Latest / Scripture Central / 1 & 2 Peter: New Testament with Lynne Wilson (Come, Follow Me)

Transcript

1 & 2 Peter: New Testament with Lynne Wilson (Come, Follow Me) · Scripture Central

0:00
Hello, welcome back to Scripture Central.
0:02
I'm Lynn Hilton Wilson and I'm thrilled to be talking about the
0:05
Epistles of Peter today. This is one of my favorite two
0:09
books in the Epistles, and Peter's message is How to Become
0:13
Holy. And it just runs from the
0:15
beginning to the end. The two books that were very
0:18
different, we see the first book of Peter having 12 to 18 Old
0:23
Testament citations depending on how you count them, whereas the
0:26
second one just has one. But both of the books are
0:29
written from a prison setting and it's the last time of
0:32
Peter's life. And so the second book has a
0:35
very Old Testament, last Testament feel.
0:39
Just to refresh your memory, if you go back to the book of Acts,
0:42
these two prison letters come after the end of the book of
0:45
Acts. The book of Acts never talks
0:48
about Peter's imprisonment. You know, we get Paul in prison
0:51
under Nero and then it ends. He said we never hear about
0:55
called second imprisonment or Peter's imprisonment, but we
0:58
assume that it is occurring before AD 68 because that's when
1:03
Nero is killed. So we have that time period.
1:07
Nero served as an emperor from 8054 to 68, so we assume that
1:13
these letters are written during this period of time but
1:16
certainly before 68 because Nero is the one who kills and
1:19
imprisons Peter and the letters appear to come from that period
1:23
of time. The first epistle is co-authored
1:25
by Silas. Now we don't learn about his
1:27
name until chapter 5 and it's the whole Roman name Sylvanius,
1:31
but he is the translator or the transcriber or he's taking this
1:37
fisherman's best language and putting it into polished
1:40
beautiful Greek. Silas is mentioned 34 times in
1:44
the New Testament. Silas is now a companion with
1:47
Peter in prison in Rome, and he takes this fisherman's Aramaic,
1:54
or whatever language Peter is communicating in and polishes up
1:58
and puts it in a beautiful Greek so that the letter can be
2:01
translated to the language that the Galatians and the people in
2:06
Asia Minor are able to understand.
2:08
And in this beautiful translation we're told that he
2:12
compiles it and he edits this first letter.
2:15
We're also told that he is writing to the Saints in
2:19
Pontius, Galatia and Asia Minor. So this area of of modern day
2:23
Turkey is all in in this beautiful group.
2:26
Just to remind you a little bit more about Silas, we're told in
2:30
that he was involved in the Jerusalem Council that he
2:33
travelled not only with Paul and Barnabas to Antioch.
2:36
That's all in Acts chapter 15, but he was also Paul's companion
2:40
on that second mission. He was Paul's scribe for 1st and
2:44
2nd Thessalonians, and he was Paul's messenger in Second
2:48
Corinthians. So we have a lot of information
2:50
on Silas. Let's jump into the letter of
2:53
First Peter. The theme is how to become holy,
2:57
and he discusses our trials and the suffering and how they can
3:01
be used to develop greater faith and holiness.
3:04
He also has references back to many of the prophecies that our
3:08
Lord gave. He talks about following the
3:10
Savior's example, even in persecution, and then he ends in
3:14
chapter five with this Christian code of conduct.
3:17
I have an outline of First Peter both on my slides and on my
3:20
handouts, if you'd like to get them.
3:22
They're usually attached to the video.
3:24
Or you can go back to our website, go back to Scripture
3:27
Central or Book of Mormon Central and click the button for
3:29
the archives or the come follow me and you can find all my
3:34
handouts there. But the outline starts out with
3:36
a greeting and then a beautiful hymn.
3:39
And then in chapter one, verse 13, he talks about this new
3:43
chosen Israelite identity. In chapter two he focuses on the
3:47
submission to authority. And then starting in chapter 3,
3:51
verse eight, he talks about that suffering can become a means of
3:55
being a holy witness. And then in chapter 4, starting
3:59
about verse 12, he talks about the need to persevere even
4:02
during persecution. And then chapter 5 is this
4:06
household code, the responsibilities for men.
4:09
Then his final greetings finish up chapter 5.
4:12
So he starts out in verse one Peter, an apostle of Jesus
4:16
Christ, to the strangers scattered abroad.
4:19
You know that he But it's interesting to use as the King
4:21
James translates strangers when actually it remains, refers to
4:26
foreigners or those who are outside of of Jerusalem.
4:30
But remember, he's in Rome right now.
4:33
He is a stranger in Rome. But usually we don't refer to
4:36
our Christians as strangers, we refer to them as our fellow
4:39
brothers and sisters. But I think he's feeling like a
4:42
stranger in a strange place. And he realizes that Christians
4:47
are usually strangers in a strange place because we are
4:50
following a different God. We are worshipping the Almighty,
4:54
the Jehovah and we don't fit into the Greco Roman culture
4:58
anymore. Verse two in the King James
5:01
Version starts out to the elect according to the foreknowledge
5:05
of God. I want to also read the BSB.
5:08
Here he says according to the foreknowledge of God the Father
5:13
and sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ.
5:17
Now this idea of being elect and having a foreknowledge of God we
5:22
when we read this we usually read the King James just in the
5:25
context of the Restoration. But remember, the early
5:29
Protestants felt very strongly about the Calvinistic idea that
5:34
there were some people who were born to election and some people
5:37
who were born to damnation and there was not human agency.
5:41
God had complete control. These ideas are not just in the
5:45
Protestant faith. As I mentioned earlier in other
5:47
lectures, these ideas come clear back from the time of Saint
5:51
Augustine in the 4th century and and they were completely
5:55
denounced in by the Restoration by Joseph.
5:59
The Lord taught Joseph that our actions matter, that our faith
6:03
matters, our belief matters, and we can choose to be chosen.
6:08
Those are my own words. But the idea that is expressed
6:11
in section 121 while Joseph is in Liberty jail, starting about
6:15
in verse 34 to 43, you know the Lord teaches Joseph that many
6:21
are called and few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?
6:24
Because they hearken not to the Council's.
6:27
You know they they've forgotten that the priesthood and things
6:29
only work with our own choice and our own kindness and
6:33
gentleness and meekness unfeigned.
6:36
And we can choose so the for ordination we believe occurred
6:40
in a pre mortal existence. And he's repeating that here.
