don't remember where that's a good question. I don't remember where.

Steve:

I don't know either.

Ken:

But he's undergoing great persecution. So to fall, I think from Peter's perspective, and if you think about when Christ was taken by the Jews, he denied Christ and I think he would call that he fell.

Steve:

Yep, he fell.

Ken:

So we will stand firm in what we believe, for in this way there will be, richly provided you, an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior, jesus Christ. So you know, we're called to stand firm in what we believe and the way we do that is keep living for Christ and the way we keep living for Christ. He lays out some things here for us to do.

Steve:

Yep.

Ken:

All right. And then he's basically saying all right.

Steve:

so Because of all that.

Ken:

I'm just. He's saying, I'm just sending everything, this is a reminder. He's saying I know that you all already know this. Do we need reminders? Steve?

Steve:

Absolutely.

Ken:

I need reminders all the time.

Steve:

I couldn't tell you how many times that I've made up my mind that I'm going to do such and such from now on. It can be hours, maybe days, and I will completely forget what I had made my mind up on. Yeah.

Ken:

Yeah, yeah.

Steve:

It's very frustrating.

Ken:

Yeah, you are a bad person, yeah.

Steve:

I am.

Ken:

So I'm glad we established that, all right. So that's, that's his whole purpose for writing this. He's saying my whole purpose for writing this is to remind you. And he says as long as I am in the body, I think that's what it's right for me to do. And he knows that his time is coming short. And then he says since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me, and he made every effort that we would have this.

Ken:

And I will make every effort so that, after my departure, you may be able, at any time, to recall these things.

Steve:

That's a pretty good gift.

Ken:

Wow. So at any time to recall these things, that's a pretty good gift. Wow, so his whole intention of writing this is to make a bunch of copies and send it all over because he knows it's coming to an end. You know what? He might be in prison right now.

Steve:

Yeah.

Ken:

We don't really know.

Steve:

Wouldn't be surprised.

Ken:

Hmm, there might have been—he might have witnessed already some of—some other apostles or disciples of Christ have been killed.

Steve:

We know— I mean, James was already killed, right?

Ken:

No, but I mean like the day before.

Steve:

Oh, I see, Maybe he's in line.

Ken:

Yeah.

Steve:

Could be.

Ken:

And maybe that's how he knows it's now.

Steve:

Hmm.

Ken:

All right.

Steve:

Shall we do the last paragraph.

Ken:

What do you think it's at 41 minutes?

Steve:

It's not that long of a paragraph.

Steve:

All right, well, go ahead and read it, for we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty, for when he received honor and glory from God, the Father, and the voice was born to him by the majestic glory. This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. We ourselves heard this very voice born from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain and we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention, as to a lamp shining in a dark place until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this, first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Ken:

Yeah, All right. So the part he is quoting here is from Matthew. Let's see, this is when he's up on the mountain. Where is it? The Mount of Olives?

Steve:

The Transfiguration the.

Ken:

Transfiguration. When Moses and Elijah come, yeah, and he was still speaking. It says he was still speaking. When, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them and a voice from the cloud said this is my son, this is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased, and they were there physically, and they were there physically.

Ken:

I think this is really cool because Peter is referencing something that happened to him that Matthew wrote about. Let's see, I guess other people wrote about it. It's in Mark and it's in Luke as well. It's not in John at all. It's not in John, or that quote is not in John. At least, I think the transfiguration is in there, isn't it?

Steve:

I thought it was, and I thought it was just John and Peter that were there.

Ken:

I don't know we did John. That was season two, I don't remember. You can go back and listen to that, steve, or you can read John, but I think it'd be funnier if you just went back and listened to all of our podcasts.

Steve:

I'm sure I would get so much out of it. Uh huh Like. Hey, I don't want to hear my own voice nobody does steve, nobody does wants to hear my voice exactly, um, all right, uh, anyway.

Ken:

So I I really think that is a cool thing to hear him talk about that. So do you think people the way he says that? For? We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you blah, blah, blah Is that. Do you think that's a common saying, that people are saying they're making this up?

Steve:

Well, it certainly is today, but yeah, I would think back then too.

Ken:

Yeah, I would think that would be very popular for the Jews to say that.

Steve:

Because you know you don't see someone rise from the dead every day.

Ken:

Not every day.

