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Red Script = major point / Blue Script= directive / Double underline= important to remember / Boxed=BiblicalText & SDA Commentary Reference / A POSSIBLE ANSWER:......OUTSTANDING
Lesson 10 May 27-June 2/3Prophecy and Scripture
Memory Text:“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:19).
As we continue to study the letters of Peter, one point should stand out: how confident and how certain Peter is in what he is writing. We can see the same with Paul: clear and firm conviction about what they are proclaiming in regard to Jesus Christ and the Cross.
In the texts for this week, we will see more of this certainty in Peter. And he even tells us why he has such certainty.We don’t believe, he said, “cunningly devised fables” (2 Pet. 1:16)-such as those that comprised the pagan religions of their time. Instead, Peter was sure of what he believed in, for two reasons.
First, he was an eyewitness to “our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 1:16). But second, and perhaps even more important (because almost everyone else will not be an eyewitness), is the “sure word of prophecy” (2 Pet. 1:19). Peter again goes back to the Bible, pointing to the Scriptures for the certain affirmation of Jesus, especially the prophetic sections that talked about Him. No doubt these are some of the same sections that Jesus referred to regarding Himself (Matt. 26:54, Luke 24:27). So if Jesus and Peter took the Bible this seriously, how dare we do otherwise ourselves?
SundayMay 28Jesus in the Old Testament
All through his epistles, Peter writes with a sense of certainty. He knows what he is talking about because he knows whom he is talking about.And one reason is that he knows that Jesus was the One to whom the Old Testament prophets pointed. It was Peter’s trust in the Written Word that helped him know the Word “made flesh” (John 1:14).
In 1 Peter 1:10-12, Peter points his readers to the Hebrew Bible, to the prophets of old, and what they taught about Jesus. According to Peter, the Holy Spirit revealed in the Old Testament two crucial truths about Jesus: the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories that would follow (1 Pet. 1:11). These two strands can be found throughout the Hebrew Bible.
What do these texts together teach about what the Old Testament predicted concerning Jesus? A Possible Answer: Taken together, Psalms22The Messiah is partly presented in His divine character and human descent, in His humility and exaltation, in His suffering and glory, in His priestly service and royal dignity, and in the ultimate triumph and blessedness of His eternal reign; inIsa. 53:1-12; Jesus is God’s suffering “servant,” the Messiah; in Zech. 12:10, the prediction of Jesus’s being pierced and the resultant mourning/bitterness of others;13:7; Jesus is the one who is t be smitten and His sheep (disciples/followers) are scattered. Here, Turn mine hand... may be understood either in a good sense, as in Isa. 1:25, or in a bad sense, as in Amos 1:8. In the former sense it is an assurance of comfort and protection to His “little ones,” in the latter a prediction that difficulties and distress would extend even to the meek and lowly of the flock.[1] ;Jer. 33:14, 15 Jesus is seen as the One who is the fulfillment of the promise of a good thing for the houses of Israel and Judah... the LORD will cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David, who he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.; andDan. 7:13, 14. Jesus is depicted as the One, human in form who comes to the most holy place for the cleansing of the sanctuary and who at the close of His priestly ministry in the sanctuary, while still in heaven, Christ receives the kingdom from His Father and then returns to earth for His saints (see GC 428; EW 55, 280).
In 1 Peter 1:10-12, Peter assures his readers that they occupy a very special place in salvation history.To them had been revealed much more than what was revealed to the prophets of old. The prophets indeed spoke to their own times, but crucial parts of their messages would not be fulfilled until the coming of Christ.
Some of what the prophets had predicted had come true only in the time in which Peter’s readers were then living. These readers were able to hear from those “who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven,” truths that even the angels desired to know (1 Pet. 1:12, NKJV). Having had the gospel preached to them, the people knew in much more detail than did the prophets of old the reality and nature of the Redeemer’s suffering and humiliation. Of course, they will have to wait, as will we, for “the glories that would follow” (1 Pet. 1:11, NKJV). With the first part of those prophecies fulfilled, we can be certain about the last part, as well.
What biblical promises have you seen fulfilled in your life? A Possible Answer:A) cleansing, 1 John 1:9; B) abiding in Christ love, John 15:10;C) pardon, Micah 7:18;D) the presence of the Holy Spirit, John 14: 16,17; E) a new heart, John 1:12 and 13; F) the supplying of all my needs, Matthew 6:8, 33,34. G) Wisdom, strength, a new start, James 1:5, 2 Corinthians 5;17,Isaiah 40:31.
