Time of writing
It is believed that Peter was crucified in ad 68 during the persecutions instigated by Nero from ad 64. The destruction of the Jewish State was imminent but had not yet occurred, as Peter says, “the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise and the elements shall melt with fervent heat” (3:10). Peter himself knew that his end was very near (1:14). It is therefore suggested that the epistle was written around ad 65–67.
The author
The first verse of chapter one clearly states that this is Simon Peter’s letter. He was given the two keys to the kingdom by his Lord and ministered primarily to the Jewish Christians, leaving the Gentile ministration to the Apostle Paul. He reminds his readers that he was an eyewitness of the “majesty” of the Lord and had not followed “cunningly devised fables” (1:16). This epistle was to be his last testament to his beloved brethren and sisters.
Theme
Chapter 1:10 contains a key message in Peter’s appeal: “give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.” He not only encourages his readers, he vigorously warns them against false teachers in chapter 2. The “new heavens and a new earth” (3:13) are the comfort he offers to his brethren and sisters.
Analysis:
1:1–4 Purpose of the great and precious promises
1:5–11 The qualities of the servants of Jesus Christ
1:12–15 Remember your calling
1:16–21 The certainty of the Truth
2:1–3 Beware of false teachers
2:4–9 Certainty of judgment on false teachers
2:10–16 They have forsaken the right way
2:17–22 They are servants of corruption
3:1–4 Scoffers shall come in the last days
3:5–7 They are willingly ignorant
3:8–12 The day of the Lord will come
3:13–16 Look for the new heavens
3:17–18 Grow in grace and knowledge
2 Peter 1
Peter begins his second epistle with similar words to his first epistle, noting his relationship to Jesus Christ as his apostle and adding, “a servant” of his Lord. We have received a “precious faith” (v1) and it is this faith that Peter wants to see developed and preserved in his beloved brethren and sisters. This is the burden of his epistle as he sees the beginnings of apostasy developing in the ecclesias; it is the subject of his second chapter.
However in this opening chapter he emphasises the wonderful fulness of the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ (v2,3,8) we have received. The word “knowledge” in these verses is epignosis which Vine defines as “a full knowledge, a greater participation by the knower in the object known, thus more powerfully influencing him”. As our Lord said, “This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3).
To this knowledge must be added the qualities of our Lord, as Peter outlines in verses 5–7. He notes that it will take diligence for these qualities to be developed. It is not the work of a moment but will take a lifetime of dedication and persistence. If we persevere in the development of these qualities we will “be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v8).
Peter then seeks to call their remembrance to things they knew well and had been told previously. He reminds them that not much time of his ministry remained:“Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me” (v14). Peter reminds us that we have not been following “cunningly devised fables” (v16), because he himself was a witness of the glory and majesty of the Lord Jesus Christ at the Transfiguration (Matt 17:1–6). The Lord had said to Peter, James and John, “Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead” (17:9). Peter had never forgotten this time spent with his Lord, especially the dramatic experience of the transformation of the Lord and the words of his Father, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (v17). We need to be reminded that the apostles were eyewitnesses of the life and resurrection of our Lord and that this power and experience had transformed their lives. We can have the utmost confidence in their words, inspired as they are by God, and having the stamp of authenticity from their own dedicated lives. “Scripture is not of any private interpretation … but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (v20–21).
2 Peter 2
This second chapter is the central portion of Peter’s letter and expresses his very real concern that the Truth would soon be corrupted, and even at that time there were indications that this destructive process had begun. Having set before us the precious calling we have received, Peter now warns of the very real threat to that calling. We have received the epignosis, the full knowledge of the “Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ”, but some were turning aside; they had “escaped the pollutions of the world”, but now he warns that “the latter end is worse with them than the beginning” (v20).
