Benefits of Worshiping the True God

We are reminded that to worship the One True Lord is to our benefit. In contrast, it is pointless to worship idols made from our hands. It is futile to worship the idols and they only take our attention away from the True God. Besides idols, it is also pointless to worship animals and beast which are also creation of God.



Wisdom 15  (RSVCE)
Benefits of Worshiping the True God
15 But thou, our God, art kind and true,
patient, and ruling all things[a] in mercy.
2 For even if we sin we are thine, knowing thy power;
but we will not sin, because we know that we are accounted thine.
3 For to know thee is complete righteousness,
and to know thy power is the root of immortality.
4 For neither has the evil intent of human art misled us,
nor the fruitless toil of painters,
a figure stained with varied colors,
5 whose appearance arouses yearning in fools,
so that they desire[b] the lifeless form of a dead image.
6 Lovers of evil things and fit for such objects of hope[c]
are those who either make or desire or worship them.

The Foolishness of Worshiping Clay Idols
7 For when a potter kneads the soft earth
and laboriously molds each vessel for our service,
he fashions out of the same clay
both the vessels that serve clean uses
and those for contrary uses, making all in like manner;
but which shall be the use of each of these
the worker in clay decides.
8 With misspent toil, he forms a futile god from the same clay—
this man who was made of earth a short time before
and after a little while goes to the earth from which he was taken,
when he is required to return the soul that was lent him.
9 But he is not concerned that he is destined to die
or that his life is brief,
but he competes with workers in gold and silver,
and imitates workers in copper;
and he counts it his glory that he molds counterfeit gods.
10 His heart is ashes, his hope is cheaper than dirt,
and his life is of less worth than clay,
11 because he failed to know the one who formed him
and inspired him with an active soul
and breathed into him a living spirit.
12 But he[d] considered our existence an idle game,
and life a festival held for profit,
for he says one must get money however one can, even by base means.
13 For this man, more than all others, knows that he sins
when he makes from earthy matter fragile vessels and graven images.

14 But most foolish, and more miserable than an infant,
are all the enemies who oppressed thy people.
15 For they thought that all their heathen idols were gods,
though these have neither the use of their eyes to see with,
nor nostrils with which to draw breath,
nor ears with which to hear,
nor fingers to feel with,
and their feet are of no use for walking.
16 For a man made them,
and one whose spirit is borrowed formed them;
for no man can form a god which is like himself.
17 He is mortal, and what he makes with lawless hands is dead,
for he is better than the objects he worships,
since[e] he has life, but they never have.

Serpents in the Desert
18 The enemies of thy people[f] worship even the most hateful animals,
which are worse than all others, when judged by their lack of intelligence;
19 and even as animals they are not so beautiful in appearance that one would desire them,
but they have escaped both the praise of God and his blessing.

Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom

This seems to be a prayer of Solomon in his younger years, probably when he first became king of Israel. Solomon recognises God is the creator and the references to creation are very consistent with that in Genesis. He prays to God for wisdom to rule the nation and people because he knows that is what he needs. It also seems that Solomon is asking not just mere mortal wisdom "For the reasoning of mortals is worthless", but for a supernatural kind of wisdom that surpasses conventional wisdom. The reference made about the holy spirit may suggest perhaps Solomon knew about Him.


