Second Epistle of Peter
INTRODUCTION
"In 1 Peter the emphasis falls on suffering, in 2 Peter, on false teachers and false teachings; consequently the former Epistle is one of consolation, the latter, of warning. Peter’s antidote to false teaching is true spiritual knowledge. The word know and its cognates occurs sixteen times in the Greek text (1:2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 12, 14, 16, 20; 2:9, 20, 21 twice; 3:3, 17, 18, 20). In six of these references Peter uses an intensified form of the word (1:2, 3, 8; 2:20, 21 twice). This word means additional knowledge, full knowledge. Peter speaks of a knowledge that rests on facts and is communicated to the believer by the Holy Spirit. The grace and peace which he invokes upon his readers are to issue in 'the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him' (1:2, 3)" (Thiessen).
All Second Epistles of the New Testament have a special message for these last days and Second Peter is certainly no exception. Like the whole of his First Epistle, the first chapter of Second Peter is of a practical nature. Also in his first chapter, Peter gives convincing proof of his authorship by referring to the transfiguration of Christ.
In the second chapter, Peter deals with apostasy. Much of the language here is blunt and sharp. Apostasy today is just as serious as in Peter's day, and if he lived today, no doubt he would be just as blunt and sharp against it, as we should be.
The third chapter is primarily prophetic. Scoffers had arisen belittling the coming of Christ and saying that things had not changed since the creation. Peter proves that there had been great geological changes in the past and states that there would also be great changes in the future. In this age of technical advancement and more powerful atomic bombs, we will certainly find the study of this third chapter interesting, helpful, and encouraging.
The Second Epistle – Basic Plan:
Introduction, 1:1-4
(1) The Exhortations to Develop Christian Graces, 1:5-11
(2) The Ground for Peter's Authority to Exhort and to Teach, 1:12-21
(3) The Warnings Against False Teachers, ch. 2
(4) The Admonitions in Light of the Certainty and Imminence of the Lord's return, ch. 3
This epistle differs slightly from the first in language and style which can be accounted for by the subject matter. All doubts as to the genuineness of this epistle ceased to exist about the end of the fourth century. The second chapter bears a strong resemblance to the Epistle of Jude, but this does not invalidate the Petrine authorship.
It is probable that it was written shortly before Peter's death or about the time that Paul wrote the Second Epistle to Timothy since the martyrdom of these two apostles occurred about the same time. The fact that he refers to the writings of Paul (3:15, 16) does not require a later date than the apostolic age.
While the purpose of this epistle differs from that of the first, it is addressed to the same persons. False teachings were prevalent. Heretics and scoffers were exercising a pernicious influence, and against such teachings and teachers this epistle sounds a note of warning.
The Apostle Peter
It was Peter who took the initiative at different times while under the training of our Lord. He was aggressive, active, and forceful. In that critical moment – the crisis of the Christ – when he asked, "Will ye also go away?" it was Peter who said "To whom shall we go?" It was Peter who declared he would never leave his Lord. It was Peter who preached the first Christian sermon and became the chief personage in the early days of the Church.
It was Peter who made the great confession, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." In reply Christ declared, "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church." This passage has been misinterpreted by those who fail to distinguish between Petros, Peter, a single stone, and petra, a mass of rock. It is upon the petra that Christ declared He would build His Church. Based largely upon this passage, there are those who have mistakenly invested Peter with an apostolic importance which is entirely unwarranted and has no scriptural support. There is nothing in any of the epistles to intimate that any such preeminence attached to Peter. Nowhere in Peter's epistles do we find anything to authorize or justify this notion of primacy conferred upon him, but on the contrary, his epistles are against such a supposition.
When a discussion arose among the disciples as to which of them should be greatest in the kingdom, Jesus never settled those disputes by declaring that to Peter had been assigned such distinction, and if such had been assigned him Jesus could never have answered the disciples in the way that He did.
In our introductory notes on the Peter's first epistle, reference was made to the time Peter spent in Rome. One religious group maintains that the church at Rome was founded by Peter and that he labored there for twenty-five years. We have no knowledge whatsoever as to the founding of that church, and we do have clear evidence that Peter did not spend any such time in Rome. On strong authority we know that he suffered martyrdom under Nero about 68 a.d.
When Paul wrote his Epistle to the Romans about ten years before Peter's death, he makes no mention of Peter in his salutation, and it is unbelievable that he would omit to make such mention of him if Peter was then serving that church. Furthermore, it is a serious question whether Paul would have written his epistle if Peter was over that church, since it was his principle not to build on another man's foundation.
This great apostle, who served his Divine Master so zealously, for His sake died a martyr's death. According to tradition, he suffered crucifixion with his head downwards as an expression of his sorrow and humility for having denied his Lord just before His death. With Paul, his brother apostle, he finished his course and passed on from earthly to heavenly things to be with his Lord.
Outline of the Peter’s Second Epistle:
Exhortation to Spiritual Growth (chapter 1)
This exhortation in view of his approaching death; That he has faithfully declared the Gospel; He recalls his remarkable experience in being with Christ in the mount of transfiguration, and for their spiritual grounding reminds them of the sure word of prophecy
False Teachers, Their Teachings and Their End (chapter 2)
Such teachers will continue to appeal; Their sinful practices described; They will be destroyed as surely as were the unrighteous of an earlier day
The Second Coming of the Lord (chapter 3)
Scoffers will deny the signs of His coming; Interpretation of delayed judgments; Description of the new heavens and new earth; Christian living enhanced by the hope of His coming
