Watchtower Study, What lessons do the two letters of Peter teach us?, Week of December 4-10, 2023, Comments and Practical Answers.

Watchtower Study, What lessons do the two letters of Peter teach us?, December 4-10, 2023, Comments and Responses.

“I intend to always remind you of these things” (2 PET. 1:12).

1. What commission did Jehovah give to the apostle Peter shortly before his death?

In the years 62 and 64 of our era, Jehovah commissioned Peter to write two letters, these were named after him and the purpose of these was to strengthen the followers of Jesus while serving as advice, exhortation and encouragement for future generations. .

As we see in his second letter, the apostle wanted these letters to continue helping Christians after he died. 

2. Why were Peter's letters very timely?

Peter's letters were very timely, because they were written at times when his brothers were going to have difficulties and trials, since within the congregations they were facing internal and external challenges. internal because there were men who tried to divert the faith of the brothers, and external because the Jews were going to suffer the destruction of the city which would have to endure very harsh trials.

For example, in chapter 2 of his second letter, we see that there were evil names who spread false teachings among the brothers and who tried to corrupt the moral purity of the congregation, and the Christians living in Jerusalem would soon see the destruction of the city. and of its temple at the hands of the armies of Rome.

It must be said that it was a time of shaking and shaking, because the brothers of the Congregation were distressed by various tests from evil men who spread false teachings among the brothers, and these evil people were people infiltrated into the congregation, They were infiltrated brothers. That's something that happened in Biblical times, and they were trying to corrupt the moral purity of the congregation. Other proofs why Peter's letters were very timely were the economy and the Roman Empire's hostile persecution of them. So there was a lot of evidence that was shaking them.

The Christians living in Jerusalem would soon see the end of all things, that is, the destruction of the City of Jerusalem and the temple or the second temple at the hands of the Romans.

As we see in the footnote, the Christians living in Palestine probably received the two letters of Peter before the Romans launched their first attack on Jerusalem in the year 66.

3. Why should we study Peter's letters?

Studying the letters of Peter are very valuable, because they contain teachings that are applicable to our current lives. Although these were written a long time ago, his messages help us maintain faith in difficult times, resist the influence that the world promotes, and continue to remain loyal to Jehovah in our service.

Because we also live in a world that promotes moral impurity and we go through difficulties that can make our service to Jehovah difficult. Furthermore, soon we will experience a tribulation much greater than the one that destroyed Jerusalem and its temple.

So the two letters of Peter teach us very important lessons that will help us stay in expectation of the day of Jehovah, overcome fear of others and develop intense love for our brothers.

Furthermore, just like the Jews who were going to face a destruction, which would put their faith to the test, we also face future events equal to those of the Jews such as the great tribulation.

And finally, these letters from Peter encourage us to maintain hope in the day of Jehovah, as they encourage us to cultivate love for our brothers and it is also important for the brothers who take the lead, since it talks about how to provide care and attention to the congregations. These ideas will also help the elders to take good care of the needs of the flock.

STAY ON EXPECTATION

4. What could weaken our faith? (2 Peter 3:3, 4).

In 2 Peter 3:3,4, it is mentioned that in these days there would come mockers who will question the idea of ​​the return of Christ and the end of the world, since they may see that we have been announcing the end of this system of things for many years, this can cause negative comments to affect our conviction of Biblical teachings about the future.

As already mentioned, the fact that some people who are against our beliefs mock us and even assure that the end will never come can weaken our faith. In fact, in the cited text we see that the Bible describes these people as mockers who act according to their own desires. 

Here he talks about people who mock and say: Where is God? Why isn't the end coming? Everything remains the same, so what we can highlight is that the doubts based on this type of mocking comments can make people Some of our brothers think that the end has been announced for a long time, and until now it has not arrived. And thinking this way can make doubts grow more and more. However, we must remember that the objective of those who sow doubts is to divert us from the path, in reality they do it because they ignore that there are 2 types of end, one is the end of the system or the end of the world and the other is the end in a spiritual sense. . For this reason we recognize that there is a creator, we honor him, we want to honor him and that is why we decide to serve him.

5. What will help us wait patiently for the end? (2 Peter 3:8, 9).

In 2 Peter 3:8-9, the perspective of time from God's point of view is highlighted and how his patience relates to the end of the world. Although time may seem long to us, the apostle Peter explains that God's time is different from ours. Furthermore, his patience is not due to slowness, negligence or disinterest, but rather to his desire to give people the opportunity to repent and change their ways.

