2 Peter 3:1-2 This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles,
Peter gives a clue in these verses about why he is writing this second letter. These letters have authority because they are based on the holy prophets (Old Testament Scripture), the commandment of the Lord (assuming this to be Jesus), and the apostles (who have the authoritative teaching and doctrine). That is a powerful combination to add weight to what Peter says. Peter has quoted directly or indirectly from these different sources. Since he himself is an apostle, his words should carry significant weight. His goal is to stir up the readers’ sincere mind. Basically, he wants them to think for themselves, to test what they hear, to discern truth from falsehood. This ideas connects to the question: why do we train our pastors so rigorously? We want them to know the truth of the gospel and the Bible so that what they teach and preach is accurate. Most people would heartedly agree with this position. But then, why do we not train our lay people just as rigorously? Why do so many Christians barely know anything about the Bible or theology? There are too many baby Christians who do not understanding or live out the deep truths of the gospel. They may need more than a gentle nudge. They may need a strong reminder, like what Peter gives in this letter. We must be vigilant and sincere in our study and personal growth.
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