NOTES for Pe2 1:1-10

What does Peter mean when he urges the recipients of his letter to "confirm their calling and election"? As for election, the apostle, as we can see, holds a view of the Messiah and of the messianic remnant that was quite traditional for his time, the remnant that grows into a new people who meet and receive the Messiah. According to these Jewish ideas, the Messiah, like the people of God, was conceived by God before the creation of the world. Of course, God's design concerned not individual people, but the people as a whole, as a covenant people, a community of the faithful whose main historical task would be to preserve the revelation received from God until the day of the Messiah's coming, when that revelation would become available to everyone who receives the Messiah.

As for individual people, much here was determined by a person's free choice: after all, being born a Jew was not enough; one had to realize in one's life the calling that was potentially given to everyone born a Jew. To realize a spiritual calling without personal choice is plainly impossible, so belonging to the people of God was determined not only by birth but also by one's whole life. The apostle, as we can see, applies this traditional idea to the Church, and that is no surprise: a person can be born a Jew, but people are not born Christians, even though the Church, like the Messiah Himself, was undoubtedly conceived by God before the creation of the world. And everyone who is joined to it is joined to this design, becoming part of it, becoming one of God's chosen. But it is not enough to enter the Church once; one must also live in it. The Church is the earthly dimension of the Kingdom, and if one can live in the Kingdom only by making constant spiritual efforts not to lose it, the same can be said of life in the Church; otherwise election is easy to lose.

It would seem that a calling from God is forever. But a calling too is only a possibility; it still has to be unfolded throughout one's whole life, or else it will die without ever being manifested. And Peter does not tire of reminding his readers of this, perhaps because even in his time people had begun to appear in the Church who sincerely believed that their first step on the spiritual path was already its successful and victorious completion, that salvation and the fullness of life in the Kingdom were guaranteed to them simply because they had entrusted themselves to their Savior and received baptism. The apostle, as we can see, wants to dispel this delusion in them, for it could easily cost them their salvation. Salvation is easy to lose and very hard to find again afterward.

What does Peter mean, by exhorting those to whom his message is addressed "to make their calling and election sure"? As for the election, the apostle, as seen, holds here a completely traditional glance for his time on the Messiah and on this messianic remnant, which grows into new people, meeting and accepting the Messiah. According to these Jewish representations, the Messiah, quite as the people of God, was conceived by God before even the creation of the world. Of course God's plan did not concern individuals, but a nation as a whole, as an entity, as people-community, community of believers, the main historic task of which will be the conservation of the revelation received from God until the day of the coming of the Messiah, when this revelation will become accessible to everyone, accepting the Messiah.

As for individuals, here many were defined by the free choice of man: because to be born Jewish was insufficient, it was still necessary to realize in his life this calling, which was potentially given to everyone, been born Jewish. To realize the spiritual calling without personal choice, is obviously completely impossible, then the question of the membership in the people of God was not only defined by the birth, but also by the entire life. The apostle, as seen, transfers this traditional representation on the Church, what is not surprising: because if we can be born Jewish, we are not born Christian, although the Church, quite as the Messiah Himself, was indubitably designed by God right before the creation of the world. And each, joining it, joins this plan, becoming a part of it, becoming the elected of God.

But it is insufficient to enter the Church once, it is necessary again to live in it. The Church is the earthly measure of the Kingdom, and if in the Kingdom it is possible to live, by applying only constant spiritual efforts in order not to lose it, then it is possible to say the same thing about life in the Church, and otherwise it would be easy to lose the elected. It would seem, God's calling is for ever. But indeed, the calling is only also a possibility, it is still necessary to reveal it, to reveal during the entire life, otherwise it will die, not having manifested itself.

Peter does not get tired to remind it, maybe, because already at his time began to appear in the Church people sincerely considering that their first step on the spiritual way is already its successful and victorious completion, that salvation and the fullness of life in the Kingdom are already guarantied to them, because they trusted their Savior and accepted baptism. But the Apostle, as seen, wants to dispel in them this delusion: because it could easily cost them salvation. Salvation, which is easy to lose and hard to find again later.