2 Peter (623b)
A Word more certain...

2 Peter says a remarkable amount about the word of God, about the Scriptures. In fact, one can easily claim that 2 Peter emphasizes the Scriptures. It is a wonderful book for our study, since a great need in our society is to emphasize the Bible.

We have just about forgotten the nature of knowledge and truth. Francis Schaeffer, in Escape from Reason (1968) spoke of this epistemological gap when he referenced a "theory of knowledge and the limits and validity of knowledge." When truth is viewed differently, God's word is viewed differently. When the rules for determining the validity of knowledge are changed, the underpinnings of God's word are altered.

There are two problems with the changing views of knowledge in our society and culture.

• 1. Recent generations have been taught that truth is relative. Not in the absolute sciences, although some have even questioned cognitive certainty, but especially in the areas of philosophy and religion. Thus two conflicting views can be right according to the views of many today.
  Add that the recent generation tends to be non-confrontational (tolerant). Thus many just accept anyone's view. This is not just the affirmation of the right to have a view, this is the acceptance of the correctness of everyone's view regardless of apparent conflicts. How can Jesus be the Son of God and not God? Many say it is simply that we interpret the Bible differently. Such views make 2 Peter as current as today's newspaper (1:19-21).
• 2. Many today believe that experience is the primary test of truth. If it feels good, if I feel good about my beliefs, if it works for you, it must be true. "You light up my life...it can't be wrong when it feels so right..." Such is classic baby boom epistemology. But it is wrong, even it if feels good and sounds right.
  Bible truth is absolute, Acts 4:12. When we reject absolute truth, we reject the Bible and turn our back on logic as well. The principle of contradiction is the major basis for rational thought. Something cannot be true and false at the same time. Contradictory thoughts cannot both be rational, although both can be irrational. Consider morality: if God intended sexual relations for marriage only, adultery must be wrong. Jesus is either God or he is not.

In a world rejecting rational thinking, we need the message of 2 Peter to avoid moral anarchy. This is the thrust of 2 Peter 2. Here we can see the ultimate destination and application.

Alan Bloom, Closing of American Mind, relativism does not open the mind to new truths, but only closes it to old traditional ones. The greatest fear today is not error but intolerance. And he wrote that in 1968.

The nature of the Bible is based in the nature of God.