The Second Epistle of
Author and Date
This letter gives instruction and exhortation from the apostle Peter as he nears the end of his life (1:1, 12–15). According to early church tradition, Peter was martyred in Rome during the reign of Nero. If the tradition is reliable, then his death occurred before A.D. 68, when Nero died.
Many New Testament scholars question Peter’s authorship of this letter, primarily because it differs in style and thought from 1 Peter and because there is little evidence from the early church fathers supporting Peter as the author. Some scholars maintain that an author passed on apostolic teaching after Peter’s martyrdom by writing in his name, suggesting that this was an accepted literary practice in the first century. However, conservative scholars usually hold that Peter wrote both epistles attributed to him, explaining the differences by Peter’s use of an amanuensis (stenographic reporter) other than Silvanus (1 Pet. 5:12), or by his writing the letter without scribal help. In addition, certain references in 2 Peter indicate Petrine authorship: The author identifies himself as Simon Peter, an apostle (1:1); he claims to have been with Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration (1:16–18); he had written a previous letter to the people to whom 2 Peter is addressed (3:1); and he uses many words and phrases similar to those found in 1 Peter. These factors point to 2 Peter as a genuine work of the apostle Peter.
Background
Whereas 1 Peter encourages Christians facing opposition from the world, 2 Peter warns Christians against false teachers within their fellowship who would lead them into apostasy. Fidelity to the apostolic teaching is the main concern (see especially 1:12–16; 3:1, 2, 15, 16). Heretical teachers will appear (2:1, 2) and in fact are already on the scene (2:12–22). They deny the Lord, exhibit a sensuous life-style, and are destined for destruction. They ridicule the idea of the Lord’s return. These characteristics fit the Gnostic heresy, which developed more fully in the second century, but whose roots were fixed in the first century.
The author evidently has a specific community in mind (3:15), and if that community is the same as that addressed in 1 Peter (see 3:1), then this letter was intended for Christians somewhere in Asia Minor.
Content
The answer to encroaching error is steadfastness through growing in the knowledge of the Lord. The letter opens and closes with the theme of cultivating Christian maturity (1:2–11; 3:14–18). “Knowledge” in 2 Peter is more than intellectual perception. It is an experience of God and Christ that results in moral transformation (1:2, 3; 2:20). This is the true gnosis (knowledge), which combats heretical Gnostic influence. The basis for that knowledge is the Scriptures, called the “prophetic word” (1:19–21) and the apostolic teaching (3:1, 2, 15, 16).
Chapter 2 gives a lengthy description of and warning against the false teachers. Apparently they at one time had “escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2:20).
The last chapter emphasizes the Second Coming, an object of attack by scoffers, and explains why this hope is yet unfulfilled. It also assures the fulfillment of the promise of the Lord’s return and teaches that its expectation should motivate Christians to godly behavior.
Personal Application
The concerns of 2 Peter are also concerns of the contemporary church as it counteracts worldliness and humanistic philosophy. There are still false teachers who deal in half-truths regarding the Christian faith, and this letter provides a clear response to them.
Christ Revealed
The deity of Christ is evident in the way that God and Christ are closely linked in 1:1, 2. God knows Christ as His “Son” (1:17). The divine purpose and activity are centered in Jesus Christ, as His grace and power are given to believers (1:2, 3, 8; 2:9, 20; 3:18), who are to look for His coming (1:16) and the arrival of His eternal kingdom (1:11).
It is the Scriptures that assure the believer of a destiny with Jesus Christ (1:16–21; see also 3:1, 2).
The Holy Spirit at Work
The only direct reference to the Holy Spirit is in 1:21, which describes the Spirit’s work in “moving” the human authors of the prophetic Scriptures, which in turn disqualifies any “private interpretation” (see note on 1:20). However, the Spirit is obviously at work in providing the “divine power” that makes possible growth in the grace and knowledge of Christ (1:2–8; 3:18).