Wisdom 9  (NRSV)
Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom
9 "O God of my ancestors and Lord of mercy,
who have made all things by your word,
2 and by your wisdom have formed humankind
to have dominion over the creatures you have made,
3 and rule the world in holiness and righteousness,
and pronounce judgment in uprightness of soul,
4 give me the wisdom that sits by your throne,
and do not reject me from among your servants.
5 For I am your servant[a] the son of your serving girl,
a man who is weak and short-lived,
with little understanding of judgment and laws;
6 for even one who is perfect among human beings
will be regarded as nothing without the wisdom that comes from you.
7 You have chosen me to be king of your people
and to be judge over your sons and daughters.
8 You have given command to build a temple on your holy mountain,
and an altar in the city of your habitation,
a copy of the holy tent that you prepared from the beginning.
9 With you is wisdom, she who knows your works
and was present when you made the world;
she understands what is pleasing in your sight
and what is right according to your commandments.
10 Send her forth from the holy heavens,
and from the throne of your glory send her,
that she may labor at my side,
and that I may learn what is pleasing to you.
11 For she knows and understands all things,
and she will guide me wisely in my actions
and guard me with her glory.
12 Then my works will be acceptable,
and I shall judge your people justly,
and shall be worthy of the throne[b] of my father.
13 For who can learn the counsel of God?
Or who can discern what the Lord wills?
14 For the reasoning of mortals is worthless,
and our designs are likely to fail;
15 for a perishable body weighs down the soul,
and this earthy tent burdens the thoughtful[c] mind.
16 We can hardly guess at what is on earth,
and what is at hand we find with labor;
but who has traced out what is in the heavens?
17 Who has learned your counsel,
unless you have given wisdom
and sent your holy spirit from on high?
18 And thus the paths of those on earth were set right,
and people were taught what pleases you,
and were saved by wisdom.”

Exhortation to Uprightness

In many ways this chapter in Wisdom sounds similar to the Book of Proverbs. However there are slight language variance even for the untrained linguist which may point to a different author for these two books. This chapter looks at righteousness and our relationship with God. It describes the consequences of unrighteousness and contrast it with the rewards from righteous actions.




Wisdom 1 (NRSVCE)
Exhortation to Uprightness
1 Love righteousness, you rulers of the earth,
think of the Lord in goodness
and seek him with sincerity of heart;
2 because he is found by those who do not put him to the test,
and manifests himself to those who do not distrust him.
3 For perverse thoughts separate people from God,
and when his power is tested, it exposes the foolish;
4 because wisdom will not enter a deceitful soul,
or dwell in a body enslaved to sin.
5 For a holy and disciplined spirit will flee from deceit,
and will leave foolish thoughts behind,
and will be ashamed at the approach of unrighteousness.

6 For wisdom is a kindly spirit,
but will not free blasphemers from the guilt of their words;
because God is witness of their inmost feelings,
and a true observer of their hearts, and a hearer of their tongues.
7 Because the spirit of the Lord has filled the world,
and that which holds all things together knows what is said,
8 therefore those who utter unrighteous things will not escape notice,
and justice, when it punishes, will not pass them by.
9 For inquiry will be made into the counsels of the ungodly,
and a report of their words will come to the Lord,
to convict them of their lawless deeds;
10 because a jealous ear hears all things,
and the sound of grumbling does not go unheard.
11 Beware then of useless grumbling,
and keep your tongue from slander;
because no secret word is without result,[a]
and a lying mouth destroys the soul.

12 Do not invite death by the error of your life,
or bring on destruction by the works of your hands;
13 because God did not make death,
and he does not delight in the death of the living.
14 For he created all things so that they might exist;
the generative forces[b] of the world are wholesome,
and there is no destructive poison in them,
and the dominion[c] of Hades is not on earth.
15 For righteousness is immortal.

Life as the Ungodly See It
16 But the ungodly by their words and deeds summoned death;[d]
considering him a friend, they pined away
and made a covenant with him,
because they are fit to belong to his company.

Raphael reveals himself as one of God's seven angels

In this chapter, Raphael finally revealed that he is an angel of God. Before that, Tobit and Tobias thought he was a man whom they hired to journey with Tobias on his mission. During this mission, Raphael had fulfilled the main goal of helping recover the trust money, as well a many other things like showing how to cast out the demons around Sarah, healing Tobit and more. So they decided to give him half the treasures brought back by Tobias.