Which ones are you still waiting for, what do they mean to you, and how can you learn to hold on to them, no matter what?A Possible Answer:1) salvation of my children, Isaiah 49:25; 2) future and inheritance, Matthew 5:5, Isaiah 65:17-22, 35:10, 3) the absence of pain, un-calculated learning, peace and happiness, Revelation 21:4, Isaiah 35:5-9, 4) perfection and the absence of any traces of the curse of sin, 2 Peter 3:13, Revelation 22:3, Isaiah 62:3-5 and 5) The presence of God, Revelation 21:3.
MondayMay 29Eyewitnesses of Majesty
Read 2 Peter 1:16-18(The Trustworthy Prophetic Word) 16For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.17For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”18And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
What other evidence does Peter say he has for his faith in Jesus?A Possible Answer:Peter says that he has faith in Jesus because he saw for himself what Jesus was all about... that give him the faith.
Besides the prophetic word, Peter was an eyewitness to many of the things that he preached about. Christianity, he said, is not founded on “cunningly devised fables” (2 Pet. 1:16, NKJV), but on real events that happened in history-events that he himself had witnessed.
In the Gospels, Peter was there for many of the pivotal events in the life and ministry of Jesus. He was there for the preaching, the teaching, and the miracles. From the early miracle of the fish (Luke 5:4-6) to seeing Jesus in Galilee after His resurrection (John 21:15), Peter was an eyewitness to so much of what happened.
In2 Peter 1:17, 18, what event did Peter especially focus on regarding what he had personally seen? A Possible Answer:The Transfiguration of Jesus.
What was the special significance of that event?A Possible Answer:Not only did it condition Peter’s concept of the Son, but it gave Peter the power and trustworthiness of his report or testimony that accompanies being an eyewitness. Further what was said, authenticated that Jesus was the divine Son of God who’s life and ministry had the stamp of haven.
Peter highlights one specific eyewitness event: the transfiguration of Jesus. Jesus had taken Peter, James, and John with Him to the top of a mountain in order to pray (Luke 9:28). While there with them He became transformed before their eyes. His face shone, and His clothes became dazzling white (Matt. 17:2, Luke 9:29). He was joined by Moses and Elijah, and a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 17:5, NKJV).
Peter had seen a lot in his time with Jesus; yet, this incident stands out. It reveals Jesus to be the Son of God, that His time on earth was spent according to God’s plan, and that He had a very special relationship with the Father. Even with all that Peter had seen or would see, this event-which included “this voice which came from heaven” (2 Pet. 1:18)-was the one that he focused on in this letter.
Think about what event or events have made a deep and lasting impression on your spiritual life and faith. What was it, how did it impact you, and what does it still mean to you today? A Possible Answer:A) Conversion. Baptism. A Time when you were deliverance from danger. An experience that was a demonstration of God’s grace to you. B) It was transforming and confirming. It opened my eyes to divine possibilities. It told me of God’s personal love for me and His acceptance of me as a person among so many. C) It validates me. Makes me feel good about myself notwithstanding my history or present condition. It confirms and empowers me in my life and ministry.
Why do you think it had the impact that it did? A Possible Answer:Because it touched me in a way that met my need...it was life changing in terms of the direction of my life and transforming in terms of my nature and the quality of life. Share your answers in class on Sabbath.
TuesdayMay 30The Morning Star in Our Hearts
“And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts” (2 Pet. 1:19, NKJV).A more sure word of prophecy. Rather, “the prophetic word made more sure.” In large measure Peter and his companions derived their firm convictions concerning the mission of Christ from the way in which His life fulfilled OT prophecies (cf. Acts 2:22–36; 3:18; 4:10, 11, 23–28; etc.). This knowledge, added to their personal acquaintance with the Lord during His earthly ministry (cf. 1 John 1:1–3), gave them an unshakable basis for their Christian faith. They spent their lives sharing that faith with others, and thus built up the early church. Christ’s representatives today have the same mission to fulfill.
Whereunto … heed. Peter here specifically addresses his readers, as the pronoun “ye” clearly indicates. By the relative pronoun “whereunto” he may be referring either to his entire line of reasoning (vs. 16–18), which connects the Transfiguration and the prophetic word in support of his convictions, or solely to the prophetic word which he has just mentioned. Both interpretations are valid, and either would direct the readers’ minds to the Scriptures as the source of guidance and authority.
Read this text carefully. What is Peter saying that is so important to us, even today?A Possible Answer:He is saying that we too have the prophetic word confirmed amongst us and it is to our advantage that we let that word influence out beliefs, conduct and outlook right up until the second coming of Christ in power and glory.