Outline of 2 Peter
II. True versus false teaching 1:3—2:3
A. Pursuit of moral graces 1:3–11
B. Peter’s testament 1:12–15
C. Prophetic Scriptures versus false teachers 1:16—2:3
III. Exposure and doom of false teachers 2:4–22
A. Destruction of the false teachers 2:4–10
B. Description of the false teachers 2:10–22
IV. Warning against end-time deceivers 3:1–18
A. Scoffers in the last days 3:1–7
B. Believers and the day of the Lord 3:8–18
Greeting the Faithful
1 SIMON Peter, a bondservant and aapostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who have 1obtained blike2 precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:
2 aGrace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,
3 as His adivine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him bwho* called us by *glory and *virtue,
4 aby which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious *promises, that through these you may be bpartakers of the divine nature, having escaped the 1corruption that is in the world through lust.
Fruitful Growth in the Faith
5 But also for this very reason, agiving all diligence, *add to your faith virtue, to virtue bknowledge,
6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control 1perseverance, to perseverance godliness,
7 to godliness *brotherly kindness, and ato brotherly kindness love.
8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither 1barren anor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 For he who lacks these things is ashortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
10 Therefore, brethren, *be even more diligent ato make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;
11 for so an entrance will be *supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Peter’s Approaching Death
12 For this reason aI will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, bthough you know and are established in the present truth.
13 Yes, I think it is *right, aas long as I am in this 1tent, bto stir you up by reminding you,
14 aknowing that shortly I must 1put off my tent, just as bour Lord Jesus Christ showed me.
15 Moreover I will *be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my 1decease.
The Trustworthy Prophetic Word
16 For we did not follow acunningly devised fables when we made known to you the bpower and ccoming* of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were deyewitnesses of His *majesty.
17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: a“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on athe holy mountain.
19 1And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a alight that shines in a dark place, buntil cthe day dawns and the morning star rises in your dhearts;
20 knowing this first, that ano *prophecy of Scripture is of any private 1interpretation,
21 for aprophecy never came by the will of man, bbut 1holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
Destructive Doctrines
1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be afalse teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the *Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.
2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.
3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction 1does not slumber.
Doom of False Teachers
4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to 1hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment;
5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly;
6 and turning the cities of aSodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly;
7 and adelivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the *filthy conduct of the wicked
8 (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, atormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)—
9 then athe Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,
10 and especially athose who walk according to the flesh in the *lust of uncleanness and despise authority. bThey are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of 1dignitaries,
11 whereas aangels, who are greater in *power and might, do not bring a *reviling accusation against them before the Lord.
Depravity of False Teachers
12 But these, alike natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption,
13 aand will receive the *wages of *unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure bto 1carouse in the daytime. cThey are spots and blemishes, 2carousing in their own deceptions while dthey feast with you,
14 having eyes full of 1adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. aThey have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children.
15 They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of aBalaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
16 but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the *prophet.
17 aThese are wells without water, 1clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness 2forever.
Deceptions of False Teachers
18 For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who 1have actually escaped from those who live in *error.
19 While they *promise them *liberty, they themselves are slaves of 1corruption; afor by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into 2bondage.
20 For if, after they ahave escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and *Savior Jesus Christ, they are bagain entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.
21 For ait would have been better for them not to have *known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.
22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: a“A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”
God’s Promise Is Not Slack
1 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which aI stir up your pure *minds by way of reminder),
2 that you may be mindful of the words awhich were spoken before by the holy prophets, band of the commandment of 1us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior,
3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, awalking according to their own lusts,
4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of acreation.”*
5 For this they willfully forget: that aby the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth bstanding out of water and in the water,
6 aby which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.
7 But athe heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for bfire until the day of judgment and 1perdition of ungodly men.
8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and aa thousand years as one day.
9 aThe Lord is not slack concerning His *promise, as some count slackness, but bis longsuffering toward 1us, cnot willing that any should perish but dthat all should come to repentance.
The Day of the Lord
10 But athe day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which bthe heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be 1burned up.
11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be ain holy conduct and godliness,
12 alooking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will bbe dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will cmelt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for anew heavens and a bnew earth in which righteousness dwells.
Be Steadfast
14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, *be diligent ato be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;
15 and consider that athe *longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,
16 as also in all his aepistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the brest of the Scriptures.
17 You therefore, beloved, asince you know this beforehand, bbeware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the *error of the wicked;
18 abut grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. bTo Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
1:1 In place of Simon, some ancient manuscripts have “Symeon,” a Hebraic form of the name.
