Daily Devotions
2 Peter
"Angels, who are greater in power and might"
Text: 2 Peter 2:11
AN EXTRA-BIBLICAL REFERENCE
Peter would cite the Scriptures for authority. But he also made reference to extra-biblical sources. However, he cited them, not for authority but for illustrative purposes.
“Whereas angels, who are greater in power and might,
do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.”
2 Peter 2:11
1. An illustration is given here
a) This is not a Biblical source.
b) We cannot verify what the reference is.
c) The closest we can find as an explanation is Jude 9.
d) This is known as an “extra-biblical source”.
i) It is a well-known source (to the people in those days).
ii) But the source is not found in the Scriptures.
e) The gist is as follows:
i) The archangel Michael was in dispute with Satan concerning the body of Moses.
ii) Michael had great authority himself, being an archangel.
iii) Satan, before he fell, was probably an archangel himself.
iv) In his dispute with the devil, Michael did not draw upon his authority
v) Instead, he used the name of the Lord as he spoke to the devil (Satan).
“The Lord rebuke you!”
Jude 9
2. The point Peter sought to make
a) These false teachers probably fancied themselves as powerful exorcists.
b) They went about “casting out demons”.
c) They were brash and brazen when they dealt with “demons”.
d) They despised these “authorities”.
3. The example of the mighty archangel Michael
a) He was far greater in power and might compared to the false teachers.
b) But he did not speak rudely at any time.
c) There was no bringing of a “reviling accusation” against them before the Lord.