"having escaped from the corruption"

[Depleted]

I'm hesitant on posting this on this forum because there isn't much honest talk about the Bible on this forum anymore, but I could use help on this question. And this is a question, not a political statement, not a monologue, not another "only I have the word of God speaking through me." I honestly don't get this. So, this is one of those times, when if all you're going to do is preach your personal gospel start your own post instead of wasting time on here. Okay?

I don't get the quote above -- "having escaped from the corruption" in 2 Peter.

Here's the context that baffles me:
2Pe 1:2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
2Pe 1:3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,
2Pe 1:4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
2Pe 1:5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,
2Pe 1:6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,
2Pe 1:7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
2Pe 1:8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.


Sounds really good, doesn't it? But Peter was a man facing the side effects of Jesus dying, rising again, walking among his people, and then going home to the Father. The rulers were, at best, confused. They were working themselves up to slaughtering Christians. Judah didn't much like them either, since they disrupted the little peace they had with the Romans. It wasn't an idyllic setting, especially after witnessing exactly how corrupt the people in power were.

(See where I'm going here?)

"having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire."

"Having escaped." Future perfect tense, right? No, really. Is that right from a grammatical perspective? I'm not sure there, but it sure looks like it already happened, and they hadn't escaped.

In America, our choice for our next leader is either an incompetent chronic liar or a man so full of himself he thinks he is the only answer to all the ills in America. And we get the opportunity to do God's will here. That corruption is already upon us. It's been on us for a long time. How do I "partake of the divine nature" without adding to the corruption? How did I avoid the corruption?

This is not a question of who I should vote for. It's a question of understanding how God says I've already escaped the world's corruption. How had Peter and his audience?

 

[Grace777x70]

Hi Lynn,

I just looked up "having escaped" in Greek and it is in the Aorist active participle. Here is a description of this:

"From this it can be seen that the aorist participle describes the action having occurred prior to the main verb. So if the main verb is present, then the participle, would be translated as past tense. ."
Here is the source:

Koine Greek: Participles - WikiChristian

I hope this helps with the "having escaped" part.

I have no say in the American politics and voting - I just ask the Lord to put in His person for your coming elections so I'll refrain from any comment on the politics side of things.

 

[Stunnedbygrace]

I have taken escaping from the corruption of the world to mean, not that I am taken out of the corruption physically, but that I have escaped it because I am in it, but no longer belong to it by His Spirits' working in me. My desires are not like they were before I met Him. I don't keep buying new things like I used to. I don't desire them. I have more than enough things. I can honestly say that I...hate to go shopping for things. When everyone piles in the car to go to the mall, I run and hide and think it would be torturous. They don't understand why it isn't fun to me any more. And I don't understand how being in a mall looking and buying stuff for hours doesn't make them want to jump right out of their skin.

 

[KenAllan]

God chose us, we did not chose God. Many are called but few are chosen. Narrow is the Road and few find it.

We were chosen by God even before anything was created. We did not go looking for God, He came looking for us!

We have escaped from the corruption by the Grace of God because God first chose us. Just remember not everyone is chosen. So examine your Heart to see if you have been chosen.

 

[Depleted]

I have taken escaping from the corruption of the world to mean, not that I am taken out of the corruption physically, but that I have escaped it because I am in it, but no longer belong to it by His Spirits' working in me. My desires are not like they were before I met Him. I don't keep buying new things like I used to. I don't desire them. I have more than enough things. I can honestly say that I...hate to go shopping for things. When everyone piles in the car to go to the mall, I run and hide and think it would be torturous. They don't understand why it isn't fun to me any more. And I don't understand how being in a mall looking and buying stuff for hours doesn't make them want to jump right out of their skin.

There are still malls? (I keep forgetting they still exist. lol)

But, as a good American, we're supposed to vote for the next President, and, in this case, it seems that if I vote I'm aligning with the corruption, not escaping it. And, because the next President will affect our lives, (Social Security and Veterans Affairs), I see no choice but to wallow in the corruption or die. I feel like I've just held my breath for 7.5 years, doing nothing but counting on God to see us through despite the attempts of politicians to make it harder and harder on us, and now when it's time to come up for air, all I see is more of the same.

It feels rather stupid considering what Peter was facing. He literally would die at the hands of the corruption he faced. And yet, he believes he escaped. How?

 

[Depleted]

God chose us, we did not chose God. Many are called but few are chosen. Narrow is the Road and few find it.

We were chosen by God even before anything was created. We did not go looking for God, He came looking for us!

We have escaped from the corruption by the Grace of God because God first chose us. Just remember not everyone is chosen. So examine your Heart to see if you have been chosen.

Um, I've been Reformed for a couple of decades now. Don't really see the connection here, since I KNOW I've already been chosen.

Not much help evangelizing to the saved. Not any help when that I was chosen by God didn't seem to answer the question at all.