Steve:

In fact I would say almost never.

Ken:

I've never seen anybody rise from the dead.

Steve:

But Peter has.

Ken:

Peter has, that's true.

Steve:

Alright, so as to a lamp shining in a dark place until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. You know who else uses morning star as a reference to Jesus.

Ken:

No.

Steve:

Who, really? You don't know, I don't. It's in Revelation.

Ken:

Ah, so that is who, John.

Steve:

Mm-hmm, hmm, where did I? Let me see if I can find it again.

Ken:

That's really interesting. Until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your heart. That's weird Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation.

Steve:

I'm having trouble finding where I saw that.

Ken:

All right. Well, while you're looking for that, I want to talk about this. Prophecy of Scripture does not come from someone's interpretation. Instead, it is the very words of God. So Peter is saying that it's not like God came and gave somebody a vision and then they had to interpret what that meant. God did give people visions. He did give the prophets visions, but he also gave them his interpretation. So the words of the prophets are the words of God. Is what he's saying.

Steve:

Yep, so it turns out that that little footnote was only in the NIV version, which normally I don't read.

Ken:

Yeah, that's funny.

Steve:

So it is in the very last chapter of Revelation, 22, 16. I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you the testimony for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David and the bright morning star. It's the second to last red letter.

Ken:

So what does that mean? Why would he call himself the morning star?

Steve:

I don't know, there's a lot of symbolism in Revelation.

Ken:

Yeah, I think it's a new day. The morning star is, the sun rising Is right, sure, that's what I I would think, or is that not the morning star? Is that something else?

Steve:

it could also be venus, but uh I don't know that they referred to the sun as a star.

Ken:

They did did not, they did not. So it would be a bright planet or something that symbolizes the sun is about to come up.

Steve:

I can't help but feel like there's a lot more to that than that.

Ken:

I don't know.

Steve:

Because you know, there was the whole star of Bethlehem when he was born, Right. Was that the bright morning star?

Ken:

No, because that happens every day.

Steve:

The star of Bethlehem happens every day.

Ken:

No, the morning star happens every day, right Okay?

Steve:

you know what I'm going to. Until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

Ken:

What is the morning star, alrighty um, oh gosh, hold on oh uh, I'm not. Let's see what is the morning star? Okay, in a modern translation from the original Hebrew, the passage in which the phrase Lucifer, or morning star, occurs begins with the statement oh, the day the Lord gives you relief from your suffering and turmoil and from the harsh labor forced on you, you will take up this taunt against the king. Okay, I'm confused. This is saying Lucifer, the word Lucifer.

Steve:

Yeah, I've seen that before too.

Ken:

Is morning star. Let's see, okay. Okay, lakota, refer to this beautiful sight as the morning star. This star announces the coming of sun and light to the earth. It heralds down. Because of its great importance in the gift of each new day, the morning star is often used in designs and decorations. This is about the actual morning star, not a biblical reference, but I think that that is what this is referring to. This, the morning star this is interesting because it's not talking about a biblical reference at all Announces the coming of sun and light to the earth. I think that's what it's talking about.

Steve:

If I click on the Strongs it says day star, light bringing or giving light, the planet Venus, the morning star, and it's a metaphor for Christ.

Ken:

Okay.

Steve:

But I've seen that Lucifer thing before too.

Ken:

Well, apparently it's the same word.

Steve:

That's disturbing.

Ken:

I don't quite understand it.

Steve:

Let's see and there is a science fiction book I read, or started to read. I never really got into it and in there the evil character that was very lucifer-like called himself the morning star. I think not that that has any relevance here.

Ken:

Yeah, I don't know. There's some Reddit conversations on why Lucifer and Jesus are both referred to as the morning star in the Bible in different places, so I don't know. I'm stuck with that one, steve. I'm going to have to research that one a little bit more. I did not. I wish I didn't just look it up right now because that's weird. That's weird Something I don't understand. That's not weird. No, I don't understand things all the time. All right, steve, I think we're done here we are. So I guess next week is 2 Peter 2, right?

Steve:

That sounds right, all right.

Ken:

Well, guys, thanks for joining us. Make sure you read it. Have a good day, bye.

Steve:

Bye now.

Ken:

The Regular Guys Bible Study is a Chasm LLC production. All rights reserved.

Steve:

Do you think anyone actually listens to this part?

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