6:44
If you want to learn more about that, that's in Abraham chapter
6:46
3, verses 22 to 24. The next little section starting
6:51
in First Peter chapter one, verse 3 to verse 12 is this
6:53
beautiful hymn and it speaks of God's lively hope, it reads in
6:58
the BSB translation. He, meaning the Lord has given
7:02
us new birth into the living hope through the resurrection of
7:07
Jesus Christ. I love this idea that our hope
7:10
is born again. That if we believe in Christ, if
7:14
we have a witness that the Savior lives, that the Spirit
7:17
can testify to us that Jesus is our Redeemer, then that hope can
7:22
give us not only a new birth, but it can be born again in
7:26
realizing that we can have peace and joy in our life.
7:30
Verse 4 continues on in this hymn to an inheritance
7:34
incorruptible. This is the hope that we're
7:36
believing in and undefiable, and that fadeth not away, and it is
7:40
reserved in heaven for you. As we move on to verse 6.
7:44
The King James uses the funny words of season, of heaviness
7:47
and temptations, and so I'd like to read it from the BSB.
7:51
In this you greatly rejoice, though for now, for a little
7:55
while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials.
7:59
I just want to put you in perspective this time Nero is
8:02
really persecuting the Christians and it's still in in
8:06
various locations, but we are seeing a lot more empire wide
8:11
persecution under the time of Nero.
8:12
Remember, he blames them on the fire in Jerusalem that he
8:15
started so that he could build a bigger palace.
8:18
They're just an easy scapegoat. And I feel like that's the way
8:21
it is right now with Christianity, and that's the way
8:23
it is with members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
8:25
Saints. We have a lot of people
8:28
attacking us. That's how it was at the time of
8:30
the New Testament. And I feel like Paul's message
8:33
to the early Christians is a message for us right now.
8:36
This is very applicable to us right now.
8:38
And he's asking us to find strength during these times of
8:42
grief and trials and realize that those trials can actually
8:46
strengthen our testimony and strengthen our hope as we go to
8:49
the Lord. In fact, he says in verse 7, the
8:51
trial of your faith being much more precious than gold, talking
8:56
about being tried with fire, trying to, you know, purify this
8:59
metal and get out the impurities, he says it might be
9:02
found unto praise and honor and glory of the appearing of Jesus.
9:06
The NIV uses a different translation.
9:08
It says you are of greater worth than gold.
9:11
I just love this imagery of the refiners fire and I want to just
9:15
remind you that I have said before I am so grateful.
9:20
I went through my periods of chemotherapy, my four different
9:25
cancer tumors and the way that they have blessed me to rely
9:30
more on my Savior. Peter uses this analogy because
9:34
the Saints were being persecuted and it wasn't just a little
9:36
verbal stuff online or a few pulling people out of the
9:39
church. This was putting the Christians
9:42
before the lions, you know the persecution there was a matter
9:45
of life and death. The next section in First Peter,
9:49
starting in verse 13 to 25 talks about a new chosen Israelite and
9:54
this is the way we become holy. And remember the word holiness
9:59
in Latin is Sanctus, the sanctification.
10:02
And in both Greek and the early words we find a lot of overlap
10:07
in some of these ideas of becoming holy, becoming
10:10
sanctified. He says in verse 15 in the BSP
10:14
that just as He, meaning our Lord who called you, is holy, so
10:20
be holy in all you do. I love this idea in all that we
10:25
do now that King James, it says in your conversations.
10:28
But by the time the King James translators were working on
10:31
these words, conversation meant your daily walk of life.
10:35
Everything you're doing be holy, not just in the things that come
10:38
out of your mouth, but what you're doing.
10:40
How are you spending your time? Are you spending your free time
10:43
and and in things that take you away from the spirit, like
10:47
gambling and and pornography and and and lying and and excessive
10:54
travel and pleasure and leisure, or are you spending your time
10:57
serving and building the Kingdom of God?
11:00
He says in this beautiful section, verses 17 and 19.
11:03
I'd like to read it from the NIV translation, since you call on a
11:08
father who judges live in reverent fear, for you were
11:15
redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without
11:20
blemish. Peter knows what the Savior went
11:23
through. You know he was there in
11:24
Gethsemane. He heard about it from the
11:27
cross. He feels responsible for part of
11:30
that suffering because he was immortal and he made mistakes.
11:34
And so he's just reminding us of how precious that redemptive
11:39
power was, and he's begging on us to live in a reverent manner.
11:45
He continues on in verse 22, still in this section about
11:48
becoming holy. Now that you have purified
11:51
yourselves by obeying the truth, so that you have sincere love
11:55
for each other, love one another deeply from the heart.
12:00
So he's saying, once you've been purified by the Savior, share
12:03
that joy. Share the love you feel from the
12:05
Lord with others. This is the NIV translation, and
12:09
I just really appreciate this emphasis on obeying the truth.
12:14
We get a lot of sentences on obeying, but Peter emphasized
12:17
the truth a lot, and he feels that it's black and white, even
12:21
though he lives in a world where there's a lot of Gray and a lot
12:23
of changes. He emphasizes the truth and he
12:26
goes back to this idea of being born again in verse 23, having
12:31
been born again. Not a perishable seed, but of
12:35
imperishable the living and abiding word of God.
12:40
That's the Burien Literal Bible. This is a very good translation.
12:43
If you want an excellent literal translation that uses more
12:46
modern vocabulary. We live in a time where there is
12:50
so much perishable. But he's saying that if we can
12:54
abide the word of God, you know the mountains will perish As
12:59
we're seeing more and more fires and natural disasters in our
13:02
world. All of the earth will perish,
13:04
but the human soul will not. It will live forever.
13:08
And he's asking us to realize that being born again will
13:12
prepare the way for this eternal body and humanity to live.
13:17
Now even though he mentions that we will last forever, our human
13:22
body will not. He says in verse 24 and 25,
13:25
still in chapter one in the NIV translation.
13:27
All people are like brass and the grass Withers and flowers
13:31
fall. But the word of the Lord endures
13:35
forever. So hold on to the words of the
13:38
scriptures. Study the scriptures.
13:39
I hope that these these wonderful opportunities with
13:43
come follow me just motivate greater scripture study.
