2 PETER—NOTE ON 1:1–2 Initial Greeting. Peter’s greeting is short and to the point. He identifies himself and his audience, and offers a blessing.
Facing death. As Peter wrote this second letter, apparently he knew that he would die soon (1:14). He was probably martyred during the persecution of Christians following the Great Fire of Rome in A.D. 64. See also 1 Pet. 4:12.
2 PETER—NOTE ON 1:1 Simeon. A Hebrew spelling of Simon. Peter, as an apostle of Jesus Christ, writes to those who have a faith of equal standing. All believers share equal privileges before God. This standing was accomplished by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ. “Righteousness” refers here to God’s saving righteousness. Jesus is called “God and Savior.” This is one of the clearest NT statements about Christ’s deity (compare Titus 2:13; see also chart).
2 PETER—NOTE ON 1:2 In his initial blessing of his readers, Peter mentions a common theme in the letter: true knowledge of God and of Jesus. This verse also points to the deity of Christ (see note on v. 1).
2 PETER—NOTE ON 1:3–11 God’s Grace in Christ Is the Source of Godly Living. In this first main section, Peter emphasizes that God’s grace results in godliness.
2 PETER—NOTE ON 1:3 called us to his own glory and excellence. Believers are called to live in harmony with God’s moral character. On God’s “glory,” see note on John 1:14; compare Rev. 21:23. Greek writers used the word “excellence” to describe the sum total of all desirable character qualities.
2 PETER—NOTE ON 1:4 partakers of the divine nature. Believers never become part of God, yet they share in his nature as they become increasingly like him. The great promises include the promises Peter identifies in his Pentecost sermon in Acts 2:14–41. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit in new power is particularly important. Other promises include likeness to God (2 Pet. 1:4; see 1 John 3:2), Christ’s return (2 Pet. 3:4), and eternal life in heaven (1 Pet. 1:4).
2 PETER—NOTE ON 1:5 supplement your faith. Peter encourages Christians to confess faith in Christ and to live as he taught. All the virtues listed in vv. 5–7 are results of faith.
2 PETER—NOTE ON 1:6 Godliness means “piety, devotion to God” (also in vv. 3, 7; 3:11; see 2 Tim. 3:5).
2 PETER—NOTE ON 1:9 The one who lacks these qualities (vv. 5–7) is spiritually blind and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his sins. Perhaps this describes a person whose “cleansing” was merely external and did not come from a truly changed heart. It could also describe a genuine Christian who has fallen into serious sin.
2 PETER—NOTE ON 1:10 Christians should be diligent to confirm their calling and election. God calls believers to faith through the gospel (2 Thess. 2:14), but he has also chosen (elected) them “before the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4). Growing in the Christlike virtues mentioned in 2 Pet. 1:5–7 will give believers increasing confidence that God really did call them and elect them to salvation. Those who practice these qualities . . . will never fall, probably meaning apostasy (falling away from the faith). Peter’s wording does not imply that true followers of Christ can ever apostatize; those who do so were never really “called,” “elected,” or born again (see notes on John 6:39; 6:40; 10:26–29; 1 Thess. 1:4; Heb. 6:4–8).
2 PETER—NOTE ON 1:11 in this way. That is, by doing the things Peter mentions in vv. 5–10. richly provided. Some interpreters think “richly” indicates degrees of blessing and reward in this life and in heaven. Others think that eternal life is the reward in view.
2 PETER—NOTE ON 1:12–21 Peter’s Reminder to the Churches. Peter contrasts the truth about Christ and the falsehood of man-made myths. In light of this certain truth, the church should focus on living faithfully.
2 PETER—NOTE ON 1:14 as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. It seems that Peter has recently become aware of how soon he will be martyred. He may also be thinking about what Jesus told him in John 21:18–19.
2 PETER—NOTE ON 1:16 cleverly devised myths. “Myth” here means “a story without basis in fact.” The gospel of Christ was no myth. The apostles were eyewitnesses of his majesty at the transfiguration. Peter knew, at that point, that Christ had come in power.