Here, as we can see in many places in the Bible (Gen. 1:4, John 1:5, Isa. 5:20, Eph. 5:8), a division is made between light and darkness. For Peter the Word of God shone like a light in a “dark” place (some translate the word dark as “squalid,” “dirty,” as well). That’s why he’s so clear that we need to take “heed” to that light, to follow it until “the day dawns and the morning star rises in [our] hearts.”We are fallen beings, living in a fallen and dark world. We need the supernatural power of God to lead us out of this darkness and to the light, and that light is Jesus.
Peter is pointing his readers to a goal. Some believe that the expression “until the day dawns” refers to the second coming of Jesus. Though that’s certainly our ultimate hope, the idea of the “morning star” rising in your hearts sounds more immediate and more personal.The “morning star” refers to Jesus (Rev. 2:28, 22:16). His rising in their hearts seems to be about knowing Jesus, fully taking hold of Him and experiencing the reality of the living Christ in their own individual lives. Jesus shouldn’t be just a doctrinal truth; He should be the center of our existence and source of our hope and faith. So Peter is establishing a clear link between studying the Word of God and having a saving relationship with Jesus, the “morning star.”
And of course, with the light shining in us, we will spread it to others. “The whole earth is to be illuminated with the glory of God’s truth. The light is to shine to all lands and all peoples. And it is from those who have received the light that it is to shine forth. The day-star has risen upon us, and we are to flash its light upon the pathway of those in darkness.” - Ellen G. White, Christian Experience and Teachings of Ellen G. White, p. 220.
How does your own study of the Word help you to come to know Jesus better? A Possible Answer:My own study of the Word helps me to know Jesus by... A) Acquainting me with His mind, B) What He taught and did awakens with in me a deeper love for him and an appreciation for what He has done for me and C) The ongoing study and application of the Bible is transforming and what I am being made into tells me of Jesus’s power, His beauties and His glory. Wednesday
Wednesday May 31The More Sure Word of Prophecy
Read 2 Peter 1:19-21. “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed,which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;20knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation,21for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of Godspokeas they weremoved by the Holy Spirit.
21. For the prophecy. Rather, “for prophecy.” Peter speaks of prophecy in general, not of some particular passage. For comment on “prophecy” see on Rom. 12:6; 1 Cor. 12:10. In old time. Gr. pote, “formerly,” “ever,” here meaning in OT times. By the will of man. True prophecy is a revelation from God. The initiative comes from God. He decides what shall be revealed and what shall remain concealed. Unless the Holy Spirit impresses the mind, man is incapable of prophesying—of speaking forth for God—no matter how ardently he may wish to do so. Holy men of God spake. Important textual evidence may be cited (cf. p. 10) for the reading “men spoke from God,” that is, men who were moved by the Holy Spirit spoke the messages they had received from God. Men who are moved by the Holy Spirit will be holy men, men of God. Whichever reading is adopted the meaning is virtually the same. Moved. Gr. pherō, here used in the passive sense, “to be conveyed,” “to be borne,” with a suggestion, perhaps, of speed or force, as by wind. In Acts 27:15, 17 the word is used for the driving of a ship before the wind, and in Acts 2:2 for a rushing mighty wind as the Holy Spirit descended on the believers at Pentecost. Here the use of pherō implies that the prophets were borne along by the Spirit as a ship is borne along by a wind. They were entirely under the Spirit’s motivation. Holy Ghost. Or, Holy Spirit (see on Matt. 1:18). This is the only direct reference to the Spirit in this epistle.
To what prophecies is Peter referring? A Possible Answer: He is referring to prophecy in general (which includes the writings of the Old Testament) but that assumes it is that which came as a result of the Holy Spirit inspiriting and revealing content to specially prepared individuals who would then be a conduit for the expressed mind and will of God.What does he mean when he says that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation?A Possible Answer:Private interpretation. Or, “one’s own interpretation,” referring to the prophet who originally gave the prophecy. The prophet was the Holy Spirit’s mouthpiece, and thus under divine guidance. He was not to intrude his own ideas into the messages that were given him for the benefit of God’s people. The same principle holds true in a study of the prophecies—the reader should strive to understand the Spirit-inspired meaning of the passage under consideration.
In stressing that Christianity is not based on cunningly devised fables (2 Pet. 1:16), Peter offers up two lines of evidence: first, eyewitnesses (2 Pet. 1:16-18); second, the prophecies of Scripture (2 Pet. 1:19-21), an argument he used earlier (1 Pet. 1:10-12).
Peter also states that “no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation” (2 Pet. 1:20, NKJV). In saying this, Peter is not forbidding us to study Scripture for ourselves. That would be very far from the thoughts of the one who said, in 1 Peter 1:13, “gird up the loins of your mind” (KJV) or “prepare your minds for action” (NRSV). Nor would it be said by one who commended the prophets of old for their diligent searching after the meaning of the prophecies that they had been given (1 Pet. 1:10).