The angel revealed his identity and gave them advise to continue to praise God in all things. There is also some mention of almsgiving - that it is good to give alms than to hoard treasure for oneself. Jesus and the Old Testament have also taught about being generous. This chapter goes a bit further and says "almsgiving delivers from death, and it will purge away every sin". Perhaps this is the controversial part that resulted in this book not being canonized. For it is our Lord Jesus himself that can deliver us from death and purge away every sin by his sacrifice on the cross.

A lot more is also revealed about Raphael in this chapter. He is one of seven of God's angels who presents the prayers from people to God. Raphael mentions that he heard the prayers of Tobit and Sarah, and also recognize the good deeds such as Tobit burying the dead without hesitation, at the beginning of this book.






Tobit 12:  Raph′ael’s Wages
Tobit then called his son Tobi′as and said to him, “My son, see to the wages of the man who went with you; and he must also be given more.” 2 He replied, “Father, it would do me no harm to give him half of what I have brought back. 3 For he has led me back to you safely, he cured my wife, he obtained the money for me, and he also healed you.” 4 The old man said, “He deserves it.” 5 So he called the angel and said to him, “Take half of all that you two have brought back.”

Raph′ael’s Exhortation
6 Then the angel[a] called the two of them privately and said to them: “Praise God and give thanks to him; exalt him and give thanks to him in the presence of all the living for what he has done for you. It is good to praise God and to exalt his name, worthily declaring the works of God. Do not be slow to give him thanks. 7 It is good to guard the secret of a king, but gloriously to reveal the works of God. Do good, and evil will not overtake you. 8 Prayer is good when accompanied by fasting, almsgiving, and righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than much with wrongdoing. It is better to give alms than to treasure up gold. 9 For almsgiving delivers from death, and it will purge away every sin. Those who perform deeds of charity[b] and of righteousness will have fulness of life; 10 but those who commit sin are the enemies of their own lives.

Raph′ael Discloses His Identity
11 “I will not conceal anything from you. I have said, ‘It is good to guard the secret of a king, but gloriously to reveal the works of God.’ 12 And so, when you and your daughter-in-law Sarah prayed, I brought a reminder of your prayer before the Holy One; and when you buried the dead, I was likewise present with you. 13 When you did not hesitate to rise and leave your dinner in order to go and lay out the dead, your good deed was not hidden from me, but I was with you. 14 So now God sent me to heal you and your daughter-in-law Sarah. 15 I am Raph′ael, one of the seven holy angels who present the prayers of the saints and enter into the presence of the glory of the Holy One.”

16 They were both alarmed; and they fell upon their faces, for they were afraid. 17 But he said to them, “Do not be afraid; you will be safe. But praise God for ever. 18 For I did not come as a favor on my part, but by the will of our God. Therefore praise him for ever. 19 All these days I merely appeared to you and did not eat or drink, but you were seeing a vision. 20 And now give thanks to God, for I am ascending to him who sent me. Write in a book everything that has happened.” 21 Then they stood up; but they saw him no more. 22 So they confessed the great and wonderful works of God, and acknowledged that the angel of the Lord had appeared to them.

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us

2 Corinthians 5:21
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

It was God the Father's will that the Son Yshua went to the cross and paid the price of since for mankind. Yshua obeyed His Father's will and went to the cross. We are saved because of what He has done and by obeying Him as our Lord. Those who chose not to believe are still living in disobedience and hence are not saved.

Instruments of righteousness to God

Romans 6:13
And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

We are only instruments of righteousness to God because we are made righteous by the blood of Yshua. We can never achieve that state of righteousness on our own and thus we can never be acceptable to God by our own efforts. But now that we are made righteous by the blood, we can present ourselves as holy, only then, we begin in the journey with God.

2 Corinthians 5:21
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Our Lord Yshua took our place and became the sin for us. That is the individual sin of rebellion and disobedient nature in us. It is not about the wrong things that we do in many instances in our lives. Only God who is perfect Himself can be the perfect sacrifice. We cannot redeem ourselves - someone had to do it for us. The power of Yshua's work on the cross must be accepted by us and lived by us, not just knowing about it.

Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees

Matthew 5:20
For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

Our Lord draws a comparison of righteousness with that of the Pharisees, more as a contrast that their type of righteousness should be avoided. This also means Yshua knows that believers can achieve a higher level of righteousness than the Pharisees. The way to achieve this is not by following rules and regulations, but by being a follower of Yshua. Our Lord's kind of righteousness is more than actions, it includes our motives and thoughts. We cannot achieve this just by obeying His laws, instead he changes our heredity from sinful Adam to perfect Yshua.

But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption

1 Corinthians 1:30
But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption

The Scripture says that when believers are in Christ, He becomes sanctification for us. That means that we don't need to try and be sanctified, but when we live in Him, we are sanctified. It is His sanctification that will be given to us. So again, it is not through our own efforts to achieve sanctification, rather we allow Christ to be in our lives and so we receive His sanctification. A commentator said that this is not about imitating Yshua, because we can never be like Him, but letting His perfect qualities exhibit in us.

Seek first the kingdom of God

Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you

This may be one of the most important principles taught by our Lord Yshua. We are to put the Kingdom of God before all other cares in our lives. This is a broad principle because it covers everything in life. No question that it is important to make a living and care for other people or things. However the first and foremost is the Kingdom of God. Furthermore, if we get this priority right, God will assist us in other matters in life. The argument is that God takes care of all the little things in His creation and He will no doubt take care of the most important of all His creation - us.

You are that one’s slaves whom you obey

Romans 6:16
Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?


The word slaves and obey are not exactly liked in popular literature. In particular slaves have a negative association about human rights. However, Paul used the word slaves to refer as being totally surrendered to the one or the thing that we are obeying. We can be slaves to various earthly things, slave to ourselves or slaves to God, as indicated by our obedience to any of these.

Only one of the above options is beneficial to us, that is obeying God and being a slave to Him. In fact this is the most liberating of all, since only in obeying God, can the slavery to all other addictions be broken.

A deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him

Genesis 15:12
Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him.

This event was during the time when God sealed the covenant with Abraham. Various promises had already been given to Abraham at various times. During this event, God sealed the covenant in a ceremonial fashion. God himself passed through the between the sacrificial animals while Abraham was not physically involved. Perhaps this also highlights Yshua's work at the cross, and our faith is believing in His promises. In this specific event, God reiterated the promise of land.

Clouds and darkness surround Him

Psalm 97:2
Clouds and darkness surround Him;
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.

1 John 1:5
This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.

Why does darkness surrounds God (as mentioned in the Psalm verse) while Jesus revealed that God is light (as mentioned in 1 John). There is not even one bit of darkness in God. How can God have darkness while His Glory shines so remarkably, as mentioned in so many places in Scripture?

So the darkness mentioned in Psalm is not of God, but that which surrounds Him and hides Him from His creation. It could be the darkness represented by His enemies, or the lack of knowledge / relationship that we have with God. In any case, this darkness separates us from God.

While this darkness is hiding the glory of God from us, the psalm emphasizes that righteousness and justice are still upheld by God and thus still need to be practiced and valued by us. The thicker the cloud and darkness, the harder it is for us to practice the righteousness and justice.

It is through our Lord Yshua, who reveals that He is the Light, that we are able to see the Glory of God through the Son. When we know Jesus, we see God's light and we follow it. Hence by faith, righteousness and justice follows because we are focused on the true Light.

If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father

John summarises a few of the key principles of following Jesus the Christ. Firstly, to know Jesus is to keep His commandments. We cannot be following Jesus and violating His commandments at the same time. To be in the light of Jesus means we would love each other. If we still hate our brothers, we are still in darkness. We cannot love the world and love God together. Loving the world means giving in to the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and pride of life which are not from God.