Furthermore, as mentioned in the previous paragraph, we should take advantage of this remaining time, instead of it being a reason to despair, it should become an opportunity to spread the spiritual message to all nations and thus we can continue to provide the opportunity for people to take sides. of Jehovah and can save their lives.

As servants of Jehovah, we have to respect the times of our God, and we do so while paying attention to the day of Jehovah. We can sit and wait for the end to come, or we can also examine ourselves and see if we are ready or prepared for that important event. That is why it would be very appropriate to examine ourselves and see if we are right with Jehovah, and thus be sure and be able to say that We already belong to the group of those who are going to see Armageddon, or else we would be being very presumptuous and going beyond what is written, because none of us has our lives assured.

6. How can we be very aware of the day of Jehovah? (2 Peter 3:11, 12).

Being very attentive to the day of Jehovah, as mentioned in 2 Peter 3:11,12, implies maintaining a constant awareness of the promise of the new world and the coming of that day. One way to do this is to meditate and reflect daily on the promises of a wonderful future revealed to us in the scriptures. 

If we meditate on all the blessings that Jehovah promises us, and what will happen in the future, we will not allow ourselves to be led astray by those who spread false teachings.

Visualizing life in the new world, imagining ourselves breathing fresh air, enjoying healthy foods, meeting our resurrected loved ones, and sharing the teachings of the Bible with those who lived in times past, can help us keep alive the hope and expectation of that future promised by God.

By being clear about what awaits us and remembering divine promises, we are less likely to be influenced by false teachings that can lead us astray from the right path. For this reason, staying focused on these truths helps us strengthen our faith and live in accordance with biblical teachings, preparing us for the day of Jehovah.

OVERCOME THE FEAR OF OTHERS

7. How can fear of others affect us?

Fear of others can have a significant impact on our ability to share the Good News of the Kingdom. Peter himself experienced this type of fear during Jesus' trial and denied knowing it for fear of the consequences. However, over time, Peter overcame this fear and taught the importance of not giving in to the fear of what others might do or think.

The fear of the opinions of others can paralyze us, preventing us from sharing our beliefs and the faith we profess. However, Peter's words encourage us not to fear what they fear, and not to let ourselves be carried away by that fear that can limit our ability to act according to our convictions.  

Fear can paralyze us like when you tie an animal so that it does not leave, that can happen to us with fear, this fear can tie us and prevent us from moving and from moving forward and from being able to talk about our beliefs. If this is our case, let us not forget that one of the best ways to preach about street employment anywhere is with our good example, our good behavior, our way of treating others, this will have a significant impact on the people around us.

8. What will help us overcome fear of others? (1 Peter 3:15).

In one Peter 3:15, Peter offers us very valuable advice by telling us that we must sanctify Christ as lord in our hearts. This involves recognizing the authority and power of Jesus Christ by facing the fear of speaking about our faith, we can visualize Jesus Christ as king ruling in heaven, surrounded by angels and with all the authority that has been given to him in heaven and in the world. earth, this can give us confidence and feel supported by the help he offers us.

Furthermore, being prepared to bear witness to our faith in different situations does not help us overcome fear. This means thinking about opportunities to share our message at work, school, or anywhere else, which will help us prepare what we are going to say. Also, praying to God asking for courage will help us overcome fear.

“FEEL INTENSE LOVE”

9. On what occasion did Peter not show love? (See also the image).

On one occasion, Peter did not show love when he gave in to social pressure and refused to eat with Christians who were not Jewish. In Galatians 2114, the apostle Paul confronts Peter about his behavior, accusing him of acting hypocritically by not sharing the table with non-Jewish believers.

Peter learned the importance of showing love and unity in the Christian congregation, regardless of differences, and he conveyed this lesson in his letters, highlighting that love not only involved feeling affection for others, but also demonstrating it in our actions and behaviors toward others. others, and regardless of their origin or cultural background.

ILLUSTRATION

We can see Pedro eating with some brothers. From the description of the image it may represent a vocation after Paul corrected him, eating with Gentile brothers a combination of Jewish and non-Jewish Christians. In any case, we can learn from his letters how important it is that we show love to our brothers, and one way to do so may be to eat and share with them.

The apostle Peter eating with some Christians of non-Jewish origin. Peter accepted Paul's correction. His two letters teach us to show love to our brothers. (See paragraph 9).

