2 Peter

To Whom Written, Why, and When

To Whom Written, Why, and When

Chapter 3 begins: "Dear friends, this is now the second letter I have written to you; in both letters, I want to stir up your sincere understanding by way of reminder.”

So it would seem that it was addressed to the same people as the first.

A comparison of the opening salutation of the first epistle with that of the second, suggests that perhaps Peter may have had a rather wider range in mind when he wrote the second-and for a very real reason, namely, the appearance of a new peril to believers, in the form of false doctrine.

Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you, in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance." So it would seem that it was addressed to the same people as the first. A comparison of the opening salutation of the first epistle with that of the second, suggests that perhaps Peter may have had a rather wider range in mind when he wrote the second-and for a very real reason, namely, the appearance of a new peril to believers, in the form of false doctrine.

In his first epistle he has written to hearten them and encourage patient hope amid the trials which were coming to them by way of persecution for their faith ; but these spiritual perils to which they were now exposed were far more to be dreaded, and called far more for warning than any merely physical tribulation I There is no mention in the :first epistle of any such doctrinal apostasy and libertinism among believers themselves ; but here, in this second letter, the deep concern is to rescue those early Jewish Christian assemblies and their members from the wily errors and corrupting influence of false teachers who were bringing in "destructive heresies" (ii. 1).

In his first epistle, Peter wrote to hearten them and encourage patient hope amid the trials which were coming to them by way of persecution for their faith ;

But these spiritual perils which they were now exposed were far more to be dreadful, and called far more for warning than any merely physical tribulation.

There is no mention in the first epistle of any such doctrinal apostasy and libertinism among believers themselves ;

In this second letter, the deep concern is to rescue those early Jewish Christian churches and their members from the wily errors and corrupting influence of false teachers who were bringing in "destructive heresies".

There must have been deep sadness in Peter's heart about this disturbing development, increased no doubt by his having apparently been apprised that his own martyrdom was near at hand: "I must shortly put off this tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath showed me" (i. 14). His martyrdom took place about A.D. 68. Whether he was at Babylon () or not when he wrote this short second circular letter cannot be decided.

There must have been deep sadness in Peter's heart about this disturbing development.

No doubt he apparently had been informed that his own martyrdom was near at hand: "I know that I will soon lay aside my tent, as our Lord Jesus Christ has indeed made clear to me.”

His martyrdom took place about A.D. 68.

. His martyrdom took place about A.D. 68. Whether he was at Babylon () or not when he wrote this short second circular letter cannot be decided.

He wrote this short second circular letter prior to his death, probably from prison.

Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.I must shortly put off this tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath showed me" (i. 14). His martyrdom took place about A.D. 68. Whether he was at Babylon () or not when he wrote this short second circular letter cannot be decided.

Statistics

Author: Simon Peter

Date: 67 A.D.

Key Verses: 1:1-3

Key Verses: 1:1-3

Key Words: knowledge - 16 times, remembrance - 4 times, grace - 2 times. 3 chapters, 61 verses, 1559 words

Key Words: knowledge - 16 times, remembrance - 4 times, grace - 2 times.

3 chapters, 61 verses, 1,559 words

The Epistle Itself

So, then, the purpose of this short epistle is, by reminder and re-emphasis, to ground its readers more firmly in the "full-knowledge" of saving truth as it is in Christ Jesus; and thereby reinforcing their faith against the counterfeit teachers of that time.

So, then, the purpose of this short epistle is, by reminder and re-emphasis, to ground its readers more firmly in the epignosis or "full-knowledge" of saving truth as it is in Christ Jesus; and thereby to reinforce their faith against the imperilling counterfeits of that time. Trace this in chapters i. 12, 13, iii. 1, 21 17, 18. But the warning also reaches down through the centuries, to our

We can trace this in every chapter.

But the warning also reaches down through the centuries, to our own times, to the "scoffers" at the end-days of this present age who deride the "promise" of our Lord's return.

The tone is much graver than that of the first epistle; yet throughout it there is the same note of triumphant certainty and hope in Christ.

Whereas the emphasis in the first epistle is on hope amid trial,

Whereas the emphasis in the first epistle is on hope amid trial, the emphasis running through this second one is on growth in the true knowledge; though here again the Lord's return is also prominent. Peter is distinctively the apostle of hope, as is Paul of faith, James of works, and John of love.

The emphasis running through this second one is on growth in the true knowledge;

Though here again the Lord's return is also prominent.

Peter is distinctively the apostle of hope, as is Paul of faith, James of works, and John of love.

The dual emphasis of the epistle is, the "true knowledge" and the "sure hope".