2 PETER—NOTE ON 1:17 Majestic Glory. A name for God the Father that emphasizes the power of his presence (see Ex. 33:12–23; 34:29–35; 2 Cor. 3:12–18). beloved Son. Compare Ps. 2:7; Matt. 3:17; Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22.
2 PETER—NOTE ON 1:18 we ourselves heard. Peter emphasizes that he and James and John were eyewitnesses to the transfiguration (Matt. 17:1–8).
2 PETER—NOTE ON 1:19 the prophetic word more fully confirmed. Some have understood this to mean that Peter’s experience of the Transfiguration provides confirmation of OT prophecy, making the already-sure prophecy of the OT even more sure as confirmed by the Transfiguration. Others have understood “more fully confirmed” to mean that the prophetic writings of the OT are even “more sure” than Peter’s experience at the Transfiguration. The contrast between “we have” and “you will do well” seems to imply that the interpretation of the apostles (“we”) is to be regarded as authoritative for the church (“you”). Day dawns and morning star both refer to the day of final judgment and salvation (Isa. 13:9; Joel 1:15; Amos 5:20). Jesus’ second coming will also rise in your hearts. Christ’s presence will purify the hearts of his people.
2 PETER—NOTE ON 1:20 No prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation, that is, from someone’s individual understanding of events, visions, or other things. Rather, “all prophecy of Scripture” came about from the Holy Spirit’s leading (v. 21). Peter reassures his readers that the Holy Spirit inspired all the OT Scriptures that pointed to Christ. Therefore they should pay close attention to them (v. 19).
2 PETER—NOTE ON 1:21 No biblical prophecy was ever produced merely because someone wanted to prophesy (by the will of man). God gave the words of Scripture through men who “spoke” as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit worked within the OT prophets and through their lives and circumstances as they prophesied. This key verse shows that the Holy Spirit inspired Scripture. At the same time, men spoke God’s words, using their own personalities, knowledge, background, and literary style. The exact way this was accomplished remains a mystery. What is true of OT prophecy is true of “all Scripture” (see 2 Tim. 3:16 and note).
2 PETER—NOTE ON 2:1–22 Evaluation of False Teachers. In this third main section of his letter, Peter criticizes the false teachers, using biblical illustrations to do so.
What is a “heresy”? The word “heresy” refers to any doctrine that contradicts the teaching of Scripture. The heresy addressed in 2 Peter also involved sexual permissiveness, greed, and dishonesty. Wrong doctrine often leads to sinful moral choices.
2 PETER—NOTE ON 2:1 The false teachers will even deny the truth about the Master (Jesus Christ) who bought them. They claim to be redeemed because they were part of the church, but their beliefs and behavior show that they are not truly believers.
2 PETER—NOTE ON 2:2 Their false teaching results in sensuality, which means a lack of self-constraint or an abandonment to immoral behavior. Most often the word refers to sexual sin.
2 PETER—NOTE ON 2:4–10a Peter turns to a detailed argument proving God’s certain judgment on the false teachers. Four times he uses a lesser-to-greater method of argument (if A is true, how much more is B also true). His analogies in vv. 4–8 amount to minor premises (A’s) leading to the major premise (B) of vv. 9–10a.
2 PETER—NOTE ON 2:4 First minor premise: if God did not spare angels. If (A) God has eternally condemned the sinful angels, then (B) how much more certainly will he condemn the false teachers and their followers (major premise, vv. 9b–10a). (See note on Jude 6.)
2 PETER—NOTE ON 2:5 Second minor premise: if (A) he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah . . . with seven others, then (B) will he not even more certainly judge the false teachers (major premise, vv. 9b–10a) while at the same time preserving the godly (major premise, v. 9a). Christians may be a small minority, but God will protect them.
