Remember the Word - Authorial Intent of 2 Peter

Peter writes 2 Peter to tell his audience - "REMEMBER THE WORDS." Which words? "The words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles." (2 Peter 3:2) WHY do we need to remember the words? I believe the end of 2 Peter sums this up - "the untaught and unstable distort ... Scripture to their own destruction. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 3:16-18) Also, "you do well to pay attention [to the prophetic word] as to a lamp shining in a dark place." (2 Peter 1:19)

Here are some points of the book that support the above:

• Through the true knowledge of Him, we can see that His divine power has granted us everything pertaining to life and godliness. (1:3) Where can we find the true knowledge?
• "He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of divine nature." (1:4) Where can we find the promises? In His Word.
• In the section 1:12-15, Peter explains that he wants to constantly remind them of the truth, so that they will be diligent to call it to mind.
• In the section 1:16-21, Peter reveals the authority of the writers of the Word, the eyewitnesses of His majesty and the prophetic word. Verse 21 says, "for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God."
• Peter sounds the alarm against the false prophet and teachers in chapter 2. They "will secretly introduce destructive heresies" (2:1) and "because of them the way of truth will be maligned;" (2:2) and that "they will exploit with false words;" (2:3). Peter explains the severity of these actions in 2:3, "their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep."
• Peter uses 4 Old Testament proofs and examples in regard to the false teachers in chapter 2. Three are specifically examples of 'the LORD knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment.' (2:9) 1] "God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast into hell." (2:4) 2] God "did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah". (2:5) 3] "He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly thereafter;" (2:6) and "He rescued righteous Lot". (2:7) The other is an example of the false teachers following the way of Balaam. (2:15-16)
• In chapter 3, verses 1-2 tell us that Peter is stirring them by way of reminder to remember the words.
• Mocker will come saying "Where is the promise of His coming? ... all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation." (3:4) Peter refutes this by using the Word - "it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water." These 'teachers' didn't know their Word well enough to perceive these things or they choose not remember the Word.
• "According to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth." (3:13)
• Peter introduces the value and high regard to Paul's work in 3:15-16 - "just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters," "which the untaught and unstable distort [some things Paul has written] as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.
• Again, 3:17-18 tells them to be on guard so they will not be deceived in a manner that leads to destruction but to grow in grace and knowledge.

Check out all of 2 Peter and study it on your own to gain insight from this awesome, powerful book. Figure out the author's intent from the word, which means more than my words. I encourage you to diligently study the word. Let me know what you think and your opinions (shaped through the word).