A Reminder to Pay Close Attention to Scripture (2 Peter 3:1-2)
Dear Emissaries of the Risen Christ,
Reminder (v. 1)For the second time, Peter refers to this letter as a reminder (see also 1:12-15). The likelihood is that this is a reminder of the things taught in 1 Peter, but there also could have been another letter, now lost to us.
There is an interesting reference here to “pure minds,” not necessarily in the sense that they were devoid of impure thoughts – that is unlikely in any church, but more likely that they had open minds, were willing to consider and accept what he taught them, as opposed to those who already had their minds made up and were unwilling to listen to a contrary opinion. It is of utmost importance that we do not dismiss anything outright. “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God” (1 John 4:1).
Reference (v. 2). Peter points the readers first to the prophets. It was common at that time to refer to the whole Old Testament as simply The Law, The Prophets, or The Scriptures. This is most likely the way that Peter is using the term prophets here. He refers to the prophets also as holy. This is in the sense that they were set apart to communicate God’s truth to his people.
Peter secondly points his readers to the apostles of Christ and their teaching. This would obviously have included the teaching of Christ, which the apostles would have recited to their hearers. Most of this would have been oral, recited as it was remembered. However, there were written teachings as well. By the time Peter wrote this letter, most of Paul’s letters would already have been in circulation, along with the gospels of Mark and Luke and possibly even, Matthew, and the book of Acts.
The reminder in Chapter One is to trust the scriptures as coming from God (1:21). This is not a new and separate reminder, but it adds the teaching of the apostles to the approved authority of the Old Testament. This is important because of what is coming next.
If Christians have a solid basis for their faith, they will be protected against the onslaught that is on its way.
Your Loving Pastor Chris.