DIVINITY OF CHRIST part 6
The letters of Peter (1 Peter 2:2-3; 1 Pe 3:15; and 2 Pe 2:1)
Part 6 of the sermons series, Divinity of Christ.
The first three sermons showed that Jesus is God through the writings of John. The fourth examined Paul’s witness to Christ’s divinity. The fifth drew from the book of Hebrews. This sixth sermon turns to Peter. Like Paul, Peter calls Christ God and Savior. He affirms Christ’s divinity by applying Old Testament texts about YHWH directly to Jesus.
Taste God’s Goodness
Peter wrote to the elect according to God’s foreknowledge (1 Pe 1:1-2). He instructed them to long for the pure milk of the word so they may grow. Then Peter referenced Psalm 34:8, attributing to Christ what was attributed to YHWH.
1 Peter 2:2-3: Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
Psalm 34:8a: Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
When Peter attributed to Christ what was attributed to YHWH, he declared that Christ is YHWH. It was not only Peter who used the attributes of YHWH to the Lord Jesus Christ. Other New Testament writers, such as Paul and John, made similar declarations using Old Testament Scriptures (Col 1:15; Rev 1:8).
Gems in the text
1. Every believer must desire the pure milk of the word because they have tasted the goodness of the Lord Jesus.
2. Peter attributed Psalm 34:8 to Christ, which was also meant for YHWH. Thus, Peter declared that Christ is equal to YHWH.
3. Spiritual growth requires spiritual milk, which is the Word of God, revealing that Christ is God.
Honor Christ as YHWH
Peter instructs the elect to revere Christ in their hearts. He quotes Isaiah 8:13, where the people of Israel were commanded to honor YHWH in their hearts as holy. By replacing YHWH of hosts with Christ in the OT passage, Peter was declaring that Christ is equal with God because there is one God that exists in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
1 Peter 3:15: but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect
Isaiah 8:13: But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
Peter also instructed the elect to be ready to defend what they believed. Or, more accurately, who they believe. Moreover, they should show gentleness and respect. The word 'defense' refers to rational engagement with others, not violence.
Gems in the text
1. The elect, genuine believers, should honor Christ in their hearts as holy, the same way they honor YHWH.
2. Believers should always be ready to defend the gospel, and that includes who Jesus is and what He has done. It should include that Christ is divine.
3. The elect should explain their position using reason, not violence. They should express gentleness and respect to those they engage with.
God and Savior
In his second letter, Peter introduced himself as an apostle of Christ, a description he also used in his first letter. An apostle is sent with the authority of the sender. Peter identified and described the sender. The sender is none other than our God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:1: Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:
Using the Granville Sharp Rule in Greek grammar, God and Savior, in the text, refer to one person, not two. According to this rule, when indicating two persons, a definite article must precede the two nouns.[1] For two separate persons being described, it should be τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ τοῦ Σωτῆρος (tou Theou kai tou Sōtēros). But Peter used τοῦ Θεοῦ καὶ Σωτῆρος (tou Theou kai Sōtēros). Without a definite article in the second word, Savior, Peter was referring to one person, Christ.
Gems in the text
1. Peter identifies as an apostle of Christ, implying the divine authority of Christ.
2. The phrase "God and Savior" refers to one person, Jesus Christ. Peter plainly stated that Christ is God.
3. The Granville Sharp rule confirms Christ’s divinity. Peter did not use a definite article with the word "Savior." In Greek, it means the same person as God.
Application
1. Believe in the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Proclaim the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ.
3. Defend the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Notes
[1] Granville Sharp, Remarks on the Uses of the Definitive Article in the Greek Text of the New Testament, 3rd ed. (London: Vernor and Hood, 1803), 3.
Bibliography
Sharp, Granville. Remarks on the Uses of the Definitive Article in the Greek Text of the New Testament: Containing Many New Proofs of the Divinity of Christ, from Passages Which Are Wrongly Translated in the Common English Version. 3rd ed. London: Vernor and Hood, 1803.
Poem
YHWH AND CHRIST by Ed Pilapil Jr. YHWH is good, come taste and see The one God who exists in three We must all grow from salvation Word is milk, and the foundation Fear God, honor Him as holy And each one of the Trinity Prepare yourself to use reason To explain and reveal the Son To battle false teachings and lies Scriptures for YHWH and for Christ Father and Son; YHWH and Christ The truth to light; remove the lies Proclaim the gospel of the Son He is the center and reason Teach deity and Trinity Christ is God and He is holy Jesus Christ is the foundation Faith in the heart for salvation Yet there is one God, not three The Lord is good, come taste and see
Study Guide
1. How does Peter’s use of Psalm 34:8 help us understand who Jesus is in relation to YHWH? (Compare 1 Pe 2:3 with Ps 34:8a)
2. Why is it significant that New Testament writers like Peter, Paul, and John attribute characteristics of YHWH to Jesus? (Refer to Col 1:15; Rev 1:8)
3. How does Peter’s quotation of Isaiah 8:13 support the doctrine that Christ is divine and equal with YHWH? (1 Peter 3:15; Isaiah 8:13)
4. What does the phrase our God and Savior Jesus Christ reveal about Peter’s understanding of who Jesus is?
An expanded version of the study guide is in the attached file.
Downloadable PDF files in English and Tagalog
