This post may contain affiliate links. This means we may receive a small commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended at no extra cost to you. Please check out our privacy policy for more details.
The word of God changes everything. It changes your entire life. It is living. It never stops changing you. But sometimes it can be difficult to find time to study your Bible on your own. This quick bible study on 2 Peter follows the methods outlined in How to Study the Bible on Your Own. Pair it with our FREE Bible study checklist to get more out of your study time!
Ohh, Peter. Follower of Christ. Denier of Christ. Witness to the glory of Christ. How well I can relate. You too? 😉 Peter lived daily live with Jesus. He witnessed the many miracles performed, learned countless lessons, and loved and followed Jesus. He also failed in the face of fear several times. Yet after Christ rose from the dead, appeared to the apostles, and disappeared into heaven, Peter boldly preached the gospel and was used by God to start the church. God equips the called.
Seriously, grab the FREE Bible study checklist. You know you need to study your Bible to grow as a Christian. This FREE Bible study checklist walks you through the steps to quickly, thoroughly study your Bible. Focus better, grow more, and apply your study to daily life using the prompts. Get more out of your Bible study time! Grab it below!
Context
Peter wrote this second (and last) letter to the church (the book of 2 Peter) in a time when Rome was persecuting Christians. This isn’t something we can easily relate to in the States, other than maybe a snide comment or ugly look from someone. Peter himself was being persecuted and was in jail for his faith when he wrote this letter.
1 Peter was his first letter and had been encouragement as the persecution started but three years later, with the King’s torture of Christians increased, 2 Peter focuses more on the growth of the church. He gives guidance, warnings, and hope to the new, growing christians.
There was quite a bit of false teaching in the early church. Many were taught that because Christ paid the price for our sins it didn’t matter what they did. They quit taking action in faith. They lived however they wanted.
Peter would be killed for his faith soon after writing 2 Peter. Many believe his assumption of this spurred these topics in this letter.
Guidance
2 Peter 1:1-11
1Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and the Savior Jesus Christ: 2Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 3 seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue; 4 whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust. 5 Yea, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply virtue; and in your virtue knowledge; 6 and in your knowledge self-control; and in your self-control patience; and in your patience godliness; 7 and in your godliness brotherly kindness; and in your brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful unto the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he that lacketh these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins. 10 Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble: 11 for thus shall be richly supplied unto you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Highlighting
A major part of studying and absorbing scripture is categorizing the verses. Check out my post on studying the Bible on your own for what the different colors stand for and where I get that info. I use these Accu-Gel highlighters to highlight and LePens to make my notes. I laaaaawv them!
Verses can almost always fit into more than one category so if you start highlighting according to the Good Morning Girls categories know that your highlights aren’t going to be identical to mine. The purpose is to get you to analyze the scripture and what topic that its covering. The verses above are from the public domain translation ASV but this is my ESV bible and the NLT bible that I use for most of my studies.
- Verse 1= people; faith; God
- Verse 2= grace/peace; God
- Verse 3= power of God/blessings; teaching; God
- Verse 4= blessings; Holy Spirit; evil
- Verse 5= teaching/instruction
- Verse 6= teaching/instruction
- Verse 7= teaching/instruction
- Verse 8= teaching/instruction
- Verse 9= teaching; sin
- Verse 10= people; instruction
- Verse 11= miracles/power of God/blessings/aaaaaall the goodness!!
OBSERVATIONS & APPLICATIONS
Verse one is simply Peter’s opening. It just amazes me how God uses everyday screw ups for amazing, unbelievable, miraculous things! God doesn’t call the equipped. He equips the called. Answer the call. Your faith will indeed be precious.
And verse two, ermawgosh! Knowing God gives a peace that you can’t even describe in words. I mean, you learn to trust the creator of the universe. What can stand up to Him?! Whenever anxiety attacks I have to remember to run to the Father in prayer and dive into His holy word. It is a source of grace and peace. Even when I don’t understand it.