, the dual emphasis of the epistle is, the "true knowledge" and the "sure hope"; but clinging to this there is a momentous significance which may well startle every eye, namely, that just as true knowledge and sure hope are inseparably linked together, so are false doctrine and final destruction! What is more, just as true doctrine and holy living are linked together (i. 5-ro, iii. r4, 17, r8), so are false doctrine and unholy living (ii. 1, ro, r4, 19)! All of which shows how important is sound evangelical doctrine. How often in recent days have we heard the breezy aphorism, "Never mind what you believe; the thing which matters is how you live" I It seems to smack of such liberty from bondage to dusty creeds (just as in ), but it is fatally wrong; for how we live is most of all determined by "what we believe." This shows itself in individual lives the world over. It is also showing itself very grimly nowadays in governments and international relationships. Beliefs go far deeper than politics and economics. How important indeed is sound "doctrine"! Most of all is it so inside the Church. Second Peter rings the warning: "Danger inside the Church! " There are always two tests of Christian genuineness. The doctrinal test is: "What is the attitude to the person and work of Christ?" The practical test is: "What is the resultant character and conduct?" Both tests appear in Second Peter.

But clinging to this is a momentous significance which may well surprise some, namely, that just as true knowledge and sure hope are inseparably linked together, so are false doctrine and final destruction!

What is more, just as true doctrine and holy living are linked together, so are false doctrine and unholy living!

All of which shows how important sound evangelical doctrine is.

How often have we heard, "Never mind what you believe; the thing which matters is how you live."

It is fatally wrong; for how we live is most of all determined by "what we believe."

This shows itself in individual lives the world over.

It is also showing itself very grimly nowadays in governments and international relationships.

Beliefs go far deeper than politics and economics.

How important indeed is sound "doctrine"!

Second Peter rings the warning: "Danger inside the Church!"

There are always two tests of Christian genuineness.

The doctrinal test is: "What is the attitude to the person and work of Christ?"

The practical test is: "What is the resultant character and conduct?"

Both tests appear in Second Peter.

The True Knowledge

There are two dangers indicated in the first chapter.

There is the danger of life without growth (verses 3-8); and there is the danger of knowledge without practice (verses 9-14).

Life never remains static: it either goes forward or backward.

Life without growth becomes atrophy.

Similarly knowledge without practice becomes blindness instead of vision (verse 9).

Vs. 3, He has given us everything we need required to live the godly life through knowledge in Jesus Christ

Why? For his glory!

Peter knows that the word is solid, because he was an eyewitness to Jesus.

Vs. 20-21, Another spot for Holy Spirit inspired scripture.

The False Teachers

Their havoc and their destruction - vs. 2:1-9

Their excesses and peril to believers - vs. 2:10-22

To be forewarned is to be forearmed, says the old proverb.

As we look carefully Peter's warning in chapter 2.

Study carefully Peter's forewarning in chapter ii. It is a point of

It is a point of incidental interest that in verses 14 and 18 the word translated as “seduce” or "beguiling" and "allure" in the Greek is literally to take with a bait-a flashback to Peter's fishing days.

incidental interest that in verses r4 and r8 the word translated

as "beguiling" and "allure" ("entice" in R.v.) in the Greek is

"Beware," says Peter in effect, "your most dangerous deceivers are those who come with a tasty bait and a concealed hook!"

literally to take with a bait-a relic from Peter's fishing days.

The False Teachers

"Beware," says Peter in effect, "your most dangerous deceivers

This chapter should convince us that wherever there is a Divine truth which saves, there will be a Satanic counterfeit which condemns: so will it be until the arch-deceiver is flung into the abyss.

are those who come with a tasty bait and a concealed hook!"

Let this second chapter convince us that wherever there is a

There is no "mincing of words" or "beating about the bush."

Divine truth which saves, there will be a Satanic counterfeit which damns: so will it be until the arch-deceiver is flung into the abyss.

There can be no tolerance of that which, inside the very Church itself, dis­honors Christ and ruins souls!

What a scathing exposure is this second chapter! There is no "mincing of words" or "beating about the bush." There can be no tolerance of that which, inside the very Church itself, dis­honours Christ and ruins souls! There can be no "dainty hand­ling" of false teachers I A viper can be a gorgeous creature to look at, but once let its poison fang get you, or its strangle-coils enwrap

There can be no "dainty hand­ling" of false teachers!

A coral snake or a cobra can be a gorgeous creature to look at, but once it gets its poison fang in you, it’s too late.

you . . . ! Peter sees the issue with Spirit-anointed clearness.

Peter sees the issue with Spirit-anointed clearness.

There can be no compromise. Remember, this second chapter is

There can be no compromise.

Remember, this second chapter is not merely Peter speaking; it is the Spirit of God.

not merely Peter speaking; it is the Spirit of God. It may well

It should make us think deeply.

make some of us think deeply. When easy-going kindness lounges

When easy-going kindness lounges in the place of righteous indignation, and allows Christ-dishonoring false doctrine to play havoc inside the Church, kindness has ceased to be Christian, it has become disguised disloyalty, camouflaged cowardice, or a moral wasting-disease.

in the place of righteous indignation, and allows Christ-dishonour­

ing false doctrine to play havoc inside the Church, kindness has

The Sure Promise

ceased to be Christian, it has become disguised disloyalty, camou­

The third chapter might have been written for us today.

flaged cowardice, or a moral wasting-disease.