John changes the topic to warnings about the last days, where there would be many false teachers. In fact John stated that there were also false teachers in his time, and they may have join the group of believers initially. The antichrist is described as him who denies that Jesus is the Christ.

Finally John encourages us to keep close to the Word, so that we can continue to live in Christ. Although there are false teachers, those who belong to Yshua, have the Holy Spirit in them, who teaches them about the truth of God.



1 John 2

1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

The Test of Knowing Him

3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

7 Brethren,[a] I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning.[b] 8 Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining.

9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. 10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

Their Spiritual State

12 I write to you, little children,
    Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.
13 I write to you, fathers,
    Because you have known Him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
    Because you have overcome the wicked one.
I write to you, little children,
    Because you have known the Father.
14 I have written to you, fathers,
    Because you have known Him who is from the beginning.
I have written to you, young men,
    Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you,
    And you have overcome the wicked one.


Do Not Love the World

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

Deceptions of the Last Hour

18 Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the[c] Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.

20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.[d] 21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

Let Truth Abide in You

24 Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.

26 These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. 27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will[e] abide in Him.

The Children of God

28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when[f] He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. 29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.

Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells

Peter warns of the Last Days when there will be more scoffers. These are people who would cast doubt on the prophecies of the End Times. They would say that the prophecies are untrue, since the earth is still continuing its path. They forget that the same happened in Noah's day, then the rain came. Then Peter declares that the next and final judgment would not be by water but by fire, consistent with other prophecies. The Lord is patient to wait a long time, but judgment will come.

When the Day of the Lord comes, the present heaven and earth will be destroyed by fire and replaced with a new heaven and earth. It will come as a surprise to some, like a thief in the night, and it will also come very quickly.

The things to do for believers, is to stand firm in the faith in Jesus and His promises which include the new heaven and earth among other things. We are to be diligent and live a blameless life as much as possible, and remember that the patience of God means salvation for many. We are also reminded to be careful of falling away, especially being led away by the wicked. Instead we are supposed to grow in our Lord Jesus.




2 Peter 3
God’s Promise Is Not Slack

1 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2 that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us,[a] the apostles of the Lord and Savior, 3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us,[b] not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

The Day of the Lord

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.[c] 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Be Steadfast

14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.

17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

No prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation

Peter teaches about growing in faith, from faith to virtue, to knowledge, to self-control, to perseverance, to godliness, to brotherly kindness and finally to love. We should check that these are present because if they are, then we can be useful in spreading the gospel of Christ. If we don't have these, we may forget that we have been cleansed from sin. If we have these virtues, then we will be less likely to stumble.

Peter reminds us that he was an eyewitness to the glory of Yshua, such as during the Transfiguration where God spoke in an audible voice and commended Yshua. This exaltation of Christ had been prophetic and became reality. Other prophecies will also be true and can be assessed by various sources. The reason is that prophecies are from God, the Holy Spirit, and can be confirmed by interpretation from others.

righteousness, faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, love, Jesus Christ, blindness, Lord, Majesty, Excellent Glory, Scripture, prophecy, Holy Spirit,



2 Peter 1
Greeting the Faithful

1 Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Fruitful Growth in the Faith

5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Peter’s Approaching Death

12 For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. 13 Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, 14 knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. 15 Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease.

The Trustworthy Prophetic Word

16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.

19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed,[a] which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation,[b] 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God[c] spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

Speaking to believers, Peter urged us to lay aside malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, evil talk and instead to grow in maturity. This indicates that believers are still like non-believers in terms of having unholy thoughts and desires, in other words believers are not perfected just yet. However, like Jesus, although we are rejected by the world, we are precious to God like precious stones. In addition believers are considered as a royal priesthood.

Although faced with the same temptations and lusts as other people, believers are called to abstain from the unholy things. This is so that the accusers will be silenced by the conduct of the believers if they cannot find faults. This may even lead non-believers to recognize God and glorify Him.


