LESSONS ON II PETER

INTRODUCTION TO II PETER

	The language of Peter’s second epistle is somewhat different from that which he employed in his first letter. Understanding the purpose for which he wrote each letter can help us determine the reason why.  In his first letter Peter was concerned with the external threat to the church through persecution from the Roman state.  In the second letter he is concerned with the internal threat to the church through the influence of false teachers.  Whereas the first letter was written to comfort and encourage, the second was written to warn and expose.  Hence, the difference in language.
	Although the genuineness and authenticity of II Peter has been held in question by some, I believe the book in inspired of God from the following internal evidence:
1.	The author identifies himself as Peter (1:1)
2.	He claims apostleship (1:1)
3.	He had been personally informed by Christ as to how he would die (1:13)
4.	He witnessed the transfiguration of Christ (1:16-18)
5.	He has already written a previous letter to the same people (3:1)
6.	He was familiar with the writings of Paul (3:15)
7.	He includes similar words and teachings found in his first epistle, i.e., “precious,” I Peter 1:7; II Peter 1:1; and the doctrine of last things, I Peter 1:5; II Peter 3:10.

	For a fuller defense of the authenticity of II Peter see the introductory material to II Peter in The New Bible Commentary (Eerdmans) by Davidson, Stibbs, and Kevan.
	II Peter is the last letter of a man who knows he is about to die (1:13).  Peter is living in the shadow of an inverted Roman cross.  Therefore, there is a great sense of urgency in his words.  The man who was once a “hot-headed” disciple is now a “hot-hearted” pastor.  He urges his scattered flock to make their calling and election sure (1:3-11), assures them that the Scripture he writes is inspired of God (1:12-21), warns of false teachers (chapter 2), and predicts the day of the Lord and the destruction of the world (chapter 3).
	The book is thought to have been written about 66 or 67 A.D.  The place of writing is not stated.
	Since there is so much similarity between II Peter (especially chapter 2) and the book of Jude, a few words of explanation may be appropriate here.  Peter predicts the coming of false teachers (most of his verbs are in the future tense, 2:1) whereas Jude refers to false teachers as a present reality in his day (Jude 4).  Jude also tells his readers to remember the words of the apostles (Jude 17) and then proceeds to quote II Peter 3:3 almost verbatim (Jude 18).  Peter wrote his material about 66 or 67 A.D. and died under Nero about 68 A.D.  Jude was written between 75 and 80 A.D.  So it appears that for these reasons it is Jude quoting Peter rather than Peter quoting Jude.