The kingdom of heaven. 1. God’s act for the kingdom v. 1 - 4 2. Man’s strife for the kingdom v. 5 – 11 3. Assurance of the eternal kingdom First: It does not need assurance v. 12 – 15 Second: Transfiguration testifies for it v. 16 – 18 Third: The prophets testify for it v. 19 – 21 1. God’s Act for the Kingdom “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.” (v. 1) This introduction is different from the first epistle: First: he mentioned his first name “Simon” with the name the Lord Jesus called him “Peter”. Second: He called himself a bondservant, stating the truth of his position toward the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Third: Since he talks about the kingdom of heaven and the Second Coming of the Lord, therefore, he starts by saying that it is direct toward “those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of the our God and Savior Jesus Christ.” Here we notice the following: 1. He did not say “to the pilgrims of the Dispersion…” as mentioned in the First Epistle, where he talks about the sufferings and tribulations, so he reminds them of their pilgrimage. But here he talks to “those who have obtained like precious faith”, for this is the road of the kingdom. 2. It was hard for them to realize that the faith delivered to the Gentiles is equal to their faith, therefore, he ascertained “like precious faith”. 3. Lest the reader may think that the kingdom is only for the apostles and the disciples, he confirmed that the precious faith is equal to the apostles by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ, so no one has credit for the salvation. 4. He does not say “Our Savior”, but “Savior”, clarifying that the Lord Jesus came to save the entire human race. “Grace and peace be multiplied to you” (v. 2): refer to First Peter 1: 2. “In the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. ” (v. 2): The conditions of enjoying the grace of our Lord Jesus and His true peace is the divine knowledge, not the mere intellectual knowledge but also the practical. Therefore, Father Nestore 2 asks us to heed the practical knowledge and not just mere knowledge. He said: [It is impossible for an impure soul, no matter how her desires are for reading, to gain the spiritual knowledge, for no one can pour a good ointment or delicious honey in a dirty container, for the dirty, smelly container can ruin what is poured inside. The pure container is more affected by what is poured in it.] 1 Refer to the interpretation of St. James 1 : 1 (p. 10,11) 2 John Kassian # 14: 14 2 This true knowledge carries eternal life, for the Lord said: “This is eternal life that they may know You, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (John 17: 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 to glory and virtue 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.” (v. 3, 4) St. Peter has pointed that: First: Those who are called to the kingdom: God has declared to us His deep love for He called everyone a general call to the eternal inheritance, for he is “the Savior”, offering us free and precious faith, without any partiality. (v. 1) This precious faith is neither for a certain people nor for a specific race, but God offered it “by the righteousness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who paid a precious price on the cross for it, His blood! Second: Calling for glory and virtue: The call is general and free, which means the unlimited love of God who calls us to be adorned with glory and virtue. We are called to be adorned with God and His virtues, for He is our glory. We are called to be united with Him and to follow His example, so we may obtain the love of God, His holiness, His patience and endurance, His meekness and simplicity. That is why he said, “to be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” Since we are in the world, how can we escape the corruption? By our unity with the Holy God and by uniting with Him, then the corruption of the world cannot touch us. It is a precious calling that the rays of His divine attributes, like love, holiness and meekness, are reflected on us so we may resemble Him. (1 John 3:2, Matt 6:23) Third: The capabilities of the calling: What is the use of this precious calling, which is offered to us so we may obtain a heavenly glory and spiritual virtues if we cannot implement it? That is why St. Peter said: “His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness” St. Peter is saying that we have no excuse because God has granted us by His divine power all things that pertain to life and godliness, for He offered us: 1. A new and heavenly birth where we are born spiritually to resemble the Holy God. Father Hippolytus 3 said: [I plead to you to listen to me, I would like that you return to the fountain of life to see the Fountain full of healing. The Eternal Father sent His Son, His Eternal Word, to the world to wash man by water and spirit, so He restored to us the incorruptibility of the soul and body, breathed in us the breath of life, and supplied us with an incorruptible weapon. When man becomes eternal, he becomes a god. Being baptized by water and the Holy Spirit in the baptismal font and becoming a god, he becomes a partaker in the inheritance with Christ after his resurrection from the dead. (Rom. 8: 17) I preach this goal: come all you nations to eternity which is granted by baptism. I present you with good news, you who are walking in darkness! Come to freedom from 3 Hippolytus: Discourse of the Holy Theophany 8. 