Warm Appeal to Remember

Peter's affection for his brothers is shown by his repeatedly addressing them in this chapter as "beloved ones."  Warmly appealing to them not to forget what they had been taught, Peter begins:  "Beloved ones, . . .I am arousing your  clear thinking faculties by way of a reminder, that you should remember the sayings previously spoken by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles." -2 Peter 3:1, 2, 8, 14, 17; Jude 17. 

What "sayings previously spoken  by the holy prophets" does Peter urge readers to remember?  Why those about the presence of Christ in Kingdom power and about the judgment of the ungodly. Peter had earlier drawn attention to these sayings.  (2 Peter 1:16-192:-10) Jude refers to Enoch, who was the first recorded prophet to warn about the adverse judgment of God upon evildoers.  (Jude 14, 15) Other prophets followed Enoch, and Peter does not want us to forget what they wrote. -Isaiah 66:15, 16; Zephaniah 1:15-18; Zechariah 14:6-9.

In addition, Peter tells his readers to remember "the commandment of the Lord and Savior" Jesus' commandment includes the exhortation:  "Pay attention to yourselves that your hearts never become weighed down  . . .and suddenly  that day be instantly upon you as a snare."  Keep looking, keep awake, for you do not know when the appointed time is." (Luke 21:34-36; Mark 13:33) Peter also urges us to heed the sayings of the apostles.  The apostle Paul, for example, wrote:  "Jehovah 's day is coming exactly as a thief in the night.  So, then, let us stay awake and keep our senses." -1 Thessalonians 5:2, 6.

Next time: The Desires of the Ridiculers

From the Watchtower magazine, 1997