Greetings from Peter

by John D. Morris, Ph.D.

"Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord." (2 Peter 1:1-2)

All too often we skip over the introductory verses of greeting in a Bible book, but many times these verses contain rich information. Such is the case in today's verse.

We first notice the strange paradox in Peter's identification of himself. He is both the authoritative "apostle," the officially commissioned ambassador of Jesus Christ, as well as His "servant," or bondslave. Historically, we know that Peter was one of the inner circle of disciples in whom Christ placed great responsibility, but he was also the one who denied Christ at His trial. Christ had bought him with His blood as a slave would be bought, forgiven him much, and had sent him out on a lifelong mission.

The letter is written to those "that have obtained like precious faith," i.e., the same kind of precious faith possessed by the apostles, implying equal standing and privilege before God, obtained through His righteousness.

Peter uses two descriptive names for Christ, calling Him both "God and our Savior," referring to His dual divine/human nature and role. Peter's prayer for us (possessors of like precious faith) is moving. He desires the sanctifying and sustaining grace of God for us, the peace of God which brings joy even in the face of adversity, and that both would be multiplied. These traits would come "through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus, our Lord" (today's verse). Much of the rest of the book deals with false teachers and false knowledge, but Peter would have us grow into "full knowledge" (literal translation; see also vv. 3, 8) of God, through the walk of grace and peace. JDM