Peter wrote his first epistle to encourage his readers to respond properly to external opposition. His second epistle focuses on internal opposition caused by false teachers whose "destructive heresies" (2:1) can seduce believers into error and immorality. While First Peter speaks of the new birth through the living Word, Second Peter stresses the need for growth in the grace and knowledge of Christ. The best antidote for error is a mature understanding of the truth. Second Peter divides into three parts: cultivation of Christian character (1); condemnation of false teachers (2); and confidence of Christ's return (3).
Cultivation of Christian Character (l): Peter's salutation (l: I -2) is an introduction to the major theme of chapter 1, that is, the true knowledge of Jesus Christ. The readers are reminded of the "great and precious promises" that are theirs because of their calling to faith in Christ (1:3-4). They have been called away from the corruption of the world to conformity with Christ, and Peter urges them to progress by forging a chain of eight Christian virtues from faith to love (l: 5-7). lf a believer does not transform profession into practice, he becomes spiritually useless, perverting the purpose for which he was called (1 :8-l I ).
This letter was written not long before Peter's death (l: l4) to remind believers of the riches of their position in Christ and their responsibility to hold fast to the truth (1:12-21). Peter knew that his departure from this earth was imminent, and he left this letter as a written legacy. As an eyewitness of the life of Christ (he illustrates this with a portrait of the Transfiguration in I: l6-l 8), Peter affirms the authority and reliability of the prophetic word. The clearest biblical description of the divine-human process of inspiration is found in chapter 1, verse 2l: "but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit."
Condemnation of False Teachers (2): Peter's discussion of true prophecy leads him to on extended denunciation of false prophecy in the churches. These false teachers were especially dangerous because they arose within the church and undermined the confidence of believers (2:1 -3). Peter's extended description of the characteristics of these false teachers (2:10-22) exposes the futility and corruption of their strategies. Their teachings and life-styles reek of arrogance and selfishness, but their crafty words are capable of enticing immature believers.
Confidence of Christ’s Return (3): Again Peter states that this letter is designed to stir up the minds of his readers “by way of reminder" (3:’l; cf. I: 13). This very timely chapter is designed to remind them of the certain truth of the imminent parousia (this Greek word, used in 3:4, 12, refers to the Second Coming or the advent of Christ) and to refute those mockers who will deny this doctrine in the last days. These scoffers will claim that God does not powerfully intervene in world affairs, but Peter calls attention to two past and one future divinely induced catastrophic events: the Creation, the Flood, and the dissolution of the present heavens and earth (3: I -7). It may appear that the promise of Christ's return will not be fulfilled, but this is untrue for two reasons: God's perspective on the passing of time is quite unlike that of men, and the apparent delay in the parousia is due to His patience in waiting for more individuals to come to a knowledge of Christ (3:8-9). Nevertheless, the day of consummation will come, and all the matter of this universe will evidently be transformed into energy from which God will fashion a new cosmos (3: I 0-l 3).
ln light of this coming day of the Lord, Peter exhorts his readers to live lives of holiness, steadfastness, and growth (3:.l4-.l8). He mentions the letters of "our beloved brother Paul" and significantly places them on a level with the Old Testament scriptures (3:.l5-.l6). After a final warning about the danger of false teachers, the epistle closes with an appeal to growth, and a doxology. Baptism (the water), but also at His death (the blood; 5:6-8). (5) The divine witness to the person of Christ is worthy of complete belief (5:9-.l3). (6) This belief produces confident access to God in prayer (5:1 4-1 7). Since intercessory prayer is o manifestation of love for others, the chain has come full circle. The epilogue (5:18-21) summarizes the conclusions of the epistle in a series of three certainties: (1) Sin is a threat to fellowship, and it should be regarded as foreign to the believer’s position in Christ (cf. Rom. 6). (2) The believer stands with God against the satanic world system. (3) The incarnation produces true knowledge and communion with Christ. Since He is "the true God and eternal life," the one who knows Him should avoid the lure of any substitute.
