One of the most critical truths about interpreting the Scriptures is by answering all the major questions related to each letter. Questions like: To whom is the author addressing? What about its content can be learned regarding the purpose of the letter? Were any historical conditions present that affect its application? What major promises were being fulfilled at that time in history? Such questions provide a valuable contribution to proper interpretation and application. Generally, it has been said that the Bible was not written to us, but for us. As with any pronoun, one has to back up into the context to find the antecedent of the pronoun.
To illustrate, let’s look at some passages that use the pronoun “us” or “we” to determine of whom the writer is referring. In many cases, the pronoun refers to all believers. Sometimes, it refers to fellow Jews of which Paul was included. Acts 6:14, “For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.” Acts 7:38 reads, “He was in the assembly in the wilderness, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors; and he received living words to pass on to us. Acts 11:15 reads, “And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Acts 13:26 reads, “Fellow children of Abraham and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent. Acts 15:8 reads, “God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us.
Consider Acts 3:4 and 12. They read as follows: “And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.” Verse twelve reads, “And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?” The us is clearly a reference to Peter and John. Obviously, few people would make the mistake of including themselves in the “us.”
1 Corinthians 2 has Paul starting out with the pronoun “I” in the first three verses and “my” in the following verse that pertain to his preaching. The book opened with Paul chiding them for naming themselves after the person who baptized them. Apollos, Peter were listed along with Paul as being those teachers of whom the disciples had named themselves. Verses 6 and 7 has, “we speak.” Verse ten reads, “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. The Spirit revealed them unto His holy apostles and prophets (cf. Ephesians 3:5; 2 Peter 3:2). Ephesians 3 distinguishes the brethren from Ephesus and Paul, the apostle in the following way. Paul receives God’s mind by revelation but the saints in Ephesus received it by reading what he wrote. To apply the “us” of 1 Corinthians 2:10 to you and me misses this truth. 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 reads, “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” The apostles were the ambassadors of Christ. 2 Corinthians 3:2-3 reads, “Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. Hebrews 1:2-3 reads, “Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds …. How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him (the apostles, tjg). Mark 16:20 explains how it was confirmed by those who heard him. Those who heard him were eyewitnesses and as they went everywhere preaching the word, the Lord was working with them confirming the Word by miracles that followed. Peter explains that the apostles were eyewitnesses of His majesty (2 Peter 1:16-18). In his first epistle, Peter writes that they had not seen Him (like the apostles had) nor do they see Him now (1Peter 1:8-9). Yet, he explains that they have joy inexpressible and full of glory. Peter enjoyed a unique priviledge that was shared only with a couple.
Further, after all the teaching, he would say that the reason he writes is to put them in remembrance (2 Peter 1:12-15). Yet, we have professed Christians claiming today that God speaks to them in dreams and visions or some still small voice. Peter does not expect it will happen to these Christians. They did not see him when he walked the earth and they do not see Him now. The truth received is by Peter putting them in remembrance.