13:46
Peter now turns to five sins and he's asking them to get rid of
13:50
these sins. He says in chapter 2 verse one
13:53
lay aside all malice or wickedness, all deceit and that
13:57
means guile or treachery and other translations all
14:01
hypocrisy. I also add in other translations
14:04
that refer to that as partiality and he says get rid of your envy
14:08
and your jealousy. Get Rid of your slander and
14:11
slander is sometimes translated evil speaking, but he wants you
14:15
to get rid of these so that you can be born again.
14:18
Chapter 2, verse two reads in the BSB like newborn babes crave
14:23
pure spiritual milk so that by it you may grow up in your
14:28
salvation. You know the purity of being fed
14:33
by the Lord's milk and allow us to grow from childhood into
14:38
adulthood With our spirituality takes us from first Peter to
14:43
second Peter and he asks us now to be purified and become holy.
14:49
And then in second Peter he takes it to another higher
14:52
level. But in chapter two of first
14:54
Peter, verse 4 to 10, he talks about this beautiful image of a
14:57
rock and remember what a rock meant to Peter.
15:00
This is so significant to me because Peter had received the
15:03
nickname from the Lord as Rocky. You know he became the stone
15:07
cathos. His name is Simon.
15:10
He's named after one of the 12 tribes of Israel.
15:12
But the Lord referred to him with his nickname of Rock and he
15:16
says here in chapter 2, verse four.
15:18
Allow me to read from the NIV as you come to him the living stone
15:24
rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him.
15:29
So he's referring to Christ as the stone, not himself.
15:33
He's referring to our Savior to build our foundation on Him.
15:37
He continues on in verse 5. Again within the NIV, you also,
15:42
like living stones, are being built unto a spiritual house to
15:47
be a holy priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable
15:52
to God through Jesus. He's asking us to become a
15:55
chosen people. We have to choose to be chosen,
15:57
as I mentioned earlier, and this is so significant because Peter
16:01
has had years and years to think about what that meant when the
16:05
Savior chose to call him this. And our prophet has also chosen
16:09
to speak on this. In October of 2019, he said
16:13
every woman and every man who makes covenants with God and
16:17
keeps those covenants, and who participates worthily in
16:21
priesthood ordinances, has direct access to the power of
16:26
God. Those who are endowed in the
16:28
House of the Lord receive a gift of God's priesthood power by
16:32
virtue of the covenant, along with a gift of knowledge to know
16:37
how to draw upon that power. I was fascinated with how Peter
16:41
refers to this stone in Zion in verse 6 and then again in verse
16:46
seven he talks about the strong builders reject the cornerstone,
16:50
and in verse 8, the stone that causes people to stumble.
16:53
All of them are quoting other Old Testament scriptures.
16:57
So verse six is citing Isaiah 2616, verse seven is reciting
17:02
Psalms 118, verse 22 and then chapter 8 is Isaiah 814.
17:08
So I've got a chart how they're all written down and you can see
17:11
the Isaiah portions and the Psalms portions and how they
17:14
beautifully overlap. Peter loved and knew the Old
17:17
Testament. All the early young Hebrew
17:20
scholars, the young Jewish boys, were invited to start studying
17:24
their scriptures and reading them by age 5 at the synagogue.
17:28
And if your parents had enough money that they didn't need you
17:30
to be sold into slavery, or working for them on the farm or
17:33
in the fisherman's, as it was in the case of Peter's family, this
17:37
is where they went. Verse 9 continues on.
17:40
Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
17:45
a peculiar people, And then he skips down.
17:48
He's talking about God. He says he has called you out of
17:52
darkness, into the marvelous light and this beautiful hope
17:57
that we can follow through as a peculiar people.
18:01
Sometimes I've heard my students say things like, I don't want to
18:04
stand out, I don't want to be so different.
18:06
I just want to be like everybody else.
18:07
That's not what we're called to. We are called to be a chosen
18:11
generation. We are needing to stand out as
18:14
someone different, as a disciple of Jesus Christ.
18:17
We don't look like everyone else.
18:19
We are peculiar. But when we have God's love with
18:23
us, we can be peculiar. As an ambassador for goodness.
18:28
As an ambassador for love and hope and faith and honesty.
18:33
He continues on in verse 11, Dearly Beloved.
18:36
And remember he uses that word 10 times in this epistle.
18:39
He loves calling them beloved. These are his children.
18:42
He's the head of the church. He loves them.
18:45
I beseech you abstain from fleshy lusts which war against
18:50
the soul, having your conversation honest.
18:53
Remember in King James, conversation is your whole walks
18:55
of life. He's begging them to be honest
18:57
in everything they do. Be completely noble and get rid
19:01
of all this overeating and overindulgence in your in your
19:06
hormones and overindulgence in your things that are wrong.
19:10
He's saying your fleshy lusts is a good translation, I think.
19:13
There and then he goes to talk from verses 11 and 12 in First
19:18
Peter chapter 2 about the unbelievers and he begs them
19:22
submit yourself. Now in King James it says submit
19:25
yourself to every ordinance. But this is not ordinance as we
19:29
translate it. Remember, this is translated
19:31
during by Puritans, by people who did not want to follow the
19:35
Catholic 7 sacraments. They were trying to divorce
19:39
themselves of ordinances. So they're using the word
19:41
ordinance in a different way. They're using it as a authority,
19:45
they use it as human teachers. So I'm going to read from the
19:47
NIV instead these human authorities, whether to the
19:52
emperor or the supreme authority, for it is God that
19:57
will, by doing good, he should silence the ignorant when we
20:01
refer to Peter being imprisoned. This is very significant now.
20:06
He's asking you to obey your policeman, you know, obey the
20:11
governing bodies of authority wherever you live, even though
20:15
he is in prison. I think this is quite
20:17
significant. Moving on.
20:19
In First Peter chapter 2 starting at about verse 16 to
20:22
verse 20, he's been talking about servants and masters and
20:25
I'll read from the NIV starting right at verse 16 and 17.
20:28
Live as God's slaves, Show proper respect to everyone, love
20:34
the family of believers, fear God and honor the emperor.
20:38
Now remember the word slave and servant is the same word and
20:41
that as disciples of Christ we are to become servants of God.
20:45
We are to do his bidding. We are to bow before our God as
20:49
before a king. And then he goes on in verse 18
20:53
to talk about people who are serving as servants and slaves.
20:56
As I mentioned before, think of this more as an indentured
20:59
servant. Remember the Romans release of
21:01
them at age 30. The Jews released them after
21:03
seven years of of servitude, and he's begging these masters and
21:08
servants to have no violence, he says in the BSB translation of
21:12
verse 18. Servants, submit yourself to
21:15
your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good
21:18
and gentle, but even to those who are unreasonable.