10. What helps us demonstrate “brotherly affection without hypocrisy”? (1 Peter 1:22).

In 1 Peter 1:22, Peter highlights the importance of showing brotherly affection without hypocrisy and what will help us is to take into account the example of Jehovah, For he does not show favoritism or impartiality, but on the contrary, he shows his love for all people. equally.

It is essential to understand that love between brothers should not be limited to certain people within the congregation, but should extend to everyone equally. Although it is natural that we have closer friendships with some. Peter urges us to show brotherly affection to all, similar to the love and unity found within a family.

11. What does it mean to love “intensely from the heart”?

As Pedro advises, loving intensely from the heart implies a love that goes beyond what could be considered natural or easy. This type of love manifests itself in the willingness to love even those who might have caused harm or offended, whom by human instinct we might feel inclined to reject or treat negatively.

If someone treats us badly, offends us or hurts us, we should not pay them back in kind, if not we should forgive them. However, sometimes we think that forgiving means you treated me badly, I'm going to let it go, I'm going to forget about it, and you can continue treating me badly, it's okay, I'm going to continue holding on. That is not forgiveness. Loving intensely from the heart conveys to us the idea of ​​expanding our love to reach those who we would not naturally love.

12. a) If we feel intense love for our brothers, what else will we do?

We will be willing to show forgiveness that has no limits, not just forgiving a few actions or a certain number of times, but must be forgiven continuously and unconditionally. This approach shows love and a willingness to let go of repeated offenses, showing compassion and extending the opportunity for unrestricted reconciliation.

Intense love will drive us to forgive our brothers, and if we develop this love for them, we will be able to forgive even a multitude of sins. In fact, it may be that when Peter gave this advice he remembered when he told Jesus that he would be willing to forgive someone 7 times, and Jesus taught him that he would have to do it 77 times, which means that we should not put any limits on forgiveness. .

What we will do is forgive, pray and bless those who have offended and hurt us, since the important thing is to do everything possible to forgive our brothers and make peace with them.

Just like Jesus was not liked by everyone, and there were some who were not at peace with him, and it is possible that we go through something similar, but we understand that it is something that is out of our hands. The important thing is that we do everything we can. is within our reach, to feel the intense love that Jesus demonstrated when he was on earth.

12. b) What motivates you to make the video Let's take care of our valuable unit?

The video «Let's take care of our valuable unit? shows the importance of resolving problems or misunderstandings with our brothers immediately, instead of letting time pass and these situations becoming emotional burdens that affect the unity and harmony between brothers.

This video emphasizes the importance of unity between siblings and how not addressing problems immediately can lead to emotional burdens and feelings of guilt over time. The intention is to teach the lesson that resolving conflicts or misunderstandings quickly and lovingly is essential to preserve unity and prevent tensions from affecting relationships within the congregation.

It motivates me to maintain my friendship with each brother, even if someone hurt me, has a disagreement or has a friction. It even motivates me to make things right if something happens to separate me from a brother, because, as we learn from the example of Sister Cecilia and Brother Carlos, when we do not do something to maintain unity, we can carry an unnecessary weight as we pass. time.

This video motivates me to be obedient to Jehovah, since he is always right. And being obedient implies not just words, nor just being simple listeners. But demonstrate it with actions by promptly seeking the things that contribute to peace, as Romans 15:9 mentions. That way we will have the humility to apologize and receive apologies from our dear brothers.

ELDERS, SHEPHERD THE FLOCK

13. Why can it be difficult for elders to shepherd their brothers?

Pastoring a congregation can be difficult for elders for a variety of reasons. First of all, the elderly have multiple responsibilities. In addition to caring for the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of their family, they are committed to guiding and caring for the members of the congregation. 

Additionally, multiple responsibilities mean that time and energy for shepherding the congregation may be limited. Elders are to be examples in preaching and teaching. This includes preparing to give talks, teach at meetings, and attend assemblies. In addition, many of them also collaborate on different committees within the congregation, such as hospital liaison committees or design and construction committees, which adds more responsibilities to their workload.

14. Why do elders want to shepherd the flock, and what can help them? (1 Peter 5:1-4).

The elders want to shepherd the flock, because they love their brothers and want to care for them spiritually. However, at times they may feel overwhelmed by responsibilities or exhausted by the demands of their work. At these times, Peter suggests turning to God in prayer and depending on the strength he provides.

