2 Peter — Introduction & Outline

No New Testament book's authenticity has been scrutinized more than 2 Peter. Those who dispute Peter as the author cite both external and internal problems. The external evidence is the weakest of all New Testament books. There are no quotations from the second century and only a few from the third century. Not until the fourth century is Petrine authorship strongly affirmed by Athanasius, Augustine, the Council of Laodicea and the Council of Carthage. Jerome placed 2 Peter in his Latin Vulgate about A.D. 404.

However, there are good reasons for the slow recognition of the authenticity of 2 Peter. Its slow circulation, perhaps due to the circumstances of persecution, kept it from being widely known. Also, its brevity and contents gave themselves to few quotable phrases, even as is noticed today. Furthermore, its stylistic differences with 1 Peter may have caused suspicion. These delays forced the epistle to compete with other works claiming Petrine authorship, further complicating the problem. Moreover, if the epistle was written before Peter's death, the apostle was unavailable to verify its genuiness.

Many objections have been raised from internal problems, but these too can be answered. The difference in style and vocabulary from 1 Peter are used against authenticity, but this can be explained by the use of Silvanus to write 1 Peter (1 Peter 5:12) and Peter's own hand for the second. It has been noted that the difference is not so much between the the two epistles anyway, but between the epistles and the rest of the New Testament. Some also claim Peter's mention of the collection of Paul's letters (3:15-16) argues for a late date, but there is no indication Peter meant all of Paul's epistles. Another argument for a late date is the assertion that Peter wrote to combat second century Gnosticism. However, the heresy of 2 Peter is too indefinite to be labeled specifically. The final argument comes from the relation of 2 Peter to Jude claiming that if Jude was first, then a notable apostle like Peter would not have borrowed so extensively from it. Furthermore, it is claimed, Jude was written after Peter's death. In answer, if Peter borrowed from Jude, he simply had in mind a different audience with a similar need. But it is most probable that 2 Peter was written first anyway, as tradition has maintained.

The authenticity of 2 Peter has stood the test of time and arguments of critics. It is clearly far superior to any pseudonymous writings. No reason exists to doubt Peter's claims as author (1:1) and the verifying claim of his witness of the Tranfiguration (1:16-18).

Peter indicates in this letter that his death is near (1:13-15). The traditional date of his death is A.D. 67-68 during the reign of Nero which lasted until A.D. 68. If Peter was in Rome at the end of his life as tradition asserts and alive when Paul wrote 2 Timothy about A.D. 67, then Paul would certainly have acknowledged his presence. Thus Peter wrote before A.D. 67, but after his first epistle dated at A.D. 64. The date is thus set at late A.D. 64 to early 67 from Rome.

Since 3:1 probably refers to 1 Peter, the destination is the same: the churches of Asia Minor (1 Peter 1:1). However, the general address in 1:1 shows a wider audience may be included. As seen from 1 Peter, the churches contained a mixture of Jews and Gentiles.

Peter is alerted to an outbreak of heresy in the churches of Asia Minor (2:1-3) and takes up his pen to help them in this immediate danger. Some urgency in writing may be attributed to Peter's anticipation of imminent death (1:13-15). But it is also clear he was prompted by the dangerous nature of the false teachers. They denied the Lord (2:1), were daring and irreverent (2:10-12), immoral (2:13), seductive (2:14,18), scoffers at Christ's return (3:3-4) and promised liberty though they themselves were slaves to sin (2:19). The false teachers were already at work (2:12,18; 3:5,16) and threatening to increase in influence (2:1-2; 3:3). The false teaching itself cannot be labeled, but certainly matches the description of false teaching elsewhere in the New Testament.

Peter writes to warn the readers about the false teachers and to encourage them to cultivate the Christian life so as to prevent them from being influenced. To do this he explains the grounds for the Christian life (1:3-21), exposes the wickedness of the false teachers (2:1-22) and renews the readers confidence in the Lord's coming (3:1-18a). In this way Peter intends to prevent apostasy (3:17).

Peter's introduction sets forth the preciousness of the faith and the righteousness that is through Jesus Christ (1:1-2). The superiority of the Christian faith and the righteousness of Christ will be the basis of his following appeal. In the first section of his epistle, Peter appeals for the cultivation of the Christian life (1:3-21). He urges the readers to grow in the Christian experience (1:3-11) based on the provision for growth in God's power and promises (1:3-4). The process of growth is the appropriation of these provisions through the exercise of Christian virtues (1:5-7). The readers should be motivated by the prospect of a productive knowledge of Christ (1:8-9) and the prospect of reward in eternity (1:10-11).

Peter then appeals to the authoritative grounds for the Christian life (1:12-21).

Peter has a personal concern to remind the readers of these truths about their faith (1:12-15). His testimony about the truth is based on objective proof (1:16-21). First, the apostolic faith is based on eyewitness testimony, Peter himself being present at the Transfiguration of Christ (1:16-18). But a more sure testimony to the truth is the prophetic revelation about Christ (1:19-21). If the readers realize what they have in Christ, cultivate their Christian experience and rest their faith on the authoritative grounds for the truth, they will be less likely to fall under the influence of false teachers who will offer something more but give less.