Indeed, it was written long in advance for us today, though Peter lackly didn’t realize what he was doing.

Indeed, it was written long in advance for us today, though Peter

little guessed so. How up to date does the brag and pooh-poohing

How up to date does the brag and pooh-poohing of these third-chapter "scoffers" sound!

There are upheavals coming our way in the future!

of these third-chapter "scoffers" sound! What titanic cosmic up­ heavals are on the way! We cannot linger over the individual verses, for this is a Bible course, not a commentary. We mention only one, in closing. Verse I2 runs on: "Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God." But the preposition "unto" does not occur here in the Greek. Leave it out, and read it just as Peter wrote it: "Looking for and hastening the coming of the day." There is a co-operativeness between God's purposes and His people's responses. There is a certain contingency about our

We see a couple of thoughts in this chapter

The promise upheld against the scoffers- 3:1-9

The promise a challenge to believers - 3:10-18

Verse 12 is an interesting verse which says “It is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness as you wait for the day of God and hasten its coming.”

There is a cooperativeness between God's purposes and His people's responses.

Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers. runs on: "Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God." But the preposition "unto" does not occur here in the Greek. Leave it out, and read it just as Peter wrote it: "Looking for and hastening the coming of the day." There is a co-operativeness between God's purposes and His people's responses. There is a certain contingency about our

There is a certain contingency about our Lord's return.

Paul mentions one aspect of this in , “ I don’t want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you will not be conceited: A partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.”

But how can we hasten that day? There are three ways:

Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

when he uses the expression "until the fulness of the Gentiles be

come in." But how can we hasten that day? There are three

By daily longing for His appearing, remembering that He is coming to them who, according to , "love His appearing";

ways: (r) by daily longing for His appearing, remembering that

He is coming to them who, according to , "love

By daily praying for His appearing, remem­bering that the last prayer of the Bible, in , is, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus";

His appearing"; (2) by daily praying for His appearing, remem­

bering that the last prayer of the Bible, in , is,

By daily seeking to win souls, until "the election of grace" and "the fulness of the Gentiles" complete the bride of the coming Bridegroom.

"Even so, come, Lord Jesus"; (3) by daily seeking to win souls,

until "the election of grace" and "the fulness of the Gentiles"

Thus may future hope and present growth go hand in hand!

complete the bride of the coming Bridegroom. Thus may future

good news shared to all

Pray

hope and present growth go hand in hand!

To be forewarned is to be forearmed, says the old proverb.

come in." But how can we hasten that day? There are three

Study carefully Peter's forewarning in chapter ii. It is a point of

ways: (r) by daily longing for His appearing, remembering that

incidental interest that in verses r4 and r8 the word translated

He is coming to them who, according to , "love

as "beguiling" and "allure" ("entice" in R.v.) in the Greek is

His appearing"; (2) by daily praying for His appearing, remem­

literally to take with a bait-a relic from Peter's fishing days.

bering that the last prayer of the Bible, in , is,

"Beware," says Peter in effect, "your most dangerous deceivers

"Even so, come, Lord Jesus"; (3) by daily seeking to win souls,

are those who come with a tasty bait and a concealed hook!"

until "the election of grace" and "the fulness of the Gentiles"

Let this second chapter convince us that wherever there is a

complete the bride of the coming Bridegroom. Thus may future

Divine truth which saves, there will be a Satanic counterfeit which damns: so will it be until the arch-deceiver is flung into the abyss.

What a scathing exposure is this second chapter! There is no "mincing of words" or "beating about the bush." There can be no tolerance of that which, inside the very Church itself, dis­

hope and present growth go hand in hand!

��THE EPISTLE OF JUDE

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honours Christ and ruins souls! There can be no "dainty hand­

The writer of this short but intense letter calls himself a "bond­

ling" of false teachers I A viper can be a gorgeous creature to look

servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James." By common

at, but once let its poison fang get you, or its strangle-coils enwrap

consent, the James here referred to is the James who wrote the

you . . . ! Peter sees the issue with Spirit-anointed clearness.

Epistle of James. If our brief enquiry into the identity of that

There can be no compromise. Remember, this second chapter is

James be sound (see our addendum to that epistle), then both

not merely Peter speaking; it is the Spirit of God. It may well

he and Jude were sons of Alphceus and Mary, and were the cousins

make some of us think deeply. When easy-going kindness lounges

of our dear Lord. Jude's being so closely related to our Saviour

in the place of righteous indignation, and allows Christ-dishonour­

after the flesh lends lustre to his designation of himself as the

ing false doctrine to play havoc inside the Church, kindness has

"bond-servant of Jesus Christ." Our Lord's human kinsmen

ceased to be Christian, it has become disguised disloyalty, camou­

recognised His Divine nature and glory, though some of them

flaged cowardice, or a moral wasting-disease.