2 Peter 3 : The latest

2 Peter 3 September 2016

Second Peter 3: 9 September 2012

With Blogger/Google and my websites I can write on a subject more than once, but I cannot cause the latest related entry to be read the most.

It would be nice to think that the September 2012 entry receives more pageviews (apparently) because of my 'lovely' brief webcam appearances, but I will not assume so.

I would like to clarify my current leanings on the subject. I am learning as I research and write. I am less than dogmatic in regards to interpretation with 2 Peter 3, in a similar way to Hebrews 6 and related passages from James. I hope this suffices in the humility department.

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Second Peter 3:9 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

William Barclay takes the perspective that when the text is stating that God does not want any to perish, like Paul in Romans in certain verses (Barclay lists 11: 32) it is in the context of God shutting persons out to unbelief. Barclay (1976: 343).

Admittedly such an interpretation could read as in agreement with John 3: 16 from the Apostle John.

John 3:16 New American Standard Bible (NASB) 16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His [a]only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Footnotes: John 3:16 Or unique, only one of His kind

I stated in the September 30, 2012 article as 'You' is being addressed in (3), as in Christians: 'In context therefore, it is possible that Second Peter Chapter 3:9 is not directed to non-believers in regard to salvation but is directed to Christians in regard to repentance. It may be stating basically that the Lord is patient with you (Christians), not wishing for any of you to (perish/die) in a state of non-repentance.'

However: If this is indeed relating to the unregenerate, although written to Christians, Erickson is helpful.

Quote:

‘…God is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9), yet he apparently he does not actually will for us all to be saved, since not everyone is saved.’ (361).

Quote

‘We must distinguish between two different senses of God’s will, which we will refer to as God’s “wish” (will1) and God’s will (will2).’ (361).

Will1 is God’s general intention and Will2 is God’s specific intention.

Or it could be stated

Will1=God’s perfect will and Will2=God’s permissible will.

If it is God’s eternal permissible will to save only some, this does have biblical support.

There is the election of those predestined in Jesus Christ from Ephesians 1 and Romans 8.

God regenerates in Titus 3, persons in Jesus Christ being regenerated, also known as being born again (John 3). This is embraced secondarily by those in Jesus Christ as God is the primary cause. Human beings do not contribute to salvation but can embrace it.

From the book of Revelation only some within humanity are listed in the book of life, and a human being does not write his/her name in the book. Indeed it could be reasoned that at least in a permissible sense, God wills the predestination to salvation of only the elect.

Repentance and belief to/for human salvation for all of humanity may be a divine wish. It may or not be God's perfect will to save all. But I can admit in this entry, it could be God's perfect will in the sense that God wishes salvation for all (universalism) within his will. I am not dogmatic on this point.

But it definitely, biblically and theologically will not occur (Revelation 20-22). God's permissible will is what actually occurs and that is applied limited atonement and salvation for the elect in Christ, alone.

BARCLAY, WILLIAM (1976) The Letters of James and Peter, Philadelphia, The Westminster Press. 

ERICKSON, MILLARD (1994) Christian Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House. 

ERICKSON, MILLARD (2003) What Does God Know and When Does He Know It? Grand Rapids, Zondervan.

PAYNE. DAVID F.(1986) ‘2 Peter’, in F.F. Bruce, (ed.), The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Marshall Pickering/Zondervan.

Brief on slavery

The review

WALLACE TOM Jr. (2015) Refuting Islam, The Christian Patriots Guide to Exposing the Evils of Islam, Bellingham, Fundamental Publishers.

Mr. Wallace documents the historical practice of slavery in Islam. As noted Mr. Wallace reasons that the best English source for learning about Islam is not the Qu'ran, nor it is the Sunnah. (58). The author suggests a classic text on Islamic law titled Reliance of the Traveller (ROT). (58). See below his text on page 103 noting ROT o9.13 and o9.14.

Page 103

Mr. Wallace writes that rules on Islamic slavery are documented in Chapter Eight of the Qur'an. (103).

Some examples

The Noble Qur'an

Qur'an (8:69)

69. So enjoy what you have gotten of booty in war, lawful and good, and be afraid of Allah. Certainly, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Qur'an (33:50)

The Noble Qur'an

50. O Prophet (Muhammad)! Verily, We have made lawful to you your wives, to whom you have paid their Mahr (bridal money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage), and those (captives or slaves) whom your right hand possesses - whom Allah has given to you, and the daughters of your 'Amm (paternal uncles) and the daughters of your 'Ammah (paternal aunts) and the daughters of your Khal (maternal uncles) and the daughters of your Khalah (maternal aunts) who migrated (from Makkah) with you, and a believing woman if she offers herself to the Prophet, and the Prophet wishes to marry her; a privilege for you only, not for the (rest of) the believers. Indeed We know what We have enjoined upon them about their wives and those (captives or slaves) whom their right hands possess, - in order that there should be no difficulty on you. And Allah is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

The Noble Qur'an

Quran (23:5-6) - "..who abstain from sex, except with those joined to them in the marriage bond, or (the captives) whom their right hands possess..."

The Religion of Peace

The Religion of Peace website provides other examples from the Qur'an as well as the Hadith and Sira.