21:22
He's saying if this is your job right now, if this is what
21:25
you're supposed to be doing, please stay away from violence,
21:28
try to submit and remember the word submit in a non military
21:32
setting means voluntarily cooperate.
21:35
He's not saying anything that would be said in our generation,
21:39
but where 1/2 of the big cities are serving under servitude,
21:45
he's saying let's stop the violence.
21:49
He now moves in Chapter 3 to Advice for Wives and Husbands,
21:53
and it's specifically to those women who are converted to
21:55
Christianity but their husbands have not.
21:58
I'd like to read from a new translation that's been in
22:01
progress for almost 30 years now.
22:04
It's called the BYU New Testament Commentary series, and
22:09
you can get it online at the BYU Studies, or you can buy it
22:12
online as well. But I love these translations.
22:16
Every one of them are done by people who are enriched with the
22:20
lessons of the Restoration, and then they go back to the Greek
22:23
text, and with a lot of help from lexicons and other
22:27
translations, they come up with a translation that is consistent
22:30
with the teachings of the Restoration, and I'd like to
22:33
read starting in verse one. Likewise, wives defer to your
22:37
own husband's so that if they disobey the word, they may be
22:42
attracted back by the conduct of the wives without a word.
22:47
So this Greek word hypotosis is used in the King James as be in
22:52
subjection. In the NIV it's to submit.
22:56
But it's the same word that I just mentioned about the slaves.
22:59
It means voluntarily cooperate, share the burden, carry it
23:03
together, as we've talked about in the past in the Pauline
23:06
epistles. But here he's saying wives, if
23:09
your if your spouse doesn't believe, be so willing to work
23:13
with him that he maybe can be won back.
23:16
And Paul uses the same language in his household codes as well.
23:20
First three to four, I'd like to read in the Joseph Smith
23:22
translation, he's talking to the women and he says let your
23:26
adorning be not that of outward adorning, he said.
23:30
Stop wasting your time with hairstyles and makeup and
23:34
clothing, he says, skipping down a little bit.
23:37
Let it be of the hidden meek and quiet spirit which is in the
23:43
sight of God. A great price said.
23:46
Stop spending hours a day on yourself.
23:49
A little time is great. You want to look the best you
23:52
can, but instead give your time to things that matter more, that
23:57
will provide light in your eyes. Prioritize your time with God on
24:01
your knees in your scriptures serving others in the temple.
24:05
If you took your time there and praised it as well, you would be
24:09
spending it to beautify yourself in the things that adorn
24:12
yourself as God wants you to. Continuing on in verse 5:00 and
24:15
6:00, I'm going to read back from this BYU new rendition,
24:19
Women of the covenant, those who have hope in God adorn
24:23
themselves supporting their husbands.
24:26
And then he gives the example of Sarah.
24:28
Sarah was obedient to Abraham, calling him Lord.
24:31
And you have become your daughters, doing good works and
24:35
not fearing without any anxiety. Now this is novel in that
24:40
society. Remember, women lived in great
24:43
anxiety. They were constantly under the
24:44
threat of being divorced. I mentioned before, in the Greco
24:47
Roman world, men and women had about four or five divorces
24:51
each, and in the Judaic world it was less than that.
24:54
But the women lived in total fear.
24:56
It was it was a terribly unhealthy relationship when you
25:00
going back and read the records of the time period.
25:03
And so he's saying daughters do your good works without fear,
25:07
without anxiety. In a Christian marriage, we
25:10
should not have an overbearing authority.
25:12
We should have cooperation and love on both the men and the
25:16
women working in harmony. Continuing on in that same BYU
25:20
translation, it says likewise, husbands live together with your
25:23
family according to the revelation, awarding honor to
25:27
your wife, respecting her delicate feminine body, and
25:31
recognizing that you and she will be joint heirs of the
25:35
blessings of life. Now if you go back to the King
25:37
James, there, that delicate feminine body is the vessel, and
25:41
the King James word there has a metaphorical meaning as well.
25:45
Or the Greek word has this meaning.
25:47
That means it's a person of quality, a chosen instrument
25:52
it's equipped or an apparatus. Those are all coming from the
25:56
Strong's translation or Greek translations from the lexicons
25:59
of this great word that is translated as the weaker vessel,
26:04
which I don't like that translation.
26:05
Although I'm much weaker than my husband, some women are
26:07
stronger. So I don't want to put that in
26:09
on that. I don't want to have any sense.
26:11
That was part of the culture of the fact that women were weaker
26:14
mentally. They were weaker physically,
26:15
they were weaker emotionally. I don't want any of that.
26:18
And I don't think Peter wanted any of that.
26:19
He's not saying that he's using this word in its metaphorical
26:23
meaning, a person of quality. That's what he's trying to
26:26
communicate here. And he's also saying that
26:29
because they're going to be joint heirs.
26:31
And he goes on and talks a lot about that in the next letter.
26:34
But I want to just let you know that this word vessel is used
26:37
all over the New Testament, but it's it's never used in a manner
26:41
that it is here where it says a weaker vessel.
26:43
Go back and look at Mark, Chapter 11.
26:46
These are all in my handout. Luke 8, Acts 9 and 10, and 1st
26:50
Thessalonians and Second Timothy.
26:52
They're all over the place and they're never used this way.
26:54
I I think we could understand the Greek word better if we saw
26:57
how it was used in the New Testament by the Apostolic
27:00
Church. Continuing on in chapter 3,
27:02
verse seven and eight, halfway down through verse seven, it
27:05
says that your prayers be not hindered.
27:08
Now it's also their prayers be not blocked.
27:11
You know, we've got to treat each other with respect and
27:13
love, or else you're not going to be able to feel the spread of
27:15
the Lord. Joseph Smith learned that when
27:17
he was in the translation process of the Book of Mormon.
27:19
Do you remember? He had a he had a discussion
27:21
that wasn't filled with harmony, and he couldn't translate, and
27:24
he had to go and apologize and repent and work it out with Emma
27:29
and the Lord. And then he came back and the
27:32
Spirit was able to return. So our prayers will be blocked
27:36
if we have animosity in our relationships, he says finally.
27:40
Be ye all of 1 mind having compassion.
27:43
You know this is part of the law of consecration.
