Introduction to 2 Peter

Who was it written to?

While 1 Peter was written to a number of churches and individuals in what is present-day Turkey, 2 Peter is much less clear about who the recipients are: they are simply described as those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours (2 Peter 1:1). However, in chapter 3:1, the writer refers to an earlier letter - most reasonably the letter we know as 1 Peter. This suggests that the people this letter is written to were some of those who received the first letter. They were probably one or two of those congregations where particular issues had arisen and needed to be addressed.

Who wrote it?

The letter itself claims to have been written by Simeon (a variant of Simon) Peter, and the traditional view has been that this is the same Peter as Simon Peter from the gospels and Acts and who wrote 1 Peter. The internal evidence of the letter supports this claim quite strongly, with the writer referring to the transfiguration (1:16-16, compare Mark 9:2-8) an important episode in Jesus life where Peter was a central figure. He also refers to the first letter of Peter (3:1) implying that this second letter is from the same person. However, there has been much debate about this. The Greek in this letter is of a very different type from the first, it has little in common with 1 Peter in terms of content and is clearly closely related to the letter of Jude (see below). While these, and other arguments, are important ones to consider, there are a number of reasons, not least the letters own testimony and the general acceptance of Peters authorship down the centuries, to accept that Simon Peter was indeed the author. Though, it does have to be said that voices were raised in early centuries to have 2 Peter and Jude excluded from the canon. One way to account for stylistic differences is the suggestion that Peter may have used different secretaries (or amanuenses) for the two letters. Any good commentary discusses
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these issues in detail, and Bauckhams introduction (see book list below) is especially helpful. If we accept the argument that Simon Peter wrote the letter, then it must have been written after 1 Peter and before 66/7 when he was martyred - putting it around 62-65. Like 1 Peter, it was probably written in Rome.

What is it about?
The occasion which led to Peters writing this letter seems to have been the rise of some teachers whose main false teaching centred on the return of Christ - the parousia. In other words, they held to an unorthodox eschatology. This was grounded in a belief that God was not truly in control of the world which was simply running as it always had been. This removal of the truth of the return of Christ led them to teachings which included licence in terms of sexual and sensual pleasure (2:2). In other words, if Christ is not going to return, he will not judge the world, therefore we can act in any way that we please.This scepticism of divine involvement in the world and of a divine purpose in creation probably came from the Greek philosophy of Epicureanism. Peter tackles this issue in a couple of important ways. He argues for the certainty of the parousia by referring to the transfiguration, in that just as Jesus revealed his glory at that time, so will he reveal his glory at his coming. Secondly, Gods acting in the future - his involvement with his creation - is certain because he acted in the past, and Peter cites creation and the flood (3:5-7) as two examples of this. In the midst of this, he also tackles faulty theology, by reminding his readers that God stands outside of time and sees it differently from the way we do. Finally, Peter refers to judgment as being part of Gods plan for bringing about the final victory over evil (2:3-10a). As a consequence of the reality of the parousia, Peter encourages his readers to holy living - as judgment is certain. But the encouragement to be what we are is not just because of this judgment, it is also because we have examples of this from the past which serve as ones we should emulate. Thus, he mentions both Noah and Lot as righteous men who lived within a society of evil (2:5-8).
Some parallels in 2 Peter and Jude
Jude :4 :6 :7 :8 :9 :10 :11 :12 :12 :13 :16 :17 :18 2 Peter 2:1-3 2:4 2:6 2:10 2:11 2:12 2:15 2:13 2:17 2:17 2:18 3:1-2 3:3

Adapted from Exploring the New Testament, 276

Perhaps one of the most helpful ways of understanding the letter is as a living testament a letter written as Peters final words in view of his impending martyrdom. Chapter 1:12-15 suggest that this is exactly what is going on: a final reminder of truths which should be recalled once Peter has died.

2 Peter and Jude

These two letters are two of the least read in the New Testament. Even a cursory reading of the letters shows some very real similarities in ideas, and even phrases (see box). This
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raises questions of authorship and of relationship between the two. We might explain it this way: 2 Peter and Jude were written by the same person Both use a common oral tradition Both use a common written tradition. Jude uses 2 Peter 2 Peter uses Jude There is no easy answer to this, but the final one seems to be as reasonable as any other, and indeed the most likely. As we have seen, there is debate over whether Peter wrote this letter - this debate extends to Jude. The claim of Jude is that it was written by a brother of James (1:1). The only James this could logically refer to is James, the brother of Jesus. While some people deny Judes authorship, there seems to be no real reason to do so.

How is it structured?
No one structure ever gives the whole picture of a petter, but this may be as helpful as any other and is adapted from Bauckhams commentary (p 135) and Moos commentary (p 26). I. Opening A. Greeting B. Summary Theme - Grow in the Knowledge of Christ C. Peters Testament II. Concerning False Teachers A. The Parousia Is Certain 1. Apostolic Eyewitness 2. Value of OT Prophecy 3. Reliability of OT Prophecy B. Prediction of False Teachers C. The Certainty of Judgment D. Denunciation of False Teachers 1. Sins of False Teachers 2. Fate of Those who Follow False Teaching III. Concerning Scoffers A. Prediction of Scoffers 1. The Scoffers Doubting of the Parousia B. Peters Reply 1. The Sovereignty of Gods Word 2. The Patience of God IV. Ending A. Exhortation B. Conclusion 1:1-15 1:1-2 1:3-11 1:12-15 1:16-2:22 1:16-21 1:16-18 1:19 1:20-21 2:1-3a 2:3b-10a 2:10b-22 2:10b-16 2:17-22 3:1-10 3:1-3 3:4 3:5-10 3:5-7 3:8-10 3:11-18 3:11-16 3:17-18

What books might I read?

A good introductory commentary on 2 Peter is: Hillyer N, 1992, 1 and 2 Peter, Jude, Carlisle: Paternoster Press, ISBN: 0853646708 A very accessible introduction to the letters and Revelation is: Marshall H, Travis S and Paul I, (2002) Exploring the New Testament Volume 2, London:SPCK, ISBN 0281054347 Two good, more extensive commentaries are: Moo DJ, 1996, 2 Peter, Jude, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, ISBN: 0310201047 Bauckham RJ, 1983, 2 Peter, Jude, Waco: Word Books, ISBN: 0849902495 For reading on the history of the early church, it is difficult to beat these two books: Bruce FF, 1958 (1995 reprint), The Spreading Flame, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, ISBN: 0853643482 Witherington B III, 2001, New Testament History, Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, ISBN: 0801027691 If you are interested in the life of Peter, someone who is often overlooked in New Testament scholarship, then the following book is a detailed, academic study of the evidence: Bockmuehl M, 2012, Simon Peter in Scripture and Memory, Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, ISBN: 9780801048647