Quote

Islam neither ignores nor condemns slavery. In fact, a large part of the Sharia is dedicated to the practice. Muslims are encouraged to live in the way of Muhammad, who was a slave owner and trader. He captured slaves in battle; he had sex with his slaves; and he instructed his men to do the same. The Quran actually devotes more verses to making sure that Muslim men know they can keep women as sex slaves (4) than it does to telling them to pray five times a day (zero).
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Mr. Wallace has correctly opined that orthodox historical, scriptural Islam supports slavery in contexts.

Again, as with orthodox Islamic teaching in general, I am not stating that the majority of modern Muslims follow this orthodox teaching. Certainly a significant number of westernized Muslims will interpret such Islamic scriptures more liberally. One significant reason would be to avoid the negative impact of such views within the context of Western worldviews.

BBC

Cited

Abolition Muslims and the abolition of slavery Slavery remained part of the fabric of Islam for over 1200 years (although the Druze, a group that sprung from Muslim roots, abolished it in the 11th century). While slavery was in theory greatly limited by Islamic law, in practice it persisted on a large scale in Muslim lands.

Cited

Since slavery is permitted by Islamic law, Muslim countries have used secular law to ban it.

Titus 1: 10-14: New Testament versus philosophy of religion?

Crete from Lonely Planet

Titus 1:10-14

The Apostle Paul writing to Titus in regard to Crete:

New American Standard Bible

5 For this reason I left you in Crete... New American Standard Bible (NASB)

10 For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain. 12 One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not paying attention to Jewish myths and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.

Titus 1:10-14

English Standard Version (ESV)

10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party.[a] 11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. 12 One of the Cretans,[b] a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”[c] 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth.

Footnotes:

Titus 1:10 Or especially those of the circumcision
Titus 1:12 Greek One of them
Titus 1:12 Probably from Epimenides of Crete

Titus 1:10-14 King James Version (KJV)

10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. 12 One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, the Cretians are always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. 13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; 14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
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I have interpreted using texts, including online audio:

New American Standard Version

12 One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true.

As using hyperbole. In other words, generally at that time in history, Cretans lied as a culture and demonstrated immoral (internal) and unethical (external) qualities.

However in verse 13...

13 This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith...

These people in Crete can do otherwise as demonstrated in verse 13. If universally people from Crete were always liars, immoral and unethical as in verse 10-12, they would not be redeemable in verse 13. It is generally true that people from Crete are liars immoral and unethical.

Philosopher Blackburn mentions Epimenides, from Crete that is supposed to have said that all Cretans are liars. If he did speak this truly (as a Cretan liar, my add) then what he said was false, and vice versa. (121). If this person would have stated something was false, then it would be true.

Blackburn states this is the liar paradox. Example: This sentence is false., which must be false if the sentence is true, and it must be true if it is false. (217). It has been suggested that the sentence, This sentence is false., fails to say anything. (217). I would agree, as in anything reasonable.

Blackburn states the type of sentence that states nothing is at least false. (217). How useful is it to discuss the meaning of This sentence is false.? Perhaps it is better stated as not reasonable. It could be philosophically argued as non-nonsensical.

I have never taken this as meaning that the Apostle Paul, and/or the scribe that wrote Titus, reasoned in a plain literal way that every single person in Crete always lies and are immoral and unethical.

May I suggest that both the Apostle Paul and Epimenides were using hyperbole and not plain literal language. And may I add, that I doubt that either writer would claim to have known every single Cretan! I reason this even as the Apostle Paul was inspired by God, the Holy Spirit to write or at least produce the book of Titus.

BLACKBURN, SIMON (1996) Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

Brief & non-exhaustive reasons not to sellout

Hatzic Lake, Mission: Remax

I met this afternoon with a Board member for my employer and we agreed that the modern sellout form of Christianity is in grave error.

Brief and non-exhaustive reasons...

Manuscript evidence

There is a reasonably, textually consistent, documented religious history throughout the ancient biblical world, taking place within that world.

Papyri Cataloged 127
Uncial Mss. Cataloged 318
Minuscule Mss. Cataloged 2, 880
Lectionaries Cataloged 2, 436

Total 5, 761 (Numbers in all categories inch up periodically with new discoveries) German numbers from 1994 and 2011 are accessed.

ELWELL, WALTER AND YARBROUGH, ROBERT W., Third Edition (2013) Encountering The New Testament, Grand Rapids, Baker Academic.

Biblical evidence

Allowing for progressive revelation in the New Testament, which is chronologically later than the Hebrew Bible and amplifying the original testament (the new covenant see Mark 14, Matthew 26, Luke 22, Hebrews), it is documented that biblical central theology and doctrine are consistent in both Testaments and through the writings of the Church Fathers.

Theology and Philosophy of Religion

God is the first cause (Genesis) and nothing other than God existed prior to God creating angelic beings and the material universe. Perhaps non-material angelic beings were created prior to the creation of matter.

God is therefore infinite and eternal with an immutable, unchangeable nature. God inspired theology in biblical Scripture through his prophets, apostles and scribes. This  reflects the divine unchanging nature and the divine view toward creation and humanity.

In contrast, human beings are fallen (Genesis 3) and sinful (Romans) requiring salvation via the applied atoning and resurrection work of Christ, through the Father, Son and Holy Spirit to those in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1-2). This human salvation to be completed via resurrection to finite perfection with a spiritual body (1 Corinthians 15) and membership in the new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21-22).