27:45
This is part of our sacrifice that we become unified in our
27:49
love for God and for each other. Verse 8 to 12 has this Christian
27:54
conduct and he reviews it all here together, talking about the
27:57
unity that's needed. And he also says suffer even
28:01
while you're doing good. He asks them.
28:03
I'm just going to review chapters 3 verses 8 to 12.
28:07
Become like minded, sympathetic, love one another.
28:10
Be compassionate, humble. Do not repay evil with evil or
28:14
insult with insult, but repay evil with blessings.
28:19
And then he starts talking about persecutions.
28:22
The evil with blessings is also something the Savior said, he
28:25
said. When you're persecuted, pray for
28:27
those who are persecuting you. That's the Sermon on the Mount.
28:30
And here Peter picks up on that theme in first Peter chapter 3,
28:33
verses 13 to 14. And again, I'm reading from the
28:36
BYU New Testament commentary. New Rendition NR is how they
28:41
abbreviated and who can really harm you if you are zealous for
28:45
the good, but if you even suffer on account of righteousness you
28:49
will be blessed. You know a lot of people have to
28:53
suffer for sins that they own. They did themselves.
28:56
But if you're suffering from something good that you do, you
28:59
will be rewarded by God. It's great promise referring
29:03
back to the Lord at the time when he was in the tomb and his
29:06
spirit went to the spirit world. It says in chapter 3, verse 19
29:10
to 21 he went and preached unto the spirits in prison which
29:16
sometimes were disobedient, and then skipping down a little bit
29:19
to verse 20 and 21. And in the days of Noah even
29:22
baptism does not also save us. He refers to those that were in
29:27
died when the flood came to the earth and those that had died
29:30
since that time now have the opportunity to hear the gospel
29:34
because Christ organized missionary work.
29:36
And we learn a lot more about this because section 138 in the
29:41
Doctrine Covenants, when a prophet of the Lord, Joseph
29:44
Fielding Smith was praying about this and received a beautiful
29:47
vision and he was in a time of great sorrow.
29:50
His son had died of the Spanish influenza.
29:52
The end of World War One had brought many, many deaths.
29:55
And then the plague that affected the world brought even
29:58
more. And so he's praying about this.
30:00
And he says, as I pondered over these things which were written,
30:04
he's talking about these verses in Peter.
30:06
The eyes of my understanding were opened, and the spirit of
30:09
the Lord rested upon me. And I saw the host of the dead
30:13
gathered together in one place, and all these had departed the
30:17
mortal life firm in the hope of the glorious resurrection I
30:20
beheld. I'm skipping ahead a little bit,
30:21
down to verse 16. I beheld that they were filled
30:25
with the joy and gladness and were rejoicing together because
30:29
the day of their deliverance was at hand.
30:32
Once the Savior was going to die, they were going to be able
30:35
to be resurrected again and repent and go through that
30:37
process. He continues on in verse 18.
30:41
While this vast multitude waited and conversed, rejoicing in the
30:47
hour of their deliverance from the chains of death, the Son of
30:51
God approached, declaring liberty to the captives who had
30:55
been faithful. This great vision opened up to
30:59
our prophet is the reality of all of us.
31:01
All of us who depart from the way will have an opportunity to
31:04
repent and return to our God. Whether on this side of the veil
31:08
or the other, we will have another chance.
31:12
Chapter 4 now turns with a lot of Joseph Smith translations. 5
31:17
out of the 8 verses in Chapter 4 have Joseph Smith translation.
31:21
So I'd like to read this one to you.
31:22
Chapter 4, verse one with the JST changes.
31:25
For as much then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh,
31:30
arm yourselves likewise with the same mind.
31:32
For you who have suffered in the flesh should cease from sin.
31:39
Now this parallels a little bit about something that Paul
31:41
mentioned, or at least is recorded in the book of Hebrews,
31:44
Chapter 5, verse eight. That when we have suffered we
31:48
might stop our sinning, use this as a time of repentance, Use
31:52
this as a time of changing and cleansing, so that we can move
31:56
forward with armed with the love of God.
31:59
First six reads. For for this cause was the
32:03
gospel preached to them, which are dead, that they might be
32:06
judged according to men in the flesh and live according to God
32:11
in the Spirit. This idea of Christ going to the
32:14
Spirit world is in both chapter 3 and four, and yet it's not
32:19
understood by anyone else as it is by Latter Day Saints because
32:23
of Section 138. I just feel we are so blessed to
32:26
understand the Bible in different ways.
32:28
The Old Testament especially is changed by our understanding of
32:32
the Restoration. I just thank my Lord every day
32:35
that I open my scriptures, that I can look at footnotes in the
32:38
Restoration that will amplify the Old Testament and the New
32:42
Testament and give me greater understanding.
32:45
The rest of Christianity doesn't have these things.
32:47
We are so blessed to have them. And I'll go back to section 138
32:52
and read to you something about that.
32:53
In verse 30 from among the righteous He organized His
32:57
forces and appointed messengers, clothed with power and
33:01
authority, and commissioned that they go forth and carry the
33:04
light to the Gospel to them who were in darkness.
33:08
So Jesus did not go to the wicked, He went to the
33:10
righteous. He went to those who had died
33:12
before his resurrection, who are waiting for their resurrection,
33:16
Organized them, taught them, and they went down and taught the
33:19
others. First Peter chapter 4, verse
33:21
seven, reads, The end of all things is at hand.
33:24
Be ye therefore sober. Watch and pray.
33:27
Now sober doesn't miss me. Not drunk.
33:30
It means of clarity, of thought, focus, thought focused on God's
33:34
thought. And I think it's so significant
33:36
that he says watch and pray. Do you remember when Peter was
33:39
told to watch and pray by the Lord?
33:41
Do you remember the Garden of Gethsemane when Peter, James,
33:44
and John, the Lord begged them to stay awake and watch and
33:48
pray? And Peter is now here asking the
33:51
Saints to do the same with the same intensity that he wished
33:56
that he could have watched and prayed for our Savior.
33:58
He's begging the Saints now. It's just as important now watch
34:03
and pray so that the adversary does not overtake you.
34:06
If you are not striving every day, every hour, every minute to
34:12
have the Spirit with you, you may lose the opportunity to hear
34:16
the word of God and to stay connected for the iron rod.
34:20
I'd like to read verse 8 again in the Joe Smith translation.
34:23
I'm still in chapter 4. Above all things have fervent
34:26
charity for charity, preventeth A multitude of sins.