Per All About God “A prominent Old Testament word describing God’s grace is chesed. This word speaks of deliverance from enemies, affliction, or adversity. It also denotes enablement, daily guidance, forgiveness, and preservation. The New Testament word is Charis. It focuses on the provision of salvation.”
Peace is freedom from disturbance. We don’t have to be disturbed by things that the rest of the world loses their cool over. We just have this supernatural calmness. Paul references this when he says “And the peace that passes all understanding will guard your hearts and minds.” (Philippians 4:7)
Have you downloaded your Bible study checklist yet to get more out of your study time?
Verse four speaks of precious promises? Divine nature? Escaping corruption? Yes please! But then verse five!! There is action on our part. Peter teaches us in verses five through seven that we have to care about our work. Thankfully he prefaces these verses with verse three. God has given us the power we need to live for Him. Remember, we can’t do it on our own. God equips us!
Verse Five – we have a duty to work towards virtue (goodness, righteousness). We should work to continue learning God’s word.
In verse six, Peter tells believers that God wants us to apply self control, patience, and godliness. What is godliness? Relationship with Him. Check out this fantastic article to dive more into the meaning and application of godliness. Self control involves food, drink, emotions, words. Patience stems from love, which is what verse seven is all about. This world could use more love and kindness, right? The New Living Translation adds “…to everyone.” 🙂
Verse 8 says that when we apply these things with the help of God we stay effective and fruitful. Verse 9 warns of the opposite. When we stop growing we get distracted and lose sight of more eternal, more heavenly things. We end up focused on only the things right in front of us. We miss the bigger picture. Keep learning and growing!
Verses nine through eleven teach us to work persistently, continually growing closer to God. Someone who simply sees what is right in front of them can tend to be fickle. If we can keep our eyes set on the longterm, we can see that God is working and stand strong in our faith, even in those really tough situations. In the end, we will get to live with Him forever.
PROMISE FROM GOD
In this section Peter prays for grace and peace for us. God promises these things to those who believe in Him. He also promises to give us everything we need in order to live godly lives and continue growing closer to Him (verse 3). He promises divine nature, sending the Holy Spirit to guide us and help us (verse 4).
The last verse covered (verse 11) in this section of 2 Peter is a promise from God. God will give us entrance into His perfect kingdom to live forever.
COMMAND TO KEEP
God is telling us to stay close to Him. Continue growing in the word. Live out your faith. Faith is not idle. We can do this by practicing (with the guidance of the Holy Spirit) moral excellence and self-control. We should continue to grow in knowledge, develop patient perseverance, and show His love to those around us.
TIMELESS PRINCIPLES
There are so many different struggles in this world. A fundamental truth that stands the test of time is that believing and following Christ doesn’t make this broken life easy. It does, however, give us purpose and promise. We can trust wholeheartedly that God loves us and will care for us, even in the struggles.
To Memorize
“…in your faith supply virtue; and in your virtue knowledge; and in your knowledge self-control; and in your self-control patience; and in your patience godliness; and in your godliness brotherly kindness; and in your brotherly kindness love.”
2 Peter 1:5-7
TAKEAWAY
I’m so thankful that we have these words from Peter to guide us. I pray that we can be bold in this precious faith, growing close to God, and showing the world His love.
Thanks for reading!
To get to know me better, read about me & my saved love.
Here’s one more chance to grab the Bible study checklist for FREE!
Pin for Later!
Pin for Later!
Read Next:
- Quick Bible study notes – 2 Peter 1:12-21; Lessons & Reminders for you
- Bible Teaching From James 1; Building Endurance, Wisdom, and Following the Word
- A Quick Bible Study Through James 2; Teaching About Favoritism & An Active Faith
- Wisdom From Above; An Excerpt from James 3
- Romans 8 Commentary – The Spirit of Life, Verses 1-11