II Peter 2:1-22
2:1 One of the most important messages the New Testament heralds is that we have the blessed opportunity to be responsible for ourselves. That we need to be vigilant and focused, observant and in-tune with our spirit (gut feelings, and natural intuition). For deception exists around us, and sometimes most especially in the places we least expect.
We've spoken about there being many types of teachers in the world; sprinkled throughout lives are continuous series of people teaching us through their actions... and influencing us with their words. Realizing this, it then becomes our responsibility to discern their authenticity and truthfulness. The false teachers spoken of in this verse can influence us in two kinds of ways 1) intentionally and 2) unintentionally.
2:2 Untruth leads to destruction. Therefore it is our responsibility to be alert. To participate in this world; to be able to discern truth from untruth. To confront injustice, reject it, diminish it, and most importantly: to recognize it.
2:3 Greed is the root of deception. To satisfy their own gain, a false person will construct any false reality they can, any way they can, to get you to unknowingly participate in their scheme. This exists on all levels: (from) "Try this ice cream, it's delicious..." just to trick someone into sharing your taste-bud's misery (to) "If you don't come to this pew every week you will burn in hell*" just to scare a family in to donating to the pockets of a church leader's pocket.
We need to develop an ability to have a personal spirituality. To develop our faith and establish our values separate from what other people say and do. That way, we do not need to follow anyone but ourselves and our faith. We cannot be led into deception if we are the sole leader of our own path.
Meaning that, we need to be observant enough to notice the grimace on the face of the ice cream eater before they made their request; we need to develop the common sense logic that our donations are not helping the less fortunate but are actually building faithless-gold and jewel studded churches (if and when such is the case).
We've spoken about there being many types of teachers in the world; sprinkled throughout lives are continuous series of people teaching us through their actions... and influencing us with their words. Realizing this, it then becomes our responsibility to discern their authenticity and truthfulness. The false teachers spoken of in this verse can influence us in two kinds of ways 1) intentionally and 2) unintentionally.
- 1) Intentional: This type of person is deceptive. They manipulate people, ideas and situations to accomplish self-interested motives. The danger this type of person poses on us is that they target the aloof. They are easily able to direct or redirect a person who is not firmly established in personal principles and values.
- 2) Unintentional: This type of person has not developed their character. Their actions, words and motives in life are (at best) unfocused and therefore chaotic and (at worst) destructive due to selfishness and apathy. The danger with this type of person is that in allowing ourselves to be influenced by them, we lose our individuality: our purpose and potential is wasted.
2:2 Untruth leads to destruction. Therefore it is our responsibility to be alert. To participate in this world; to be able to discern truth from untruth. To confront injustice, reject it, diminish it, and most importantly: to recognize it.
2:3 Greed is the root of deception. To satisfy their own gain, a false person will construct any false reality they can, any way they can, to get you to unknowingly participate in their scheme. This exists on all levels: (from) "Try this ice cream, it's delicious..." just to trick someone into sharing your taste-bud's misery (to) "If you don't come to this pew every week you will burn in hell*" just to scare a family in to donating to the pockets of a church leader's pocket.
We need to develop an ability to have a personal spirituality. To develop our faith and establish our values separate from what other people say and do. That way, we do not need to follow anyone but ourselves and our faith. We cannot be led into deception if we are the sole leader of our own path.
Meaning that, we need to be observant enough to notice the grimace on the face of the ice cream eater before they made their request; we need to develop the common sense logic that our donations are not helping the less fortunate but are actually building faithless-gold and jewel studded churches (if and when such is the case).
2:4 This is a stern inevitability that evil will have to confront: it's own corrupt actions standing before an all-powerful manifestation of life and compassion, our Creator. Essentially Peter is telling us that if even angels are responsible for their corrupt actions (Lucifer was/is an angel, more on that when we study the Old Testament), than so are the false souls here on earth.