34:31
Now this was a little bit surprising to me, because before
34:34
it says charity covereth A multitude of sins.
34:36
So I thought, OK, if I can love someone, I'm getting off some of
34:39
my sins. But that's not what the Lord
34:41
intended. That's not even what Peter said,
34:43
According to the Joe Smith translation, he said if you have
34:47
charity, if you have love, if you've gotten rid of your pride
34:51
and you've gotten rid of your animosity and anxiousness around
34:54
other people, that is going to prevent other sins.
34:58
If we can look at people without judging them, we will be
35:01
prevented from sinning. Chapter 4, verse 12 continues
35:04
On. Beloved, think it not strange
35:07
concerning the fiery trial which is in you.
35:10
So you don't ask why me? When trials come as the brethren
35:13
have taught us over and over, ask why not me?
35:17
This is part of life and trials are to cleanse us.
35:20
I love what he says in verse 13 of chapter 4, but rejoice
35:24
inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings.
35:28
He skips ahead a little bit and he says be glad.
35:31
So when we have the opportunity to suffer.
35:33
For when we're doing right, we are walking where Jesus walked,
35:39
and we can be glad. Remember the Lord told the
35:42
apostles at the Last Supper right after he announced he's
35:44
going to die, or after he announced he's going to suffer.
35:47
Be of good cheer. And Paul and Peter have both
35:50
repeated that statement to the early Christians.
35:54
Moving on now to chapter 4, verses 16 and 17.
35:57
He says if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be
36:01
ashamed. For judgment must begin at the
36:04
House of God. So we will be purified,
36:08
Christians will have to suffer, We need to be sanctified, we
36:11
need to change, we need to burn out our dross, as it were, so
36:17
that the Lord can have a pure holy people.
36:20
Moving into chapter 5 now verses one and three starts out with
36:24
the elders are going to be feeding the flock and I'll skip
36:27
ahead a little bit, not by constraint, but willingly, not
36:31
for filthy lucre. You know I don't want you
36:33
working for money, but of a ready mind, and neither as being
36:38
Lords. Meaning overlords, don't be too
36:40
demanding here. And then finishing up in verse
36:42
3, the very end. But being in samples to the
36:46
flock, I'll continue on in verse 5.
36:48
Likewise you younger submit yourselves.
36:51
And remember that word means voluntarily cooperate, carry the
36:54
burden, take callings, take responsibilities, he says.
36:57
Submit yourself to the elder. Be clothed with humility.
37:01
For God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble.
37:05
Now it says other words God opposes instead of resisteth.
37:10
But this is just a translation to remind us that we all need to
37:14
share the same burden. And if our leaders are doing
37:17
something that makes us mad, be patient, be gentle, carry the
37:21
burden, follow the leader, and over time, things we've
37:25
perfected. We're a human organization, but
37:28
if we cooperate, we can make the changes that we all need and
37:31
that we all hope for. But if we fight against our
37:34
leaders, the changes are going to not happen as readily than if
37:37
we work with them, Chapter 5, verse 10 in the NIV reads.
37:41
God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ,
37:47
after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you
37:51
and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
37:55
And then he finishes up chapter 12 by introducing Sylvanius the
37:58
scribe. He says, by Sylvanius, a
38:00
faithful brother unto you I have written briefly exhorting and
38:04
testifying that this is the true grace of God.
38:10
And the NIV ends. Stand fast in it.
38:13
He also uses this sign language. Here he calls Rome Babylon, but
38:17
it's just He uses she as the church, you know.
38:20
And then we're going to move down into Second Peter.
38:23
He only has one Old Testament quote as I mentioned before,
38:25
this is his last will and testament.
38:27
There's only three chapters in Second Peter and the whole thing
38:31
is of higher level asking the Saints to rise up and to make
38:36
their calling election. Sure.
38:38
He starts out in chapter one to seek their calling election and
38:42
also to read the scriptures as prophecy.
38:45
He talks about the more sure word of prophecy.
38:47
And then Chapter 2 is a warning against these false teachers.
38:52
And chapter 3 talks about Christ's second coming and the
38:55
judgment and the day of the Lord.
38:57
And then he gives us concluding farewells.
38:59
I feel like Second Peter is a personal guide to how to receive
39:06
our exaltation. Now most of us won't receive Our
39:09
Calling election made sure until the other side of the veil.
39:12
This is only given to very few because it's given by our
39:15
prophet Sears and revelators in person in the temple.
39:19
So most of us will receive these on the other side of the veil.
39:22
But we need to be striving for it.
39:25
We need to be seeking this when the prophet asks us to prepare
39:29
for our next covenant. This is something we need to be
39:32
striving for. I want to talk about one more
39:35
thing generally before I dive into the text.
39:37
This farewell sermon is patterned after many other
39:41
farewell sermons in the Greco Roman world.
39:44
A farewell sermon was often called a testament, and Peter
39:47
includes 19 of the 20 points that are supposed to be included
39:51
in these farewell Testaments. It includes the Prophet's
39:54
summons and includes warnings and blessings and covenants and
39:57
rewards. He's going to talk about what's
39:59
going to happen after he departs, and he then shares his
40:03
imminent death. If you want to go back to the
40:05
Old Testament, Moses gave one of these in Deuteronomy 31.
40:09
Christ gave his farewell sermon at the Last Supper in John 12
40:13
through 17. Paul gave it in Acts chapter 20.
40:17
Lehigh gives it in second Nephi chapters one to four.
40:20
King Benjamin gives it in Mosiah chapter 2 through 5.
40:23
You know they're all over Scripture, so let's make sure we
40:26
take the time to look at this as a beautiful sculpture text that
40:31
is very carefully stated. Let's dive into chapter one,
40:35
verse one, Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus
40:40
Christ to them who have obtained like precious faith.
40:45
So he's saying, I'm going to be now writing not to those that
40:48
are in needing milk, but I'm writing to those who have
40:51
received a witness of the faith like I have.
40:54
And he called himself a servant once again.
40:57
And I want to just remind you that Christ came as a servant.
41:00
He came as the suffering servant.
41:02
The word servant is the same word a slave.
41:04
Apostolos is 1 sent out, so he uses this beautiful title as a
41:08
servant of God sent out from God from chapter one, verse 3 to
41:12
verse 11. He talks all about making your
41:15
calling an election. Sure, I'll read from the BYU and
41:18
our translation. This divine power has bestowed
41:22
upon us all things that will lead us to eternal life.
41:26
He has called us to His own glory.
