Before Death, Remind Others - 2 Peter 1:12-15

 2 Peter 1:12-15 (ESV Strong's)

12 Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. 13 I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, 14 since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

Before Death, Remind Others 

Peter is about to die.   Jesus Christ actually told him how he was going to die:

John 21:18-19 (ESV Strong's) 

18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.)

In those verses Peter learned he would not die until he was old and that in his old age he was going to become dependent upon others for his care.   This doesn’t sound like much of a prophecy since most older people have this issue.   But, there is another truth in these verses. Peter is told that he will be lead where “he does not want to go.”  This is speaking of his martyrdom.   Peter, as he writes his second letter, must sense this type of death is on the horizon.  Hence he writes to believers to “remind” them of the qualities they must demonstrate in their faith, to assure they truly are in the faith (2 Peter 1:4-11).   He is writing to “stir” them up.  The writer of Hebrews has a similar thought:

Hebrews 10:24 (ESV Strong's)

24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,

Peter talks about the “putting off of my body.”   The Greek words here are the same as we would refer to taking off our clothes.  Peter is about to put away his body in death.  But, before he goes he wants to record theses words (1 & 2 Peter) to make sure they will “recall” them after his death.   The fact that we (and millions) are reading or have read 1 & 2 Peter) show the power of these words.  We are using them to “recall” the teachings of Christ.   This is not just an obligation of the Apostles, although their writings are authoritative.   This should be the desire of every parent that follows God.  To write out reminders for their children and those who follow.   To “recall” is a Greek word that speaks of “memory.”   The obligations of believers in one generation is to make sure the next generation knows these truths.   We out to be recording these truths in a way that the next generation of believers knows the truths we followed and how we followed them in good times and bad.