Hell, rather than pit of eternal fire (a loving God of life does not endlessly torture souls; evil souls just cease existing) is a holding place for the unjust until God confronts us all together (as He has promised to do, Hebrews 11:39-40). Fire is symbolic for eliminating what is weak (corruption) and refining what is strong (compassion). It is not a literal fire.
2:5-6 Throughout history evil has been allowed to self-destruct. The story of Noah and Sodom and Gomorrah are examples to us that even if complete or near-complete rejuvenation is necessary, God is always going to extract evil from His children's lives.
2:7-9 Moreover, God is always gone to deliver (lead, inspire, support) those who work in justice and compassion and truth... no matter how encircled by oppression they are. He perfectly winnows the evil from the good.
2:10-11 Pure evil such as is referenced in this verse, cannot be reasoned with even by the angels. Therefore it becomes our duty to create justice and through out faith sustain and promote it.
Hell, rather than pit of eternal fire (a loving God of life does not endlessly torture souls; evil souls just cease existing) is a holding place for the unjust until God confronts us all together (as He has promised to do, Hebrews 11:39-40). Fire is symbolic for eliminating what is weak (corruption) and refining what is strong (compassion). It is not a literal fire.
2:7-9 Moreover, God is always gone to deliver (lead, inspire, support) those who work in justice and compassion and truth... no matter how encircled by oppression they are. He perfectly winnows the evil from the good.
2:10-11 Pure evil such as is referenced in this verse, cannot be reasoned with even by the angels. Therefore it becomes our duty to create justice and through out faith sustain and promote it.
2:12-13 Evil always and inevitably perishes in its own corruption. There is no other outcome.
12:14-15 Humans within this world have become quite familiar with the depravity of evil spread throughout our globe... evil, unfortunately, needs no introduction or description. Yet because Peter speaks of it, we can understand ourselves as souls of the same family, the same faith and condition of life as people who lived long before us.
12:14-15 Humans within this world have become quite familiar with the depravity of evil spread throughout our globe... evil, unfortunately, needs no introduction or description. Yet because Peter speaks of it, we can understand ourselves as souls of the same family, the same faith and condition of life as people who lived long before us.
12:16 Evil likes to think of itself as clever and stealth... yet as this verse explains, evil is actually inept: "a dumb donkey speaking with a man's voice...". Because they do not understand spirituality, the nature of soul and earth and heaven, they are truly aloof and unfocused.
12:17 Evil disallows faith and joy and justice to thrive but it will not always have the freedom to do so. Not only does evil become nonfunctional, it also becomes nonexistent. This current life is life of freedom of choice, but it is temporary. The next life is only able to sustain those who made the right and just choices.
2:18-19 We must never allow ourselves to be imprisoned by people with false doctrines. It is essential to remain committed to our personal spiritual truth.
2:20 By developing our faith and becoming more spiritually and wisely aware, we gain a responsibility for upholding ourselves to these standards. We must never allow ourselves to be tempted, influencing or deceived into abandoning our values. Once we know better, we are expected to be and do better.
2:21 This is a reiteration of Luke 12:48, knowing comes with responsibility. Romans 11 and Matthew 13 reference "slumber" for those who are figuratively asleep receive some leniency for not knowing better. The spiritually awakened however, acquire much blessed responsibility... and are quite required to uphold it.
2:22 Evil cannot fake goodness for long. Only authentic and focused compassion remains solid.
2:20 By developing our faith and becoming more spiritually and wisely aware, we gain a responsibility for upholding ourselves to these standards. We must never allow ourselves to be tempted, influencing or deceived into abandoning our values. Once we know better, we are expected to be and do better.
2:21 This is a reiteration of Luke 12:48, knowing comes with responsibility. Romans 11 and Matthew 13 reference "slumber" for those who are figuratively asleep receive some leniency for not knowing better. The spiritually awakened however, acquire much blessed responsibility... and are quite required to uphold it.
2:22 Evil cannot fake goodness for long. Only authentic and focused compassion remains solid.
