2ND PETER WAS WRITTEN TO ISRAEL

[Doug]

By examining verses in the books written by Peter, it can be determined that he is writing is to the believing remnant of Israel, not to the church, the body of Christ.

2 Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
1:11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

To gain entrance into the kingdom, Israel had to endure until the end, remain steadfast, and be fruitful (Psalm 78:37 Hebrews 3:14 John 15:2 Matthew 7:16).

2 Peter 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
2:21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

To enter the kingdom, Israel had to be faithful, and not become entangled in the world in turning from the holy commandment (Hebrews 6:1-6 Hebrews 10:38 Luke 13:24-30 Romans 7:12 Luke 1:72).

2 Peter 3:2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:

In this verse Peter identifies himself as being an apostle to the circumcision, which is Israel, and therefore, is speaking in his epistles unto Israel (Galatians 2:8). Israel was to be mindful of what was spoken uno them by the holy prophets and apostles (2 Peter 1:19-21).

2 Peter 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

God not only promised a new heavens and a new earth, he promised Israel would remain before him in Isaiah 66:22 (Hebrews 12:28).

2 Peter 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

The Lord is not slack concerning the promise of his coming, or his promise to restore Israel in the kingdom (Isaiah 9:6-7 Matthew 19:28 Acts 3:21); Israel was being urged not to fall from the steadfastness that would ensure entrance into the kingdom on earth (2 Peter 1:11).

 

[Stumpmaster]

2Pe 3:14-18 Therefore, beloved, looking for these things, be diligent, spotless, and without blemish, to be found by Him in peace. (15) And think of the long-suffering of our Lord as salvation (as our beloved brother Paul also has written to you according to the wisdom given to him (16) as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable pervert, as also they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction). (17) Therefore, beloved, knowing beforehand, beware lest being led away with the error of the lawless, you fall from your own steadfastness. (18) But grow in grace and in knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

Lessons can be learned from 2Peter, after all he is an Apostle, and as such his ministry is for the perfecting of the saints for the work of ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ . . .see here:

Eph 4:11-16 And truly He gave some to be apostles, and some to be prophets, and some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, (12) for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. (13) And this until we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full-grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; (14) so that we no longer may be infants, tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of doctrine, in the dishonesty of men, in cunning craftiness, to the wiles of deceit. (15) But that you, speaking the truth in love, may in all things grow up to Him who is the Head, even Christ; (16) from whom the whole body, fitted together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of each part, producing the growth of the body to the edifying of itself in love.

 

[Doug]

Lessons can be learned from 2Peter, after all he is an Apostle, and as such his ministry is for the perfecting of the saints for the work of ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ .

Yes we can learn but he does not edify the body of Christ, Paul does
The apostles referred to in Ephesians 4:11-12 are the apostles in the body not Peter and the twelve

 

[Stumpmaster]

The apostles referred to in Ephesians 4:11-12 are the apostles in the body not Peter and the twelve

I reject that as false. What denomination teaches that tripe?

Obviously they don't understand passages like this which reinforces the substantial influence of the apostles on Gentile as well as Jewish believers.

Eph 2:19-22 Now therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, (20) and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, (21) in whom every building having been fitly framed together, grows into a holy sanctuary in the Lord; (22) in whom you also are built together for a dwelling place of God through the Spirit.

Albert Barnes Quote: The believing pagan, as well as the Jew, has the right of citizenship in the New Jerusalem, and one, as well as another, is a member of the family of God.

 

[Doug]

I reject that as false. What denomination teaches that tripe?

Obviously they don't understand passages like this which reinforces the substantial influence of the apostles on Gentile as well as Jewish believers.

Eph 2:19-22 Now therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, (20) and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, (21) in whom every building having been fitly framed together, grows into a holy sanctuary in the Lord; (22) in whom you also are built together for a dwelling place of God through the Spirit.

Albert Barnes Quote: The believing pagan, as well as the Jew, has the right of citizenship in the New Jerusalem, and one, as well as another, is a member of the family of God.

Peter and the twelve were not members of the body of Christ they were members of the little flock, the believing remnant of Israel.
They will enter into the kingdom on earth. The body of Christ will sit in heavenly places.

 

[Doug]

Eph 2:19-22 Now therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, (20) and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, (21) in whom every building having been fitly framed together, grows into a holy sanctuary in the Lord; (22) in whom you also are built together for a dwelling place of God through the Spirit.

[Eph 3:15 KJV] 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
[Gal 6:10 KJV] 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all [men], especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

We are in the household of faith.....this does not necessitate giving up that, for now, the remnant of Israel and the body of Christ remain separate
We are in the family in heaven,,,,the remnant of Israel in the earth

[1Co 3:11 KJV] 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Christ is the foundation for the remnant and the body