She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark.
Summary: The concept of “knowledge” is widely misunderstood. We often confuse opinions for real knowledge. When it comes to the Bible, it is important to understand that our faith is in Jesus, the person, and not our opinions about the Bible.
Who is the “she” that Peter refers to? When he writes “Babylon,” does he mean the city known as Babylon, or something else? Who is this “Mark” person? Is he a spiritual son or a biological one?
There are some things we cannot know. In fact, there are a lot of things we cannot know. It breaks my heart that so many people who claim to believe in Jesus forego showing love to their neighbor unless their neighbor submits to understanding the Word of God exactly as they do.
Knowledge, as a concept, is widely misunderstood. People fling the words “I know” to and fro as if they were a sword. They accuse a person of something and then justify their accusation by claiming, “I know what you are up to” or “I know what you are thinking.”
No.
They don’t know.*
The only two people who “know” what you are thinking are you and God. Everyone else is just guessing.
The same is true for the Bible. We can read the words written there, and we can form an opinion about what those words mean. But we cannot know with absolute certainty what Peter was thinking when he wrote them.
Was the “she” Peter refers to a church? Was it an important woman who was known to the churches Peter wrote to? Was it Peter’s wife? Was it just a fancy way of saying, “Oh, by the way, my wife says hi!”?
We don’t know. We can’t. The key to that knowledge is locked in heaven with God.
Are you okay with not knowing? I hope so. Some people aren’t. Some come up with an idea and then that idea becomes a fact in their mind. Soon, the “fact” that they have latched onto becomes an article of faith. Before you know it, their “fact” becomes a doctrine, and you can’t be saved unless you agree to believe the way that they do.
Scripture says that “… faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1) What is it we hope for? Are you hoping to be right about what Peter meant when he referred to Babylon, or are you hoping that Jesus has chosen you to be with him in heaven?
The question is important.
People who get all wrapped up in their opinions about Babylon might find themselves out in the cold and the doors of heaven standing shut before them. (Matthew 25: 1-13) What is important is putting our faith in Jesus. Jesus is alive! The words in the Bible only have meaning because of Jesus. Jesus is the center of everything. If our hope is in our opinions about the Bible, we are lost. If our hope is in Jesus, we are found.
Do you see the difference? (I know that sounds a bit heretical.) If a person relies on their opinions about the Bible, they are putting their faith in themselves. If a person relies on Jesus, then their faith rests in Him.
Knowing what the Bible says is important. It is the doorway to knowing God. But the difference between God and me is that God knows what the Bible means. My opinions about the Bible are just that; opinions. My opinions about what Peter meant by “she,” “Babylon,” and “my son, Mark” are not worth anything in comparison to faith in the living Christ.
*There is one exception: Moms. Moms always know what their kids are up to. Weird but true. One of life’s little mysteries.
Application: Loving God above all else means serving Jesus, not our ideas about Jesus.
Food for Thought: How does Jesus want us to treat someone who understands the Bible differently than we do?
How does Jesus want us to treat someone who understands the Bible differently than we do?
Occasionally God sends people to my door in pairs. At one time I would politely tell them I was not interested and close the door. Now I Invite them in, seat them in my living room, offer them water and spend a good hour speaking with them. I ask them how they came to be a member of their faith, then spend the majority of an hour telling them how I came to know Jesus. In the end they will offer me reading materials which I take, and in return I go to my office, get two copies of AW TOZERS KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY from my stash and give these to them, and send them on their way.
I have taught Gods Word to recovering alcoholic’s and drug addict’s and christians in my church. The word of God revealed by the Holy Spirit has always been able to answer any question. Not everyone has wanted to accept the truth, but that is their choice.
If the Bible is really the Word of God, then we must believe that the problem of different interpretations rests not with the Bible, but with the people doing the interpreting.
We must understand that many of the passages in the Word of God are bigger, deeper and simply beyond our ability to FULLY comprehend in one sitting. The Word of God is like a multi-faceted jewel. We spend a lifetime in study without ever fully comprehending the truths which have been preserved for our benefit. We can only focus on one facet at a time, as God reveals the truth He determines we need to know at any specific time.
God does not on one facet teach that a Christian can “fall from grace,” while on another teach that a Christian can never lose his salvation. No, the facets of our jewel from God can only add to the beauty of the jewel, never detract. Listen carefully to each individual in a group Bible study as the truth being revealed. Its amazing what what God has packed in a single verse.
Apollo was taken aside and taught the truths of God more accurately.
Acts 18:26, and he (Apollo) began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
Paul tells us of confusion when people put more value in the emphasis or method of one mans teachings over another.
1 Corinthians 1:12, Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.”
We must focus on Christ, the Message, not the messenger.
Jude 18-21,2 Peter 1:12-21, 2 Peter 2:1, 2 Peter 3:14-18
We should biblically compare our understanding with theirs. If a person refuses to accept Gods truth then I personally choose to avoid them unless it becomes obvious God wants us to interact.
Thanks, Ron!
In short, I hear you saying that we treat people “with love.”
Jeff,
You’re right Jeff, Imperfect beings attempting to serve our perfect God. Without the Holy Spirit we would be hard pressed to do anything right.
Ron
Amen to that!