41:30
Verse four God has given us the most expansive and honorable
41:34
promise so that through these things you might share in the
41:38
divine nature. Now we use that word divine
41:41
nature in the restoration starting in early days of young
41:45
women and young men as as that we all possess a divine nature.
41:50
But that is not how it's used in scripture.
41:53
Whenever it is used in the New Testament, the divine nature is
41:58
God. It's Jesus Christ.
42:00
The divine nature is our Savior and we only share in that when
42:06
we are following him. We have a natural man as our
42:09
tendencies here on earth. But when we come unto Christ, he
42:13
has invited us to become joint heirs and share with His divine
42:17
nature. I think it's really beautiful,
42:20
Chapter one, verse five in the BSB reads for this very reason.
42:24
Make every effort to add to your faith.
42:26
So he's saying, if you want to make your calling election,
42:29
sure, you've got to build on these building blocks of faith.
42:32
And then he lists the seven great virtues.
42:35
I want to read these 7 virtues in many different translations.
42:38
So we have virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness,
42:42
kindness, and charity. Those are all the King James.
42:44
But as you read them in other translations, you can see how it
42:47
builds towards a life of consecration.
42:51
We're talking about goodness and moral Excellency, worthiness and
42:55
virtue. Knowledge is spiritual
42:58
knowledge. In Greek, it's talking about
43:00
knowing. Wisdom and temperance is also
43:03
translated as self-control. Perseverance is patience or
43:07
endurance or tenacious endurance.
43:10
In the new rendition, when we talk about godliness, we're
43:13
talking about either piety or a consecration.
43:16
It's talking about holiness here, and kindness is mutual
43:20
affection or concern for others. And then of course, charity is
43:25
love or the love of Christ. You know, these are the virtues
43:28
that every day, every day do we practice these virtues like we
43:33
practice our physical fitness or our diet or our studies.
43:37
You know, I feel like this is what we should be studying.
43:39
And he says in verse nine in the BYU translation of the new
43:43
rendition, if these things are not present in any person, that
43:48
person is blind, myopic, forgetting the atoning of his
43:53
sins from the foundation of the world.
43:56
You know the Lord has prepared the way.
43:58
Let us focus on this and strive for it.
44:01
Don't be satisfied with just taking the sacrament, strive to
44:05
become holy. As he talks about seeking Our
44:09
Calling the election made sure in verse 10.
44:11
I'd like to read again from the BYU and our translation.
44:14
Do everything necessary to ensure your calling and
44:18
election. If you want to read more about
44:19
that, Joseph Myth recorded it in section 131 and 132, and I've
44:24
got all those in my hand out and on our slides.
44:27
But Joseph also spoke about this in sermons, and I'd like to read
44:30
this one from as soon as they got up to Nabu.
44:33
It's still called commerce, actually.
44:34
Then one of his scribes recorded this.
44:37
After a person had faith in Christ, repent of his sins, and
44:41
is baptized for the remission of his sins, and receives the Holy
44:44
Ghost by the laying on of hands, which is the first Comforter.
44:48
Then let him continue to humble himself before God, hungry and
44:52
thirsty, after righteousness and living by every word of God.
44:55
When the Lord has thoroughly proved him, and finds that this
44:59
man is determined to serve him at all hazards, then this man
45:04
will find his calling and election Sure.
45:08
And remember, the Saints had just gone through all the
45:10
persecution of first upstate New York in Kirtland, in Missouri,
45:16
and then in Quincy, and they were welcomed in and now they're
45:21
starting the malaria challenges. They had been challenged and
45:25
challenged and challenged and the refining fire was working.
45:29
So when bad things happened to you, just remember back in
45:31
history. Remember to this beautiful
45:34
sermon by our Prophet Joseph saying the refining is to
45:37
prepare you for your calling and election, continuing on in verse
45:41
11. In that same translation, in
45:42
this rich and abundant way, entrance into the eternal
45:46
Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be added upon
45:51
you. And then in verse 13 and 14 he
45:53
refers to our body as a tent. I think it is right as long as I
45:58
am in this tent of flesh to awaken you in covenant
46:02
remembrance. For I know that very soon I will
46:07
set aside my tent just as our Lord has made plain to me.
46:11
So it sounds as if Peter has had a vision or an understanding
46:14
that he is soon going to die, and that's why this is what we
46:18
call the Last Will and Testament.
46:20
Chapter one, verse 19. We have also a more sure word of
46:24
prophecy. Now in the Doctrine Covenant,
46:27
section 131, Joseph Smith is taught that this phrase from the
46:30
New Testament, the more sure word of prophecy, does not just
46:34
mean more prophecy. It is a code word for one's
46:38
calling an election. It is receiving your exaltation,
46:41
and Joseph taught more on that in another sermon.
46:43
But this was a little bit later. This is 1842 to 1843.
46:47
Though they might hear the voices of God and know that
46:51
Jesus is the Son of God, this would be no evidence that their
46:55
election and calling was made sure that they had part with
46:58
Christ. That they were joint heirs with
47:00
Him. That they would want that more
47:02
sure word of prophecy, that they were sealed to the heavens and
47:06
had the promise of eternal life in the Kingdom of God.
47:09
And then having this promise sealed unto them, it was an
47:14
anchor to the soul. Sure and steadfast, they say
47:18
even if you've seen the Lord, Joseph says even if you had all
47:20
these blessings, that doesn't mean that you're that you have
47:24
received the permanent sealing. The more sure word of prophecy
47:28
you're calling an election that comes after that is an
47:32
ordinance. Verse 20 has some additions from
47:35
the Joseph Smith translation, so I'll read from that JST knowing
47:39
this first that no prophecy of the scripture is given of any
47:45
private will of man. Now in the KJV it says private
47:49
interpretation, but that word is mentioned 113 times in the New
47:53
Testament and it never has this private interpretation as the
47:56
translation. It's usually 77 times.
47:59
It's translated as in his own, like his own country in his own
48:03
language or his own voice. So Joseph Smith's change there,
48:07
the Will of Man is is more accurate with the with the
48:09
Greek. Remember at this time though,
48:12
there's no scriptures of any private interpretation, but
48:15
there's no closed Canon. Even the Old Testament isn't
48:19
closed. Whenever the word scripture is
48:21
referenced, they're usually referring to the Old Testament
48:23
writings, but it's much larger than the Old Testament that we
48:25
have now. The rabbis closed the Old
48:29
Testament Canon after the 4th century.