2 PETER—NOTE ON 2:6 Third minor premise: If (A) God condemned Sodom and Gomorrah, then (B) how much more certain it is that the same thing will happen to the ungodly who reject the gospel.
2 PETER—NOTE ON 2:7–8 Fourth minor premise: if (A) God rescued righteous Lot, who was greatly distressed and even tormented by the conduct of the wicked in Sodom (v. 6), then (B) how much more will he “rescue the godly” (major premise, v. 9a).
2 PETER—NOTE ON 2:9–10a Having stated his minor premises, Peter moves now to his major premise (see note on vv. 4–10a): “If” vv. 4–8 are true, then how much more true are vv. 9–10a. God indeed knows how to rescue the godly from trials and will certainly keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment. He will punish them in a partial, preliminary way before the final day of judgment (see Luke 16:23–24; Heb. 9:27). This applies especially to those who engage in defiling passion and who despise authority—probably a reference to false teachers (see 2 Pet. 2:12, 18; 3:3; Jude 8, 16, 18).
2 PETER—NOTE ON 2:10b–11 The false teachers blaspheme the glorious ones, probably evil angels (v. 11; compare Jude 8–9). They act as if these demonic forces have no power. They do not believe that their willful sins open them to demonic attack.
2 PETER—NOTE ON 2:12–13 The false teachers behave in irrational ways. They act like . . . animals. They do not use reason or truth, only instinct. Yet they behave like this while claiming to be Christians. In fact, they feast with you, probably a reference to participating in the Lord’s Supper.
2 PETER—NOTE ON 2:14 Their eyes desire adultery with nearly every woman they meet. insatiable for sin. Their appetite for sin is never satisfied. Even worse, they entice (“lure with bait”) unsteady people to sin with them. Accursed children! Peter assures his readers the false teachers will face God’s judgment.
2 PETER—NOTE ON 2:15–16 They have followed the way of Balaam (see Numbers 22–24). They spend their lives gaining things at other people’s expense. But God can use even a donkey to restrain someone who is following the way of madness.
2 PETER—NOTE ON 2:17 The false teachers are waterless springs and mists driven by the wind. They appear to be beneficial, but they are empty. The gloom of utter darkness has been reserved for them, as for the evil angels (v. 4) and the unrighteous (v. 9).
2 PETER—NOTE ON 2:18 entice by sensual passions . . . those who are barely escaping. The false teachers tell new Christians they can do whatever they wish sexually without harm.
2 PETER—NOTE ON 2:20–22 It would have been better for these false teachers never to have escaped the world in the first place. They had the knowledge of . . . Christ. They then returned to a life of sin and darkness. It is better not to have known about the holy commandment than to turn away from Christ. Those who turn away after falsely confessing the Christian faith often do not return to Christ. Their knowledge and experience of the Christian life also make them more accountable before God (compare Luke 12:47–48). It is likely that Peter refers to those who appeared to be Christians but then showed that they never truly belonged to Christ (see notes on John 15:2; 1 John 2:19; contrast John 10:27–29; Phil. 1:6). Those who thus turn back to a life of sin show their true character.
2 PETER—NOTE ON 3:1–13 The Day of the Lord Will Surely Come. Peter turns his attention to explaining the Lord’s promised return. Apparently he is responding to a disagreement in the church concerning the timing of the return.
2 PETER—NOTE ON 3:1 second letter. Almost certainly 1 Peter was the earlier letter. Peter calls his readers beloved four times in this chapter (also 2 Pet. 3:8, 14, 17).
2 PETER—NOTE ON 3:2 remember. Peter especially has in mind the second coming.
| 1:1 | our God and Savior Jesus Christ |
| 1:11 | our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ |
| 2:20 | our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ |
| 3:18 | our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ |
2 PETER—NOTE ON 3:3 last days. Peter and the rest of the NT authors teach that the “last days” have already arrived (see note on Acts 2:17).
