BibleProject | One Story That Leads to JesusNäide

Moses on the plains of Moab, Joshua standing in Shechem, David on his deathbed, Paul shackled in prison—now, Peter facing political persecution. What do all these moments have in common? They’re all farewell scenes in Scripture.

In today’s reading, Peter, the bold disciple who walked with Jesus and spread the Gospel, says goodbye. This letter serves as a memorial of Peter’s teachings. It echoes many of the warnings and encouragements found in the Bible’s earlier farewell scenes.

Like his passionate predecessors, Peter pleads with his audience to remain faithful to God. The fisherman-turned-apostle offers his audience two paths. You can participate (or “partake”) in the “divine nature” (2 Pet. 1:4), which results in love. Or you can skip that and face divine justice on the Day of the Lord as the prophets of old warned about.

You’ll see in the video how Peter weaves moments of divine judgment and cosmic reckoning from the Hebrew Bible into his warning against corrupt leadership happening in his own day. Peter’s intense language and graphic imagery really raise eyebrows. However, his rhetoric is sincere, born out of love for his readers (and everyone). God will confront evil everywhere and in everyone. Those who ignore that fact do so at their own peril.

Earlier in Galilee, Jesus entrusted Peter to care for his sheep. Peter took that responsibility seriously. He’s deterring wolves and exposing terrible pitfalls around the pasture, so he’s not whispering. He’s bidding farewell by warning, teaching, and loving people with Jesus’ truth and grace (2 Pet. 3:18).

Reflection Questions

• Peter’s farewell speech includes a challenge for God’s people to continue to grow in the Lord. What sorts of behaviors demonstrate goodness, knowledge, self-control, familial affection, endurance, godliness, and love?
• Take a moment to review a few of the farewell speeches in the Bible: the final words of Moses (Deut. 29-33), Joshua (Josh. 23-24), David (1 Kgs. 2:1-12), and Paul (2 Tim. 4; cf. Acts 20:17-38). What key themes do you notice in these speeches and in Peter’s final letter?