1:2, 3 See section 2 of Truth-In-Action at the end of 2 Pet.
1:2 The opening phrase matches the greeting of 1 Pet. 1:2. Knowledge is an important term in this letter (see 1:3, 8; 2:20). The strengthened form of the Greek word (epignosis) indicates religious or moral insight, as used in the NT. For other uses of “knowledge” (gnosis), see 1:5, 6; 3:18. The frequent references may be an effort to combat a form of Gnosticism, an esoteric religious philosophy, which stressed knowledge as the way to God. Peter’s message is that true knowledge is found in the God of Christ and the Scriptures.
1:4 See section 4 of Truth-In-Action at the end of 2 Pet.
1:4 By which refers back to the “glory and virtue” of v. 3. The incarnate life of Christ has made available to believers His exceedingly great and precious promises. These promises surely include the Lord’s Second Coming, the establishment of a new heaven and earth, and entrance into Christ’s kingdom (see 1:11; 3:1–13), but would also recommend our bold acceptance “in Christ” of “all the promises of God” (2 Cor. 1:20). The purpose of the promises is that we may be sharers of a deep spiritual union with Christ, and thereby of the blessings and benefits of that relationship. The promises are also an incentive to godliness, because to share in His fullness now, as well as future glory, we must renounce the corruption that is in the world.
1:5–8 See section 3 of Truth-In-Action at the end of 2 Pet.
1:9–11 The possibility of falling into apostasy is implied here and is amplified in 2:20–22. The believer gives evidence of his salvation by abounding in the moral graces listed in vv. 5–8 (note particularly v. 8). A person who does not grow in these virtues may lapse into his old sins. Peter does not suggest that salvation is by works, but exhorts believers to live in such a way that their election is made absolutely certain.
1:16–21 See section 4 of Truth-In-Action at the end of 2 Pet.
1:16 The power and coming refer to the Second Advent of Christ, foreshadowed in the Transfiguration, which Peter observed (vv. 16–18).
1:19 The Transfiguration (vv. 16–18) confirmed the OT scriptures in general, which prophesy Christ’s coming kingdom; the false teachers denied this (see 2:1; 3:1, 2). The morning star may allude to Num. 24:17, interpreted messianically in Judaism. When the day dawns (Christ’s return), the revelation of Christ in our hearts will be complete (see 1 Cor. 13:12).
1:20 This can also be translated to say that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private origin (see marginal note), that is, of the prophet’s own interpretation of his vision. V. 21 makes clear the reason: The prophets spoke as the Holy Spirit guided them. This answers the false teachers’ interpretation, who, without the Spirit, discounted the OT prophetic word (see 2:1; 3:1–6, 16).
2:1–3 Peter warns of immoral and greedy false teachers who will use people as a means of reaching their own selfish goals. The NT indicates that deceptive teachers will characterize the church age and that their activities will increase “in latter times” (1 Tim. 4:1; see Matt. 24:11).
2:4–7 Compare note on Jude 6. The themes of sinning angels and the flood of Noah’s day are also probably combined in 1 Pet. 3:19, 20. See note on 1 Pet. 3:18–20. The judgment in v. 4 is that of the Last Day (see 2:9; 3:7). The fact of a Last-Day setting for the warning against false teachers (see 2:1–3) is strengthened in light of Luke 17:26–29, where Noah and the Flood, and the deliverance of Lot out of Sodom and Gomorrah, are models of end-time deliverance and judgment.
2:9 See section 1 of Truth-In-Action at the end of 2 Pet.
2:9 The rescues of Noah and Lot demonstrate the fact that God preserves committed believers in the midst of evil circumstances, while the destruction of evildoers demonstrates His punishment, to be pronounced in finality at the day of judgment.
2:10–22 Peter describes in detail the false teachers who have already infiltrated the church. The emphasis falls upon character that is sensual, arrogant, and indulgent. At this point, more is said of a false life-style than of false beliefs.
2:15 The right way is contrasted with the way of Balaam. “The Way” was a designation for early Christianity (see Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22). Balaam the prophet was ready to curse God’s people, apparently for profit, illustrating the greed of false teachers who deceive and exploit for personal gain (see Num. 22—24; Rev. 2:14).