So if an elder finds himself in a situation where he feels that he cannot fulfill his responsibility of shepherding due to busyness of fatigue, he should seek divine strength through prayer and trust in God, which can be of great help. Recognizing dependence on God's strength can renew his strength and ability to perform his role with love and diligence.

Because it is something that will gladden the heart of Jehovah and Jesus Christ, and it is also a commandment that they give them. 

Possibly the Brothers are going through problems that have no solution in this system. But let us remember that Jesus Christ, the chief shepherd, can do much more for them than we can, both now and in the new world. What Jehovah expects of elders is that they love their brothers, shepherd them, and be examples for the flock.

Why they love their brothers and want to shepherd them. What can help them is to tell Jehovah how he feels. Just as Peter wrote: "If anyone serves others, let him do so as one who depends on the strength that God gives."

If our brothers are going through problems that have no solution in this system. It can help us to remember that Jesus Christ, The Chief Shepherd, can do much more than our elders, both now and in the new world.

15. What does an elder do to shepherd the flock? (See also the image).

William emphasizes the importance of understanding the specific concerns and needs of each brother, which involves listening carefully to offer concrete and personalized help. Then look for useful resources, such as videos available on the website to offer guidance and support to those facing difficulties. This action reflects the dedication of an elder to provide tools that can help strengthen faith and provide comfort to brothers in need.

An elder listens carefully to the brother to find out exactly what he needs and what worries him, and then looks for something specific to help him, usually a video on our website. Brother William relates: The work of shepherding is more important now than ever, and the elders work hard to help Jehovah's sheep continue in the truth.

Just as we work hard to help people come to know Jehovah, we should also do something similar to shepherd the flock, to help Jehovah's sheep continue in the truth.

ILLUSTRATION

In the image we can see a congregation elder shepherding a brother, with a prepared biblical text and a JW video at hand, surely information that can help the brother in need. This image represents very well the work our elders do. Although they are busy, they love God's flock and do everything they can to shepherd it.

An elder pays a shepherding visit to a brother via video conference. The elder has the Bible open, and on his tablet he is watching the video “How to Have a Happy Family.” Although the elders are busy, they love God's flock and do everything possible to shepherd it. (See paragraphs 14 and 15).

LET US LET JEHOVAH FINISH OUR TRAINING

16. In what ways could we put into practice what we have learned in Peter's letters?

One way is to meditate on the hope of the new world, spending time reflecting on the promises and wonderful life that awaits us in the future under the Kingdom of God. We can also set goals to share our beliefs and the kingdom message in everyday settings such as work, school, or any other place where there are opportunities to talk about our faith.

Another way would be to strive to demonstrate intense love, seeking additional ways to show genuine love and compassion toward our siblings, extending help, support, and care whenever possible. And as elders pastor with enthusiasm and dedication, being available to listen, guide and support members of the congregation.

If we do honest self-examination and see that we are failing at something, we can remember how kind the Lord is, and how He assures us that God will finish our training and put us on a solid foundation.

In the way we speak and treat our spouse, our family, and our siblings. Being kind, sharing with others, greeting our brothers, being determined to support each other in prayer when fears arise and finally the elders can shepherd the sheep willingly.

17. What reward will we receive if we persevere and let Jehovah train us?

Eternal life in the Kingdom of God is the final reward for having faithfully followed God's ways and maintaining our trust and hope in him. Therefore we must faithfully persevere to the end, to obtain salvation.

WHAT ADVICE DID PETER GIVE ON THE FOLLOWING ISSUES?

Stay in expectation of the day of Jehovah.

Staying in anticipation of the day of Jehovah means being aware of and reflecting daily on the promises of the New World revealed in the scriptures. Visualizing that wonderful future, remembering divine promises, and living according to biblical teachings helps us strengthen our faith and prepare for that day.

Overcome fear of others.

Peter offers us valuable advice in 1 Peter 3:15, telling us that we must sanctify Christ as lord in our hearts. This involves recognizing the authority and power of Jesus Christ by facing the fear of speaking about our faith, we can visualize Jesus Christ as king ruling in heaven, surrounded by angels and with authority in heaven and on earth, it can instill confidence in us and the support we need.

Show “intense love” to our brothers.

Showing intense love to our brothers means loving everyone regardless of their past and the harm they may do to us, being willing to forgive without limits, quickly solve problems and also knowing how to listen and provide support when they are discouraged.