2:22
Peter ended his criticism of the false teachers by saying that what they had done was the same sort of stupid behavior as that of the dog and the pig in two proverbs which would have been well-known to the readers of Peter’s letter. It will be necessary for you to study the form of proverbs in your language, and then to translate these proverbs in the same style so that they sound like proverbs.
Paragraph 3:1–2
Peter said that he was writing this letter to remind them of what the prophets and the Lord Jesus, speaking through his apostles, had said.
3:1a
Beloved: You should try to find a term that you would use in your language to express affection for someone.
second letter: The first letter may have been the one we know as 1 Peter. But Peter probably wrote several letters while he was one of the church leaders, so we cannot be certain about this.
3:1b
reminders: Peter said here, as he had said in 1:12, that he wanted to remind the Christians to whom he was writing of what Christian teachers had taught them, so that they would not forget it.
to stir you to wholesome thinking: The Greek text says: “to rouse of-you…the pure mind.” There are two ways of understanding this part of the verse:
(1) He wanted to stimulate them to think pure and correct thoughts, rather than allowing the false teachers to contaminate their thoughts.
(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version (2011 Revision), Revised English Bible, Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version)
(2) The expression “the pure mind” means that their minds were already pure/sincere. “Rouse” means that Peter was wanting to strengthen their pure minds by reminding them of what the prophets and the Lord had said.
(King James Version, Revised Standard Version, New Century Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
The difference between the two interpretations is slight. It is recommended that you follow the first interpretation, as Berean Standard Bible has done.
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