 

[Depleted]

Hi Lynn,

I just looked up "having escaped" in Greek and it is in the Aorist active participle. Here is a description of this:

"From this it can be seen that the aorist participle describes the action having occurred prior to the main verb. So if the main verb is present, then the participle, would be translated as past tense. ."
Here is the source:

Koine Greek: Participles - WikiChristian

I hope this helps with the "having escaped" part.

I have no say in the American politics and voting - I just ask the Lord to put in His person for your coming elections so I'll refrain from any comment on the politics side of things.

I am curious if Aorist is a Christian word or a Canadian word. I've never heard it before I came on this site, so it doesn't feel like a grammar word. But, hey, Aorist, sounds like a better description than future perfect. Thanks.

 

[Adstar]

2 Peter 1
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Note the first line reads ''Ye might be partakers"" future tense .. so the second part of the verse should be seen in relation to the first part.. Now if the second part ""having escaped the corruption in the world"" means that people have in the past tense become sinless beings, then that would make people already ""partakers of the divine nature""" but clearly people still sin in thoughts and deeds.. So the second part of the verse must be read with the first part of the verse in mind..

 

[Depleted]

2 Peter 1
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Note the first line reads ''Ye might be partakers"" future tense .. so the second part of the verse should be seen in relation to the first part.. Now if the second part ""having escaped the corruption in the world"" means that people have in the past tense become sinless beings, then that would make people already ""partakers of the divine nature""" but clearly people still sin in thoughts and deeds.. So the second part of the verse must be read with the first part of the verse in mind..

This dim light is coming on me and it's getting brighter every time I read this.

I think you're right. Never saw it like that. Now I'll have to keep rereading it until I'm sure and might actually remember it. Thank you.

 

[Grace777x70]

I am curious if Aorist is a Christian word or a Canadian word. I've never heard it before I came on this site, so it doesn't feel like a grammar word. But, hey, Aorist, sounds like a better description than future perfect. Thanks.

You are welcome!

Aorist is one of those "Greeky" things. It can mean a simple past action - a one time past event in the indicative mood. Here is an explanation of it if interested as it has other applications in other moods ( forms other then indicative ) .

In other moods, it does not indicate absolute time, and often does not even indicate relative time.
What about kind of action? Mark it down, as its name suggests, the kind of action indicated by the aorist tense is undefined. Inasmuch as there is no definition of the kind of action, the emphasis is upon the fact of the action rather than the duration of the action. In the indicative mood, the significance is that it happened. Whether it happened over a period of time or in an instant is not indicated.

Here is the link that talks about it.

Course II, Lesson 2

 

[God4me]

I'm hesitant on posting this on this forum because there isn't much honest talk about the Bible on this forum anymore, but I could use help on this question. And this is a question, not a political statement, not a monologue, not another "only I have the word of God speaking through me." I honestly don't get this. So, this is one of those times, when if all you're going to do is preach your personal gospel start your own post instead of wasting time on here. Okay?

I don't get the quote above -- "having escaped from the corruption" in 2 Peter.

Here's the context that baffles me:
2Pe 1:2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
2Pe 1:3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,
2Pe 1:4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
2Pe 1:5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,
2Pe 1:6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,
2Pe 1:7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
2Pe 1:8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.


Sounds really good, doesn't it? But Peter was a man facing the side effects of Jesus dying, rising again, walking among his people, and then going home to the Father. The rulers were, at best, confused. They were working themselves up to slaughtering Christians. Judah didn't much like them either, since they disrupted the little peace they had with the Romans. It wasn't an idyllic setting, especially after witnessing exactly how corrupt the people in power were.

(See where I'm going here?)

"having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire."

"Having escaped." Future perfect tense, right? No, really. Is that right from a grammatical perspective? I'm not sure there, but it sure looks like it already happened, and they hadn't escaped.

In America, our choice for our next leader is either an incompetent chronic liar or a man so full of himself he thinks he is the only answer to all the ills in America. And we get the opportunity to do God's will here. That corruption is already upon us. It's been on us for a long time. How do I "partake of the divine nature" without adding to the corruption? How did I avoid the corruption?

This is not a question of who I should vote for. It's a question of understanding how God says I've already escaped the world's corruption. How had Peter and his audience?

It's those who are partaking in God's divine nature, 2 Pet 1: 4, who can escape the corruption through lust, And Peter said, "WE MIGHT BE partakers of God's divine nature.
He didn't say we will be, as the choice is up to us, [We can partake of God's divine nature], But we can also partake of our natural nature, And lust after things.

 

[Stunnedbygrace]

There are still malls? (I keep forgetting they still exist. lol)

But, as a good American, we're supposed to vote for the next President, and, in this case, it seems that if I vote I'm aligning with the corruption, not escaping it. And, because the next President will affect our lives, (Social Security and Veterans Affairs), I see no choice but to wallow in the corruption or die. I feel like I've just held my breath for 7.5 years, doing nothing but counting on God to see us through despite the attempts of politicians to make it harder and harder on us, and now when it's time to come up for air, all I see is more of the same.

