In our “Young Adult” class on Sunday mornings we have started a study on the book of 2nd Peter. Here is a brief survey of the book.
Book Type: One of the New Testament’s General Epistles; the twenty-second book of the New Testament; the sixty-first book of the Bible.
Divinely Inspired Author (2nd Timothy 3:16): Simon Peter, one of the leaders among the twelve apostles. Peter was the main speaker at Pentecost (Acts 2), and fled Jerusalem after a miraculous escape from Herod around AD 42 (Acts 12). Little is known of his ministry after this time. Peter was at the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) and in Antioch around the same time as Paul (Galatians 2:11-14). Tradition notes that Peter died as a martyr under Nero in Rome around AD 65.
The authorship of this letter was somewhat controversial in early church history. The weight of evidence strongly supports the letter of 2nd Peter being written by the same author as 1st Peter (1st Peter 1:1; 2nd Peter 3:1), but subtle differences in style between the two have led to doubts. The consensus view is that this is Peter’s letter.
Original Audience: General Epistles were written for a general audience, rather than to a specific person or church. 2nd Peter is most likely written to the same audience as that of 1st Peter (2nd Peter 3:1). This included Gentile and Jewish believers, even though Peter’s ministry was focused primarily on Jews.
Date: Tradition teaches that Peter ministered in Rome during the AD 60s. Since Peter likely died during Nero’s persecution around AD 65, the letter was written prior to this time.
Overview: Peter’s focus in this letter is on false teaching and the dangers which it presents. The letter can be divided into three sections, corresponding to its three chapters.
The first chapter encourages the reader with a reminder that they are already equipped, by Christ, to lead the life God intended of them. The emphasis here is on living out a vibrant Christian faith, adding the characteristics of Christ to one’s example to the world (2nd Peter 1:1-15). Peter then adds to this encouragement with a reminder about evidence of fulfilled prophecy. Chief among these, for Peter, was his first-hand eyewitness of Jesus Christ’s transfiguration (2nd Peter 1:16-21).
The second chapter warns against the influence of false teachers. These deceptive voices draw people away from Christ, and into sin, by speaking about issues which they do not understand. Peter delivers a dire warning for these teachers, who will be judged harshly by God (2nd Peter 2:1-9). Those who fall for these schemes are enslaved to sin, something they prove by continually returning to their own moral filth (2nd Peter 2:10-22).
The third chapter directly counters the claims of the false teachers. Peter again states that those who pervert the message of God will be subject to extreme judgment. Everything which is not preserved by Christ will be utterly destroyed (2nd Peter 3:1-13). Peter concludes the letter with a final reminder that Christians can set aside sin and focus on preparing to live in peace with God. Notably, Peter also refers to the writings of the apostle Paul as “Scripture,” supporting the doctrine of divine inspiration (2nd Peter 3:14-18).