After setting forth the positive aspects of the Christian faith, Peter condemns the false teachers in very negative terms (2:1-22). He acknowledges their presence and predicts their influence and judgment (2:1-3). This judgment is assured by the examples of the wicked who were judged in the past: the fallen angels, the ungodly of Noah's time and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (2:4-9). Peter then describes the false teachers (2:10-22). Their evil character is displayed through disrespect of authority, evil speech, immorality, covetousness, avarice and worthlessness (2:10-17). They are deceptively seductive (2:18-19) and have secured for themselves a tragic end (2:20-22). Peter's strong condemnation, vivid description and certainty of judgment for these false teachers will warn the readers away from following them.

Peter's last section on the confidence of Christ's return (3:1-18a) was meant to address the specific teaching of the heretics which denied Christ's return (3:1-7). Peter counters the denial by recounting the certainty of the past judgment of the world by water (3:5-6) and comparing it to the certainty of the future judgment by fire (3:7). If it seems the Lord has delayed, he argues, it is because His perception of time is not as man's and His patience is allowing more people to repent (3:8-9). Christ will indeed return unexpectedly and with fire which will burn up the earth (3:10).

This expectation of Christ's sudden return and the establishment of new heavens and a new earth should motivate the readers to live godly lives as they watch for His coming (3:11-13). Therefore, Peter exhorts them to personal purity, just as their understanding of Paul's letters should motivate them (3:14-16). He also states his purpose for writing in 3:17: the readers should be encouraged to remain steadfast in the faith because of what they have learned from the letter about their Christian experience, the false teachers and their future hope. His final appeal to grow in the Lord is also preventative (3:18a).

Peter's strategy to protect the readers from the deception of the false teachers is to encourage them to grow in Christ. This will prevent weaknesses that can be preyed upon by the apostates. But Peter also warns them directly so that the readers can recognize these teachers and their certain judgment. He seals his preventative letter with a reminder and assurance of their future hope in Christ's return.

1. The Introduction 1:1-2

   1. The writer 1:1a
   2. The readers 1:1b
   3. The greeting 1:2
2. The Cultivation of the Christian Life 1:3-21

   1. The appeal for growth in the Christian life 1:3-11

      1. The provision for growth 1:3-4
      2. The process for growth 1:5-7
      3. The incentive for growth 1:8-9
      4. The reward for growth 1:10-11
   2. The authoritative grounds for the Christian life 1:12-21

      1. The personal concern of Peter 1:12-15
      1. His determination to remind them 1:12-13
      2. His motivation of approaching death 1:14
      3. His provision for after his death 1:15
      2. The objective nature of Christian truth 1:16-21

         1. The apostolic testimony 1:16-18
         1. The truthfulness of this testimony 1:16
         2. The content of this testimony 1:17-18
         2. The prophetic revelation 1:19-21
         1. The importance of this revelation 1:19
         2. The origin of this revelation 1:20-21
3. The Condemnation of the False Teachers 2:1-22

   1. The prediction of false teachers 2:1-3

      1. Their wicked character 2:1
      2. Their certain progress 2:2
      3. Their certain judgment 2:3
   2. The examples of divine judgment 2:4-9

      1. The examples of divine judgment in the past 2:4-8
      1. The example of the fallen angels 2:4
      2. The example of the antediluvian world 2:5
      3. The example of Sodom and Gomorrah 2:6-8
      2. The certainty of divine judgment in the future 2:9
   3. The description of false teachers 2:10-22

      1. Their evil character 2:10-17
      1. They disrespect authority. 2:10-11
      2. They speak evil. 2:12-13
      3. They desire what is not theirs. 2:14
      4. They compromise truth for money. 2:15-16
      5. They are worthless. 2:17
      2. Their seductive deception 2:18-19
      3. Their tragic position 2:20-22
4. The Confidence of Christ's Return 3:1-18a

   1. The denial of Christ's return 3:1-7

      1. Peter's purpose in writing 3:1-2
      2. The denial by the scoffers 3:3-4
      3. The fallacy of the scoffers 3:5-7
      1. The certainty of the past judgment by water 3:5-6
      2. The certainty of the future judgment by fire 3:7
   2. The defense of Christ's return 3:8-10

      1. The explanation of His delay 3:8-9
      2. The assurance of His return 3:10
   3. The expectation of Christ's return 3:11-13

      1. The conduct conforming to this hope 3:11
      2. The expectancy in the hope of His coming 3:12-13
   4. The diligence in view of Christ's coming 3:14-18a

      1. The appeal for personal purity 3:14-16
      1. The exhortation to peace and purity 3:14
      2. The basis supported by Paul's writings 3:15-16
      2. The appeal to remain steadfast 3:17
      3. The appeal to grow in the Lord 3:18a
5. The Doxology 3:18b