西門彼得的最後囑咐
彼得後書一章1至7節
1作耶穌基督僕人和使徒的西門彼得，寫信給那因我們的神和（註：有古卷無“和”字）救主耶穌基督之義，與我們同得一樣寶貴信心的人：
2願恩惠、平安因你們認識神和我們主耶穌，多多地加給你們！
3神的神能已將一切關乎生命和虔敬的事賜給我們，皆因我們認識那用自己榮耀和美德召我們的主。
4因此，他已將又寶貴、又極大的應許賜給我們，叫我們既脫離世上從情慾來的敗壞，就得與神的性情有分。
5正因這緣故，你們要分外地殷勤。有了信心，又要加上德行；有了德行，又要加上知識；
6有了知識，又要加上節制；有了節制，又要加上忍耐；有了忍耐，又要加上虔敬；
7有了虔敬，又要加上愛弟兄的心；有了愛弟兄的心，又要加上愛眾人的心。
信息分享
在第一封書信，彼得是要鼓勵和堅固那些正在受逼迫的信徒。第二封書信，則是直接警告教會要防備假教師。
彼得前書的要旨是盼望；彼得後書的要旨是認識和辨別真理。兩封書信都既有安慰，也有嚴厲的督責。彼得在這裡既是牧者、教師，又是先知。彼得後書和猶大書都是用直言不諱的表達來提醒和激勵，風格十分相似。
今天選讀的經文中，包含一些重要的真理或原則。彼得自稱使徒之前，怎樣形容自己呢？他說自己是「耶穌基督的僕人」。僕人直譯就是奴隸。保羅也經常這樣自稱。
在第1節的下半句，彼得指出此信是寫給「與我們（眾使徒）同得一樣寶貴信心的人」，當中包括了你和我。我們如果與使徒一樣，擁有這份信心，我們就跟他們一樣擁有相同的身份──耶穌基督的奴僕。
我們若是耶穌基督的奴僕，基督就有權要我們完全順服和服侍祂。我們不可再按自己的喜好來運用時間。我們要聽憑主人的差使。
然而，神是滿有恩典的（3節）。祂深知我們的軟弱和需要，樂於賜恩給我們，讓我們有能力去面對各種情況；只因我們認識耶穌基督。
經文反思：
「你的日子如何，你的力量也必如何。」（申卅三25）
SIMON PETER'S FINAL WORDS
2 Peter 1:1-7
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.
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.
Message
In the first letter, Peter wanted to strengthen those Christians undergoing persecution. In the second letter Peter bluntly warned the churches against false teachers.
The theme of I Peter is hope. The theme of II Peter is true knowledge and discernment. There is comfort but also judgment in these letters. Peter is here a pastor and teacher, as well as a prophet. II Peter and the Epistle of Jude are very similar in their straight forward language and challenge.
In the first few verses of our reading, there are tremendous truths or principles. How does Peter describe himself before he mentions his apostleship? “A servant of Jesus Christ”, literally a bond-slave. Paul frequently used the same word.
In the remainder of verse 1, Peter included us all when he wrote to those who have the same kind of faith as the apostles. If we have the same faith, then we have the same position – being bond-slaves of Christ.
If we are His bond-slaves, then Christ has the right to expect our complete obedience and service. Our time is not how we like to spend as our own. We serve under our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ.
But God is a God of grace (v.3). He knows our weaknesses and our needs and is willing to supply daily grace for every situation. The grace is given to us simply because we know Jesus Christ.
A VERSE FOR TODAY: “Your strength will equal your days.” (Deuteronomy 33:25)