3 captivity, to the kingdom, you who are in darkness! Come to incorruption, you who are in corruption! One may wander: But how? By the water and the Holy Spirit. This is the water attached to the Spirit, by which the Paradise is watered and which the plants grow and the animals reproduce. To summarize in one word, man is born again and enjoys life.] 2. Consecrating all members, senses, emotions and instincts by the sacrament of Meyroon. 3. Washing our feet with the disciples by the pure hands of the Lord Jesus who proceeds us in the sacrament of penance and confession and washes us. 4. Abiding in Him and He in us through the sacrament of communion. 5. He granted us spiritual teachings for our growth, whereby the Spirit nurtures us in the church. 6. The spirit offers all what we need from fruits , earthly and spiritual blessings for our salvation. 2. Man’s strife for the kingdom The importance of strife for our salvation The Lord has presented us: 1. Precious faith by the righteousness of our Lord, without it we cannot cross to eternity. 2. Calling to glory and virtue. 3. Divine capabilities of life and godliness. Having these divine capabilities, is it possible that one will be saved without strife? We cannot be saved unless we participate in carrying the cross, not by our own selves but by the grace of God, the helper and the guide. How awesome is God’s love to make us bend and carry the cross with Him like Simon the Cyrean! St. Peter wrote: “But also for this reason, giving all diligence” (v. 5) , that is, for the sake of the eternal call or for your salvation, give all diligence. What are we diligent for? We are diligent as the Father sacrificed His Only Begotten Son, in the same manner, we sacrifice our son (that is anything favorable to us and we slay him to the Lord as Abraham offered Isaac. The road of struggle “Add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.” (v. 5,6 7) St. Peter is connecting all the virtues together, without stating them in a chronological order; for he does not say, “After your faith, add virtue”. All the church fathers ascertain that all virtues are interrelated with each other, without separation. 1. Virtue: St. Peter is asking us to add virtue to our faith so that our faith is not dead. 4 2. Knowledge: Whoever walks in the virtue without knowledge is like one walking without any goal; and whoever has knowledge without abiding in virtue becomes a proud talkative person. 5 3. Self-control: Whoever has practical knowledge is chaste toward sin and everything temporal, longing for the eternity. As self control is based on knowledge, it also supports knowledge. 4. Perseverance: Self control stemming from the love of heavenly matters gives one endurance so he may forsake everything willingly. Perseverance or endurance supports self control, for without perseverance, one cannot control himself. 5. Godliness: Enduring for the heavenly matters grants one godliness, that is, reverence and divine fear; and this godliness helps one so he may endure patiently. 6. Brotherly kindness: Whoever fears God treats his brothers with kindness and compassion, and this brotherly love fills the heart godliness and reverence. 7. Love: Whoever has love has obtained all virtues and there is no virtue without love. As much as the heart is widened with brotherly love, as much as one loves God; and as much as one loves God as much as one’s heart is widened to love people. St. Dorotheos 6 said: {Imagine rays or lines coming out of the center of a circle. As much as the lines are away from the center, as much as they are away from each other and the opposite is true. Suppose that this circle is the world and the center of the circle is God, and all the lines from the center to the circumference or from the circumference to the center are the ways of men, then we find that as much as the saints move inside the circle toward the center to come closer to God, the closer they get together. The importance of strife and the danger of not struggling: 1. “For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.” (v. 8) Struggling in the previous virtues and growing in them, we become very active and have a fruitful life. These fruits are a means to know our Lord Jesus Christ. That is why the church asks from the godmother to plant these virtues in the baptized baby, who is just coming out of the baptismal font watered by the Holy Spirit. 2. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.” (v. 9) Whoever is empty of these virtues is a blind person, without any spiritual enlightenment. He cannot realize how much he has lost of the purity of baptism. He is short sighted and sees only the earthly matters and forgets all God’s acts with him. 3. “Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble.” (10) Strife is essential to make the call and election sure, for without it, man stumbles like the blind and loses his call and election. 7 Lest anyone should despair, St. Peter continued: “For so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (v. 11) 5 Refer to the interpretation of James 2: 14 –25 (p. 41 –45) 6 Filokalia 176. 