Forgetful (2 Pet 1:9)

“Anyone

Who lacks these things

Is short-sighted

And blind.

They are forgetful

About the cleansing

Of their past sins.”

ᾧ γὰρ μὴ πάρεστιν ταῦτα, τυφλός ἐστιν μυωπάζων, λήθην λαβὼν τοῦ καθαρισμοῦ τῶν πάλαι αὐτοῦ ἁμαρτιῶν.

This author said, “Anyone who lacks these things (ᾧ γὰρ μὴ πάρεστιν ταῦτα) is short-sighted (ἐστιν μυωπάζων) and blind (τυφλός).  They are forgetful (λήθην) about the cleansing (τοῦ καθαρισμοῦ) of their past sins (τῶν πάλαι αὐτοῦ ἁμαρτιῶν).”  Among the canonical Greek New Testament writings, this is the only time that this word appears in 2 Peter, μυωπάζων, that means to be shortsighted, blink, or see dimly, and the word λήθην, that means forgetfulness or oblivious.  This author continued to point out the importance of the supplements to faith.  Neither faith or knowledge alone was sufficient.  If they lacked faith, goodness, knowledge, discipline, patience, godliness, brotherly mutual affection, and love, they were either blind or short-sighted.  They had a myopic view of being a Christian.  They had forgotten that God had cleansed their former sins.  Do you remember that God has cleansed you from your former past sins?