God's people are called to submit to the civil authorities because that is the will of God. The authorities are put in place by God to punish evildoers. Believers are free but they are servants of God. The advice is the same for believers toward their masters. In fact, we are called to accept unjust suffering at the hands of our masters because this is commendable to God and is what Yshua had went through in order to redeem us.






1 Peter 2

1 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,[a] 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

The Chosen Stone and His Chosen People

4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,

“Behold, I lay in Zion
A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”[b]
7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,[c]

“The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone,”[d]
8 and

“A stone of stumbling
And a rock of offense.”[e]
They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

Living Before the World

11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Submission to Government

13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— 16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

Submission to Masters

18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. 19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us,[f] leaving us[g] an example, that you should follow His steps:

22 “Who committed no sin,
Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; [h]
23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer[i] of your souls.

The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body

The main part of this Scripture talks about the tongue and its destructive power. The tongue is only an organ, it is the actual speech that is destructive, but the tongue is used here as a symbol. The power of the tongue is compared to the bridle that controls the horse, the rudder that controls the ships. It is also like a little fire that starts a forest fire, it cannot me tamed by man, it can be used for cursing just after blessing. However, using the tongue in such contradictory fashion makes the person unfruitful.

The second part talks about godly wisdom. This kind of wisdom is pure and will bring peace, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits







James 3
The Untamable Tongue

1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. 3 Indeed,[a] we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.

See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.[b]

Heavenly Versus Demonic Wisdom

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only

This chapter first warns against partiality or treating some better than others, especially if we think we can take advantage of certain relationship like being nice with rich people. The Scripture here clearly calls this a sin and is no lesser than the sin of adultery or murder. So we are to love our brethren no matter what their social statur is, and to show mercy to others.

The second part of this Scripture is the well known topic about "faith without works" is dead. The example that still applies today is that telling someone, who is starving for food, about the gospel is not much use. Jesus shows the example that whereever he preaches, he cares for the people by healing, casting out evil or feeding them. Justification by works has been hotly debated. Perhaps the definition of works need to be clarified - this works is physical works but it does not mean working for salvation. Rather works comes from the exercise of faith such as the example of Abraham and Rahab. So it is true to say that justification is by faith and works, and that leads to salvation.

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James 2
Beware of Personal Favoritism

1 My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. 2 For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, 3 and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” 4 have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? 7 Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?

8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,”[a] you do well; 9 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,”[b] also said, “Do not murder.”[c] Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

Faith Without Works Is Dead

14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your[d] works, and I will show you my faith by my[e] works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?[f] 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”[g] And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves

James is writing to an audience he addresses as the Twelve Tribes. This would not be the Twelve Tribes from the children of Israel / Jacob, since ten of those tribes have been lost. Or perhaps it could be a prophetic message as well, addressed to the original Twelve tribes when they will be found in the future. It is likely that the Twelve Tribes refer to the fruits of the Twelve disciples, most of whom have been dispersed from Jerusalem.

Wisdom is one of the things that God will give to whomever asks for it. The other advice about asking God, is to ask in faith and do not doubt that God will give. The rich and powerful are told to be humble, because their time on earth is limited like any other person.

Regarding temptation, when we endure through it, we will receive the crown of life from God. The temptations are not given by God because God does not tempt. Rather, temptation comes from our own desire and can lead to sin and finally leads to death. God, however, gives us good and perfect gifts because we are the firstfruits of His creatures.

Some of the advices given include: quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, put aside wickedness, receive the word, be doers of the word, control our tongue, care for the disadvantaged and doing all the good works without seeking attention to ourselves.




James 1
Greeting to the Twelve Tribes

1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad:

Greetings.

Profiting from Trials

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

The Perspective of Rich and Poor

9 Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, 10 but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. 11 For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.

Loving God Under Trials

12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. 18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.

Qualities Needed in Trials

19 So then,[a] my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Doers—Not Hearers Only

21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

26 If anyone among you[b] thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.