7 Refer to the interpretation of the First Epistle of St. John 5 The kingdom of God is wide open to anyone who struggles, for if we endure with Him, we will reign with Him also. (Tit. 2:12) His doors are wide open for He is generous and gives abundantly. 3. Assurance of the eternal kingdom First: It does not need a reminder: The subject of the kingdom is not new, but he is merely reminding them of it. “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. Yes, I think it is right as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. Moreover, I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease.” (12-15) St. Peter realized that he will soon depart from this world, as St. Ambrosios 8 related that the pagans were furious at St. Peter and wanted to kill him. The believers told him to escape from Rome. While he was leaving the gates of the city of Rome, the Lord Jesus appeared to him. St. Peter asked Him, “Where are you going, my Master?” The Lord Jesus answered, “To Rome to be crucified once more.”. St. Peter realized that the Lord Jesus wants him to be martyred. He went back and told that to the believers. He was imprisoned for nine months then he was crucified upside down, and they beheaded St. Paul at the same day. Realizing that he is about to depart from this world made him constantly to remind his children of their eternity? A believer is not tired from hearing the same reminder, but is eager to hear it as if it is the first time. St. Peter is asking them to remember this after his departure. Second: Transfiguration witnesses to His kingdom: “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.” (v. 16) Preaching the kingdom was not mere imagination on the part of the apostles but they have known and seen His majesty and power through His transfiguration and acts. St. Peter, with James and John, has seen the transfiguration, of which the Lord has said, “Assuredly I say to you that there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” (Matt. 16:28) St. John also has testified about what he has seen on the mountain of transfiguration. He said, “… And we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only Begotten of the Father full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) What has he realized on the mountain of transfiguration? “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.’ And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.” (v. 17,18) 1. His glory and honor, which He took from the Father, were revealed. He emptied Himself by His own free will, and He became a servant to accept the glory and honor from the hands of Father in complete obedience. This acceptance is not for Him, 8 Sermon 68 6 but it is acceptance of the entire human race in His person, so we may be partakers in His glory and honor. 2. The Father testifies that He is His Beloved Son in whom He is well pleased. They have heard it, and the testimony is built on two or three witnesses. 3. This voice was “from heaven”, for the glory of the Lord and His honor are not earthly but heavenly. 4. When the Lord was transfigured on the mountain, He made it holy. “We were with Him on the holy mountain.” Fourth: The prophets witness to Him: “And we have the prophetic word confirmed 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.” (v. 19) St. Peter, as a servant to the Jews, is concerned about the prophecies of the Old Testament. (1 Pet. 1:10-12, Acts 3:20, 21) These are the most correct testimonies because they are the testimonies of the prophecies from different times, and they all go around the incarnation of the Lord Jesus, His suffering, His crucifixion, His resurrection and His glorious Second Coming. St. Peter is praising them about their concern about studying the prophecies and examining them well. When they heed to these prophecies, they destroy all darkness and the Light of the morning star shines in the heart, that is, the Lord Jesus, and His dawn lights the darkness of the heart. “Knowing this first that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (v. 20, 21) The prophets have recorded their prophecies, not by their own personal efforts through their own interpretation, but they are like a harp moved by the hands of the Holy Spirit to produce sweet tune of the love of God declared in His incarnation, His death and resurrection and His Second Coming, so we may inherit with Him! St. Peter called them, “holy men”, for they are his harp, driven like a ship who is directed by a smart driver. That is what St. Peter said, “Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David …” (Acts 1:15) Father Hippolytus 9said: {It is said about the holy prophets that they are our eyes, for they have seen, through faith, the mysteries of the word, and became servants to these matters concerning the future generations. They speak, not only about past matters, but declare the present and the future. These prophets are nourished by the Holy Spirit and were honored by the Word Himself. They were like musical instruments and the word was like a plectrum, working in harmony. Since the Word (Christ) was urging them to declare the will of God, they did not speak of their own nor according to their desires.] 9 Hippolytus: Treatise on Christ and antichrist 2.
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