These false teachers were not a new dimension; their practices and teachings had been seen in other generations. Peter quotes the intervention of God in past ages to illustrate the condemnation of God and His just punishments upon any who corrupted His Truth or ways upon the earth. In verse 4 he refers us to Numbers 16 when Korah, Dathan and Abiram rebelled against Moses and Aaron. God summarily despatched them to the bowels of the earth for “the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up” (Num 16:32). Peter also quotes the days of Noah when men had corrupted God’s ways upon the earth. God “spared not the old world … bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly” (2:5). Finally, he notes the times of Lot when God destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, turning them “into ashes” because of their abominable practices.
In the midst of these examples and the just condemnation that Peter outlines, he is careful to note the faithful example of some in their generation. He singles out Noah and Lot, who withstood the corruption of their times and stand as an example to all ages and to us that faithfulness can be maintained, though wickedness be the common order of the day. As Peter says in verse 9, “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished” (v9).
The example of Balaam is given in verses 15–16, who though he received divine intervention through “the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice”, was so driven to receive the “wages of unrighteousness” that he devised counsel to corrupt the children of Israel. Balaam was caused to only utter the words of Yahweh when in the presence of Balak, the king of Moab, but his heart sought the riches of this world. Later when not constrained by the Word of God, he “caused the children of Israel … to commit trespass against Yahweh in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of Yahweh” (Num 31:16).
Thus Peter notes that the influence of false teachers was not new. They had wrought their havoc in past ages and would do so again to his generation. The lesson is also there for us today – beware and reject any teachings or practices that would corrupt the truth we have received. Follow the example of Noah and Lot who were faithful in their generation, despite the difficulties of their times.
2 Peter 3
In this chapter Peter seeks to encourage and edify his readers with the sure hope of the future. Though he warns of scoffers who would disparage the word of God, he also takes our minds to the “new heavens and a new earth” (v13). It is this glorious hope of the kingdom that also provides for us an anchor to our souls in the midst of this evil generation.
In the first seven verses Peter writes to “stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance”. The prophets and apostles plainly taught the “promise of his coming”. For Peter’s generation, this found its outcome in the events of ad 70 when the Jewish State was totally destroyed and the Jews led away captive to all nations as Jesus had prophesied. Peter urges them to hold fast to the words of their true teachers and to cast aside the taunts of the scoffers. God had acted in the past; He had overthrown the world with a flood (v6). Just as surely as God had acted in the days of Noah He would again fulfil His Word and overthrow the Jewish nation “reserved unto fire against the day of judgment”(v7).
The wonderful longsuffering of our God is mentioned in verse 8 where a thousand years are but as one day with our Lord. He is patient with his creation in all generations, but the times are marked out by God and He is “not slack concerning his promise” (v 9). The day would come when the Roman armies would be the vehicle of God’s just judgment upon the Jewish nation. Just as surely the day will soon be here when the Sun of righteousness will arise and begin the judgments of God upon our generation, prior to the establishment of the kingdom.
The lesson in all this for both Peter’s generation and our own is contained in verse 11: “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness?” What manner of persons indeed! The way of life now experienced by our world is transient. It will soon pass. We are at the end of the 6000 years of man’s dominion, but soon the day of rest, when God’s ways will prevail, is about to happen. As Peter says, “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless” (v14).
It is noteworthy that Peter speaks of his close relationship with his co-worker, the Apostle Paul in verses 15–16. He commends his writings to his readers; he speaks of Paul as “our beloved brother Paul” and commends the wisdom God gave him. In earlier years, the Apostle Paul had, rightly, the need to rebuke Peter in the matter of his separation from Gentile believers in Galatians 2:11–16. Peter accepted this brotherly rebuke, and in the closing words of his epistle notes his warm relationship with and endorsement of Paul. This is an example of the brotherly relationships that can and does exist, when brethren and sisters hold dear, principles greater than themselves.
Peter concludes his endearing letter with a summary that contains the essence of his message – beware of false teachers; hold fast to the Truth.
“Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”