48:32
Christians closed their Canon because they were worried about
48:36
people coming in and changing things.
48:38
Then the Judaic family closed their Canon as well.
48:43
If you want to read more on what scripture was, check Moses
48:46
chapter 6, verse 8 Doctrine Cabinet, Sexton 68 and verse
48:50
three and four and section 121, verse 43.
48:54
The Essenes believe that scripture was basically the
48:57
principles that prophecy was from God and we've got lots on
49:00
that and those all come from the time period of the New
49:03
Testament. Second Peter, chapter 2, then
49:06
for the 1st 22 verses all talk about these false teachers.
49:09
It's all warnings, he says in verse one.
49:12
In the BYU new rendition, there also came false prophets among
49:16
the people of Israel, just as false teachers will intrude
49:21
among you. And then he gives a whole bunch
49:23
of warnings in verses one through verses 4.
49:26
They're going to create factions, they're going to deny
49:28
the Redeemer. They're going to be brutal,
49:29
they're going to be covetous. They're going to exploit the
49:31
Christians as merchandise. You know, he just keeps going on
49:35
and on, and in verses 4 to 22 he says, but God will not spare
49:41
them or you. And he talks about the judgement
49:43
and the punishments that are going to come.
49:45
And he refers in verse 4 to this pre mortal war with Lucifer and
49:49
the fallen angels. But no other Christian
49:51
interprets it that way. You know this all came because
49:54
of the restoration. We are so blessed to have living
49:57
prophets, especially Joseph Smith who restored so much for
50:01
us. He talks about Noah's generation
50:03
and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and they were destroyed
50:07
and then he likens them to his day and age.
50:09
Verse nine, he says in the NIV. If this is so, then the Lord
50:14
knows how to rescue the godly from trials and hold the
50:17
unrighteous of punishment on the day of judgment.
50:20
Just like Noah was saved and Lot was saved.
50:23
You will be saved if you maintain your closeness, he
50:26
continues on in verse 21. In the NIV it would have been
50:29
better for them, and he's talking about those who had
50:32
received their covenants. But then they don't want to be
50:35
killed, so they deny Christ so that they can avoid going to the
50:38
lion's den or whatever. It would have been better for
50:41
them not to have known the way of righteousness than to have
50:45
known it, and then to turn their backs on that sacred command.
50:49
And then he goes on and quotes from Proverbs 26 about the dog
50:54
returning to his vomit with such a gross image.
50:58
But that's how he feels. He's begging the Saints to hold
51:01
true even in times of challenge and that's why he said this is
51:04
so applicable to our day and age.
51:06
You know if you can follow the prophet, you will be able to
51:10
maintain the covenant that is needed to see the Lord to come
51:15
unto Christ and to be perfected in him.
51:18
Continuing it on in Second Peter chapter 3, verse one and two, in
51:21
that same BYU new rendition it reads Now this Beloved ones,
51:26
this is the second letter. Note here that he says beloved
51:29
ones, they've got the gender right.
51:30
This is to all members of the Church.
51:32
Christianity was completely different than Judaism in this
51:35
regard that you may remember the words which were foretold by the
51:39
holy prophets. And then skipping down a little
51:41
bit it says and the Lord and the Savior issued by the apostles.
51:45
He's begging them to say Christ is leading His church still
51:49
follow it. Verse 3 to 4 continues on in the
51:52
Joseph Smith translation. Knowing this first that in the
51:56
last days there shall come scoffers and then skipping a
52:00
little bit, he says denying the Lord Jesus Christ and saying
52:04
where is the promise of his coming.
52:06
And then he explains now in verse 4, all things must
52:11
continue as they are and have continued as they are from the
52:15
beginning of the creation. He's saying don't worry that
52:18
Christ isn't coming. As soon as you thought.
52:20
I probably thought he was wrong, Peter thought he was wrong.
52:23
But Peter goes on now, talks about the second coming and
52:25
gives it a much broader sense. In verses 8 through 13 he starts
52:31
talking about what 1000 years is, but concerning the coming of
52:35
the Lord. Beloved, I would not have you
52:38
ignorant in this one thing. The one day with the Lord is
52:43
1000 years, and the Lord is not slack concerning his promise and
52:47
coming. So don't think that the Lord has
52:49
forgotten you. And we don't need to use the
52:52
word 1000 as literally one more than 999 because 1000 was their
52:56
largest number in the ancient world.
52:59
So that's why it's always 10s of thousands or hundreds of
53:02
thousands, 'cause they don't have the word million or billion
53:05
or trillion, you know, they don't have Infinity.
53:08
So that's what they use, you know, this is just the meaning
53:11
of the largest number they had. Continuing on in the Joseph
53:14
Smith translation in verse 12 and 13, he reads, looking unto
53:17
and preparing for the day of the coming of the Lord, wherein the
53:23
corruptible things of the heavens being a fire, shall be
53:26
dissolved then. Skipping to verse 13
53:29
Nevertheless, if we shall endure, we shall be kept
53:34
according to his promise. And remember whether we're
53:36
joining the Saints on earth at Christ's second coming or if
53:39
we're joining with the Saints from heaven coming down at
53:42
Christ's. Summing, If we have kept our
53:45
faith, we will be able to join with those who worship him.
53:49
Verses 14 to 18 now are Peter's farewell.
53:52
And he says, consider also that our Lord's patience in bringing
53:55
salvation. Just as our beloved brother Paul
53:59
also wrote to you with the wisdom that God gave him.
54:03
He's written in a way that's hard to understand.
54:05
You know, this is really surprising to me.
54:08
This is verse 15 in the BSB translation in the beginning of
54:12
chapter 16, verse 8. But I'm just thrilled that Peter
54:15
is calling Paul a beloved brother and he's saying his
54:18
records are being recorded. I think by this time they're
54:22
calling the writings of the apostles scripture.
54:25
And he's saying, read Paul's letters, read my letters, hold
54:29
on to these things, and nurture up in your heart a testimony of
54:32
Jesus Christ. Because the coming destruction
54:35
is serious and we need to prepare for it.
54:38
And I believe that we can cut short this destruction by living
54:43
righteously as Joseph Smith prophesied and as John
54:46
prophesied. And next week we will read of
54:49
those prophecies in the in the epistles of John and in the
54:53
revelations of John. May God bless you in your
54:55
scripture study. I pray in the name of RV Teemer
55:00
Jesus Christ, Amen.