Peter was unconfused about the truth. Like our day, he lived in generally confusing times. Right was called wrong and wrong right. From Rome to Pompeii, moral relativism prevailed. In the words of Judges, “Everyone did what was right in their own eyes.” Peter could have easily defaulted to popular opinion and said, “Then again, what do I know!” What was Peter’s standard for Christian belief and behavior?
Like Paul, Peter appealed to God who had given him everything he needed for life and godliness. As an eyewitness to majesty, Peter was there on the Mount of Transfiguration when the voice of the Father confirmed, “This is my Son whom I love . . .” And how did Jesus describe his decision to resist sin? “It is written . . .” he said to Satan three times, once for each temptation. Peter also appealed to the scriptures because he was unconfused about the reliability of the First Testament. The prophets did not write these words on a whim. We can trust the prophets because they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. Peter also heard God’s voice in the inspired letters written by Paul (2 Peter 3:16). As Paul wrote to Timothy, “All scripture is God-breathed . . .”