2 PETER—NOTE ON 3:4–6 Scoffers (v. 3) will question the biblical promise of the Lord’s coming. Fathers refers to the OT patriarchs. But these scoffers deliberately overlook (consciously, willfully ignore) the fact that God intervenes in his creation whenever he desires. For example, he created the heavens and the earth with the word of his mouth (Gen. 1:3–31; Ps. 33:6; Heb. 11:3). He also judged the earth with water and it perished (Genesis 6–9).
2 PETER—NOTE ON 3:7 stored up for fire. The day of judgment is coming for scoffers.
2 PETER—NOTE ON 3:8–9 any should perish. See note on 1 Tim. 2:4. Christians long for Christ’s return and the defeat of all evil. Yet while the present period of history lasts, people may still turn to God in faith.
2 PETER—NOTE ON 3:10 the day of the Lord. God’s judgment will not be delayed forever. When Christ returns it will be sudden and without warning, like a thief. The heavens (the sky) will pass away (compare Ps. 102:25–26; Rev. 6:14) and the heavenly bodies (stars, etc.) will be burned up and dissolved. There will be no place to hide (compare Rev. 6:15–16). Then the earth and every person’s works on the earth will be exposed to God’s judgment.
Like a thief in the night. Peter says the return of Christ at the end of time will be unexpected, “like a thief” (3:10). Several other NT passages describe the Lord’s return in this same way (see Matt. 24:43; 1 Thess. 5:2; Rev. 3:3). Christ’s return will be a welcome surprise, however, for his true disciples.
2 PETER—NOTE ON 3:12 Hastening the coming of the day of God suggests that, by living holy lives, Christians can actually affect the time of the Lord’s return. That does not mean, of course, that the Lord has not determined already when Jesus will return (see Matt. 24:36; Acts 17:31). But when God set that day, he also ordained that it would happen after all of his purposes in this present age had been accomplished through his human agents.
2 PETER—NOTE ON 3:13 The hope of Christians ultimately depends on God’s promise that God will bring about a new heavens and a new earth (see Isa. 65:17; Rev. 21:1–22:5). This will be the eternal home of the righteous. “New” could mean “newly created,” but it probably means “renewed, made new.”
2 PETER—NOTE ON 3:14–18 Concluding Encouragements. To obtain their final reward, believers must live a godly life and resist the immorality promoted by the false teachers (see 1:5–11).
2 PETER—NOTE ON 3:14 In light of the Lord’s return, Christians must be diligent to be without spot or blemish. They must be doctrinally and morally pure. This is in strong contrast to the spiritual condition of the wicked (2:10b–22, especially v. 22).
2 PETER—NOTE ON 3:15–16 The delay of Christ’s return should be understood as his patience leading people to salvation (see v. 9; Rom. 2:4). The apostle Paul also wrote to these same readers earlier. Apparently the false teachers used a twisted version of Paul’s gospel of freedom (see 2 Pet. 2:19; also Rom. 8:1–5; 2 Cor. 3:1–18; Gal. 5:1–6) to tempt some of them into sin.
2 PETER—NOTE ON 3:16 In all his letters shows awareness of some kind of collection of Paul’s letters. some things . . . hard to understand. Correctly understanding some hard passages of Scripture requires much effort and God-given wisdom. The ignorant and unstable twist Paul’s teachings as they do the other Scriptures. This implies that Paul’s writings were considered Scripture in NT times, having the same level of divine authority as the OT Scripture. The Greek word translated “Scriptures” occurs 51 times in the NT. Almost every time it refers to the OT Scripture. Twice (here and 1 Tim. 5:18) some NT writings are also included. This indicates that NT books written or authorized by Christ’s apostles were recognized to be God’s Word at a very early date.
2 PETER—NOTE ON 3:17–18 knowing this beforehand. The readers have now been informed that the false teachers were distorting Paul’s teaching. Paul advocates neither sin nor lawlessness, so they should not be carried away by the false teaching, even if it appeals to Paul as the authority. Instead they should grow in Christ’s grace and knowledge.