The Second Epistle of Peter (2 Peter) is a timeless epistle that speaks to the contemporary believer as much as it did to the intended audience in the 1st century CE. The guidance on spiritual growth, false teaching, and the focus on the return of Christ resonates with Christians who face many of the same challenges that Peter’s audience faced. It is an inspiring letter that encourages the reader to remain steadfast and strong by highlighting the hope for redemption for all who remain faithful.
Authorship and Date
The epistle identifies Simeon (Simon) Peter as the author, a claim that he confirms by the statement that he was an eyewitness to the transfiguration of Jesus. It was not as commonly known as 1 Peter; when the Church Father Origen refers to it in the early 3rd century CE, he seems to doubt whether Peter was the author. Eusebius also questioned the Petrine authorship but acknowledged that many other Church Fathers were convinced of it. However, by the end of the 3rd century, most Church Fathers had accepted 2 Peter as canonical.
In recent centuries, scholars have challenged the authorship due to differences in style between 1 and 2 Peter. These differences may be due to the subject matter or the amanuensis (secretary) who did the actual writing. Other scholars argue that the reference to Paul’s work shows that this epistle dates much later than Peter’s lifetime, but it is not impossible that a collection of Paul’s work could have been available to Peter before he passed. The reference from 2 Peter 3:15-16 does not specify a full collection of Pauline writings. Rather, it shows a general awareness of some of the letters by Paul. Considering the prevalence of communication between churches, it is not unreasonable to suggest Peter could have had exposure to some of the early epistles by Paul.
2 Peter refers to a prior letter, which is likely to be 1 Peter. This epistle must, therefore, be dated after the first, but before the end of Nero’s reign. That dates this epistle to between 65 and 68 CE.
Historical Context
The historical context of 2 Peter overlaps with that of 1 Peter. The second followed shortly after the first but addressed different challenges the church faced. 1 Peter had external threats and the persecution of the church as a primary theme. 2 Peter addresses internal threats.
Leaders in the church were teaching falsehoods and living lives that were not consistent with biblical morals. They seem to have been greedy and corrupt. Peter addresses the audience as a shepherd (pastor) aiming to guide his flock through troublesome times. He is concerned with their spiritual growth, warns them against false teachers, and wants them to focus on the return of Christ. He calls on his readers to hold on to the distinct characteristics of authentic Christian living in a mostly-pagan world.
Structure
Salutation (2 Peter 1:1-2)
Peter identifies himself as the author of the letter and addresses it to “those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.” Later, when Peter refers to the first letter, it becomes clear that the audience is most likely the same group of exiles in Asia Minor he addressed in 1 Peter.
Purpose and authority of Peter’s epistle (2 Peter 1:3-11)
Peter explains how God divinely enables believers to do his bidding. He then calls his audience to strive toward spiritual growth and highlights the benefits thereof.
Warning against false teachers (2 Peter 2:1-22)
Peter warns against false teachers, pointing out their way of life. They were profiteering from the church while living immorally. He then points out the falsehood of their teaching as they claimed God would not return.
Christ’s return (2 Peter 3:1-16
Peter points out that the seeming delay in Christ’s return is a sign of his patience. He then describes what would happen when Christ returns and that the return is the blessed hope for believers.
Greetings (2 Peter 3:17-18)
Peter admonishes his readers to remain steadfast in truth and closes his letter with a doxology.
Main Themes
The importance of spiritual growth
Peter wants his audience to commit to developing certain character traits that align with the nature of God. These are goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love. Peter argues that these traits will increase the effectiveness of believers in performing their tasks as Christians who live their faith.
The dangers of false teaching
Peter mentions three examples where false teaching led to destruction. The first was the fall of the angels, the second was the flood, and the third was the events surrounding the annihilation of Sodom and Gomorrah. These serve as warnings against the false prophets that were active among 2 Peter’s audience.
The reliability of scripture
Peter emphasizes that the Holy Spirit is the voice behind scripture. The Bible is trustworthy and inspired because it was not brought about by men, but God inspired men to write as the Holy Spirit led them. He points to prophecy as proof of the reliability of the Bible.
Certainty of Christ’s return
The false teachers sought to undermine the faith in Christ’s return. Peter explains that the delay should not be misinterpreted as the return not happening at all. It is a sign of God’s patience. God’s time is not human time.
Key Passages
2 Peter 1:17-21
“For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,’ we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
Peter starts out by referencing his own experience of seeing Christ transfigured. He then claims that prophecy more surely confirms the truth than what he saw himself. He points out that Biblical prophecy originates with the Holy Spirit, not with men. The men were simply the vehicles by which the prophecies were delivered.
2 Peter 2:4
“For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment;”
This verse covers the first of three examples of God judging those who promoted false teachings. It alludes to 1 Enoch (The Book of Enoch) which details the fall of the angels and shows Peter’s knowledge of works not included in the Biblical canon. Peter continues on this theme and applies it to the circumstances of his intended audience as a warning.
2 Peter 3:9-10
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.”
Peter points out that God works on a different time scale than men do. His patience with man continues but the return that coincides with the destruction of the temporal is assured. The term he uses in verse 10, “the day of the Lord will come like a thief” is almost identical to that of Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:2, “the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night,” pointing to the same event.
Contemporary Significance
2 Peter has universal value as a letter of warning and inspiration throughout the ages. Though times and circumstances have changed, the essential struggles of believers remain the same. Believers can relate to the challenges and inspiration 2 Peter presents because it resonates with their own experiences.
Believers today will benefit as much from working toward spiritual growth as those from the 1st century. Likewise, Christianity suffers from many false teachings, more so than the time 2 Peter was written. The letter provides guidance and hope in such circumstances.
Due to almost two millennia passing since Peter authored this epistle, the scoffers mentioned in 2 Peter 3:3 have only increased. Still, the promise of Christ’s return remains true for Christians. Peter pointed to prophecy as a guiding light to believers, and many believers interpret the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation as pointing to the imminent coming of Jesus.