Second Peter:
by Rob Morgan
Apr 16, 2013
Second Peter:
Peter wrote his first epistle to encourage his readers to respond properly to external opposition. His second epistle focuses on internal opposition caused by false teachers whose "destructive heresies" (2:1) can seduce believers into error and immorality. While First Peter speaks of the new birth through the living Word, Second Peter stresses the need for growth in the grace and knowledge of Christ. The best antidote for error is a mature understanding of the truth. Second Peter divides into three parts: cultivation of Christian character (1); condemnation of false teachers (2); and confidence of Christ's return (3).
Cultivation of Christian Character (l): Peter's salutation (l: I -2) is an introduction to the major theme of chapter 1, that is, the true knowledge of Jesus Christ. The readers are reminded of the "great and precious promises" that are theirs because of their calling to faith in Christ (1:3-4). They have been called away from the corruption of the world to conformity with Christ, and Peter urges them to progress by forging a chain of eight Christian virtues from faith to love (l: 5-7). lf a believer does not transform profession into practice, he becomes spiritually useless, perverting the purpose for which he was called (1 :8-l I ).
This letter was written not long before Peter's death (l: l4) to remind believers of the riches of their position in Christ and their responsibility to hold fast to the truth (1:12-21). Peter knew that his departure from this earth was imminent, and he left this letter as a written legacy. As an eyewitness of the life of Christ (he illustrates this with a portrait of the Transfiguration in I: l6-l 8), Peter affirms the authority and reliability of the prophetic word. The clearest biblical description of the divine-human process of inspiration is found in chapter 1, verse 2l: "but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit."
Condemnation of False Teachers (2): Peter's discussion of true prophecy leads him to on extended denunciation of false prophecy in the churches. These false teachers were especially dangerous because they arose within the church and undermined the confidence of believers (2:1 -3). Peter's extended description of the characteristics of these false teachers (2:10-22) exposes the futility and corruption of their strategies. Their teachings and life-styles reek of arrogance and selfishness, but their crafty words are capable of enticing immature believers.
Confidence of Christ’s Return (3): Again Peter states that this letter is designed to stir up the minds of his readers “by way of reminder" (3:’l; cf. I: 13). This very timely chapter is designed to remind them of the certain truth of the imminent parousia (this Greek word, used in 3:4, 12, refers to the Second Coming or the advent of Christ) and to refute those mockers who will deny this doctrine in the last days. These scoffers will claim that God does not powerfully intervene in world affairs, but Peter calls attention to two past and one future divinely induced catastrophic events: the Creation, the Flood, and the dissolution of the present heavens and earth (3: I -7). It may appear that the promise of Christ's return will not be fulfilled, but this is untrue for two reasons: God's perspective on the passing of time is quite unlike that of men, and the apparent delay in the parousia is due to His patience in waiting for more individuals to come to a knowledge of Christ (3:8-9). Nevertheless, the day of consummation will come, and all the matter of this universe will evidently be transformed into energy from which God will fashion a new cosmos (3: I 0-l 3).
ln light of this coming day of the Lord, Peter exhorts his readers to live lives of holiness, steadfastness, and growth (3:.l4-.l8). He mentions the letters of "our beloved brother Paul" and significantly places them on a level with the Old Testament scriptures (3:.l5-.l6). After a final warning about the danger of false teachers, the epistle closes with an appeal to growth, and a doxology. Baptism (the water), but also at His death (the blood; 5:6-8). (5) The divine witness to the person of Christ is worthy of complete belief (5:9-.l3). (6) This belief produces confident access to God in prayer (5:1 4-1 7). Since intercessory prayer is o manifestation of love for others, the chain has come full circle. The epilogue (5:18-21) summarizes the conclusions of the epistle in a series of three certainties: (1) Sin is a threat to fellowship, and it should be regarded as foreign to the believer’s position in Christ (cf. Rom. 6). (2) The believer stands with God against the satanic world system. (3) The incarnation produces true knowledge and communion with Christ. Since He is "the true God and eternal life," the one who knows Him should avoid the lure of any substitute.