It feels rather stupid considering what Peter was facing. He literally would die at the hands of the corruption he faced. And yet, he believes he escaped. How?

Well...I think he believed he had escaped the corruption of the world because he had been chosen by God to not belong to it anymore or follow its dictates. The world tells us lots of things we no longer do or long for or desire but we used to when we were part of the world.

As for voting, I'm like you here and think I maybe shouldn't say this because it will get someone mad but...I don't think I have to vote. Being a good American? I don't work to get America to approve of me. I'm Gods' daughter, not Americas daughter. But my reason for not voting is that I really and truly believe that God will set whatever ruler in place that HE wants there, even if it's not who I would or would not vote for. He sets rulers in their place and removes them from their place, despite what people may think about their vote being the thing that does it. Seems a bit arrogant to me if I were to think it hinges on my vote. God will make the vote go however HE wants, according to HIS desire because HE sets rulers in their place and removes rulers from their place. And I think He does it to bless or to punish too!

 

[God4me]

God chose us, we did not chose God. Many are called but few are chosen. Narrow is the Road and few find it.

We were chosen by God even before anything was created. We did not go looking for God, He came looking for us!

We have escaped from the corruption by the Grace of God because God first chose us. Just remember not everyone is chosen. So examine your Heart to see if you have been chosen.

So you are saying that God is a respecter of people??, You are saying God chooses some for heaven and others for hell.
To be a respecter of people, is sin, So you are saying that God is a sinner.
Also, to say God chose us before He created anything, is to say He is the author of everything bad that has happened.
God did choose salvation for the whosoever, after Adam fell, It goes back to the first prophecy of the coming of Jesus, in
Gen 3: 15.

 

[Stunnedbygrace]

AAhh...let's not go there. If God knows the end from the beginning, this explains how some verses that speak of vessels of destruction confuse us. Just keep in mind that if you know the end of every creature from the beginning, what you say might sound odd and contradictory to ears that don't keep that in mind.

 

[Depleted]

So you are saying that God is a respecter of people??, You are saying God chooses some for heaven and others for hell.
To be a respecter of people, is sin, So you are saying that God is a sinner.
Also, to say God chose us before He created anything, is to say He is the author of everything bad that has happened.
God did choose salvation for the whosoever, after Adam fell, It goes back to the first prophecy of the coming of Jesus, in
Gen 3: 15.

Start you're own post now, please.

 

[FlSnookman7]

I believe that this is talking about how we are new creations in Christ. If we look at verse 8 it is this faith in the new creation we are that will let us spread the truth of Jesus message. Verses 3 and 4 seem to say we have been granted all things that pertain to life and Godliness. I believe this is much the same as paul's message that we have been set apart and made righteous and that we can find more and more proof of that the more we learn.

 

[Stunnedbygrace]

Start you're own post now, please.

I second that.

 

[Stunnedbygrace]

This dim light is coming on me and it's getting brighter every time I read this.

Just make sure it's not a train, lynn...

I really amuse myself...

 

[PennEd]

I'll take a stab at the political aspect of this question.
Last election the choice was between a Mormon who believes in doctrines of demons, yet his policies more closely aligned to mine than the guy who won who publicly states he wants to destroy (transform) my country as founded. Dilemma? Not really. Since whether you're talking about George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, or Ronald Reagan, the choice is ALWAYS the lesser of two evils.
So I pulled the lever for the Mormon who follows doctrines of demons.

Yes, both candidates are horrendous this election. I wish it were not so. But reality forces me to confront that one of them is going to be President. So, since both have questionable character, the choice becomes policy. There is NOT a single issue that I agree with the woman or her party.
The guy and His party is not much better.But EVEN ONE issue that I can glam onto is enough to make the difference.

We are pilgrims in this world, true enough. But we are in this world. We work, we raise our children, we live here. Now. We have a responsibility to spread the Gospel. So we have choices and decisions to make that will affect those things.

May God's peace fill our hearts and minds as we sojourn towards our final destination.

 

[notmyown]

But, as a good American, we're supposed to vote for the next President, and, in this case, it seems that if I vote I'm aligning with the corruption, not escaping it. And, because the next President will affect our lives, (Social Security and Veterans Affairs), I see no choice but to wallow in the corruption or die. I feel like I've just held my breath for 7.5 years, doing nothing but counting on God to see us through despite the attempts of politicians to make it harder and harder on us, and now when it's time to come up for air, all I see is more of the same.

when i think of the upcoming election, which seems to be a choice between the lesser of two evils
(or, as Gore Vidal once said, the evil of two lessers... )
this Chuck Colson quote keeps coming to mind-- from the early '90s--


"where is the hope?
i meet millions who tell me they feel demoralized by the decay around us.

where is the hope?
the hope that each of us has is not in who governs us or what laws are passed or what great things we do as a nation.

our hope is the power of God working in the hearts of people.
and that's where our hope is in this country and that's where our hope is in life."

that's all i got.

that's all any of us really has, and our hope in God is more than enough.