Welcome to my site, which contains a wide variety of articles relating to the Christian life, the gospel, the Great Commission, discipleship, biblical cosmology, Israel and Dispensationalism, the new covenant, the church, the value of the Septuagint, and other important topics, including summaries of books and prayers for specific issues. You will also find links to books I have written or am in the process of creating. I hope this content blesses and strengthens you on your discipleship journey with our Lord and Savior, Jesus.
You may be wondering why I call this site “Third Peter.” I am the third in a long line of Pete Becks, going back to my grandfather and extending to my grandson. While my father was alive, it was always necessary to call me “the third” to prevent confusion, since, for some reason, we all go by our middle name, Pete. Presently there are two other Pete Becks in the family to keep in order; hence – the website name. Since most Bible readers know that the apostle Peter only wrote two books, hopefully the title sparks some interest.
I became a follower of Christ in 1971 during the height of the Jesus Revolution. My lovely wife is the one who shared the gospel with me long before we married. I owe her a lot. Together we have served the Lord since that time in one capacity or another.
Even before I came to know the Lord, I believe God gave me a love for the truth. That was largely behind my quest to discover if Jesus is indeed who the Bible says he is.
When the Holy Spirit opened my heart to believe in the risen Lord Jesus as a young college student, my quest for truth was satisfied by encountering the one who is “The Truth.” (John 14:6) Although, as is the case with us all, there is still much to learn, the one who is the Truth, Jesus, satisfies my deepest longings and always will. The Holy Spirit has guided me into more and more truth over the years through my study of his holy Word, the Bible. (John 16:13)
The longer I live, the more appreciation and awe I have for God’s written Word.
I am not embarrassed by or make excuses for any part of the Bible, even if it disagrees with what is commonly accepted or believed by most people. God’s Word does not require our approval for it to be true.
God’s Word reigns supreme over every other voice or opinion, including that which masquerades as science.
God’s people are not to be intimidated by Satan’s lies, no matter how many people rally around them. We are to proclaim God’s truth no matter how many people oppose it. We are to faithful to God’s Word even in the face of contradiction and suffering. Mankind in general hates the truth and resists it with a passion. Jesus said:
44 “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 “But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 “Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 “He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God.” John 8:44–47 (NASB95)
Knowing this, Paul wrote:
...let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written, “THAT YOU MAY BE JUSTIFIED IN YOUR WORDS, AND PREVAIL WHEN YOU ARE JUDGED.” Romans 3:4 (NASB95)
My prayer is that we will never close our hearts to God’s truth and become what the Bible calls an “old wine skin” – hardened and unable to receive or contain what God is currently doing or revealing to his church. The depth and breadth of God and his Word are without limit. Knowing God better will be an eternal and glorious occupation for his people. In addition, I pray that God’s people will have the courage to stand for God’s truth, even when it is unpopular and costly. God will reward those who do.
23 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. 24 “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. 25 “For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? 26 “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. Luke 9:23–26 (NASB95)
After serving for over 30 years as pastor of the church we helped plant in Burlington, NC, in 2023 I retired and handed those responsibilities to another who is doing a very fine job. I continue to study, teach, write, and do what I can to support and help out in our small-group-based local church and in the body of Christ at large, as opportunities arise.
God has blessed my wife and me with four exceptional children, ten amazing grands, and five great-grandchildren. We reside in Burlington, NC.
Pete Beck III
Bible Teacher and Author