2:17 Wells without water are the false teachers who, instead of offering what satisfies the needs of God’s people, are empty.
2:18–22 See section 3 of Truth-In-Action at the end of 2 Pet.
2:19 See section 1 of Truth-In-Action at the end of 2 Pet.
2:20, 21 The false teachers, having experienced the cleansing power of Christ, are now rejecting Him. Hence, they have returned to their former corrupt life-style and are worse off than they were before. Believers who fall into apostasy by deliberately rejecting the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ are in a more tragic position than unconverted pagans (see Heb. 6:4–6; 10:26).
3:1, 2 See section 2 of Truth-In-Action at the end of 2 Pet.
3:3, 4 End-time false teachers (see 2:1) ridicule the prophetic promise of the Lord’s coming (see 1:19–21) in light of the apparent delay. Fathers refers either to the OT patriarchs or to those of first-generation Christianity.
3:8 The divine perspective on the passing of time answers the skeptics’ criticism in vv. 3, 4. “Delay” of the Lord’s coming is a human reaction to the divine reckoning.
3:9 A positive explanation of the temporary lack of fulfillment (vv. 3, 4) is found in the character of a merciful God. Although the wickedness of humankind calls for immediate action, God withholds His righteous wrath and delays judgment.
3:10–13 See section 4 of Truth-In-Action at the end of 2 Pet.
3:10–13 The Lord’s return will be sudden and unexpected (see Matt. 24:43; Luke 12:39). Believers still look for His promise (v. 13), despite the scoffers (vv. 3, 4). Peter gives assurance of a new inhabitable Earth, following the fiery destruction of the present Earth (vv. 10, 13).
3:12 Proper Christian behavior hastens the coming of the day of God (see v. 11). In ways not clearly defined by the NT, the timing of the Lord’s return is directly related to the condition and activity of the church (see Matt. 24:14; Acts 3:19–21).
3:14, 15 See section 3 of Truth-In-Action at the end of 2 Pet.
3:16 See section 1 of Truth-In-Action at the end of 2 Pet.
3:16 The knowledge that Paul’s doctrine of grace as expressed in his letters has been perverted by untaught and unstable persons is apparently presupposed (see Rom. 3:5–8; 6:1, 2). By the time 2 Pet. was written, Paul’s letters were viewed as comparable with the rest of the Scriptures (meaning at least the OT), a clear evidence of an early rise of discernment in the early church on canonical and noncanonical books.
3:17, 18 See section 2 of Truth-In-Action at the end of 2 Pet.
CHAPTER 1
1 received
2 faith of the same value
* See WW at 2 Pet. 1:5.
b [2 Cor. 3:18]
1 depravity
* See WW at 2 Pet. 3:13.
1 patience
1 useless
a [2 Cor. 5:1, 4]
1 Body
* See WW at Matt. 1:19.
a [2 Tim. 4:6]
b John 13:36; 21:18, 19
1 Die and leave this body
1 Lit. exodus, departure
c [1 Pet. 5:4]
* See WW at 1 Cor. 15:23.
1 Or We also have the more sure prophetic word
1 Or origin
* See WW at 1 Thess. 5:20.
b 2 Sam. 23:2; Luke 1:70; Acts 1:16; 3:18; 1 Pet. 1:11
1 NU men spoke from God
CHAPTER 2
a Matt. 24:5, 24; 1 Tim. 4:1, 2
1 M will not
1 Lit. Tartarus
* See WW at 1 Pet. 4:3.
1 glorious ones, lit. glories
* See WW at 2 Tim. 2:22.
1 revel
2 reveling
* See WW at Rev. 22:12.
1 Lit. an adulteress
1 NU and mists
2 NU omits forever
1 NU are barely escaping
1 depravity
2 slavery
* See WW at 1 Cor. 10:29.
b [Heb. 6:4–6]
CHAPTER 3
* See WW at Mark 12:30.
1 NU, M the apostles of your Lord and Savior or your apostles of the Lord and Savior
1 destruction
1 NU you
* See WW at Acts 13:32.
1 NU laid bare, lit. found
a 1 Cor. 1:7, 8