2 Peter

 The Second Letter of Peter  

Title: Both authorship (1:1) and the number (3:1) can be attested from the letter itself. The fact that he presents himself as Simeon Peter brings up the memories of the First Jerusalem counsel (Acts 15:14).      

Date of writing: Apparently, this is one of the later writings. There are few factors to consider: he never says anything bad about gentiles (unlike in the First Epistle); he mentions St. Paul – our beloved brother Paul (3:15) – and his writings; regularly he goes to the theme of Parousia (eminent and soon-to-be second coming of Christ). The idea of suffering is not dominant (thou present, cp. 2:9), while the notes on behavioral godliness can be found throughout the letter. Therefore, it should be dated around 64-65 AD.        

Structure:

a. 1:1-4 Greetings.

  b. 1:5-12, godly qualities

    c. 1:13-16, I send you a reminder.

      d. 1:17-21, glory of Christ and truth of the Biblical prophecy.

        e. 2:1-3, False prophets.

          f. 2:4, angels

            g. 2:5-10, salvation of the fallen world

          f’. 2:11, angels

        e’. 2:12-16, prophetic madness, like irrational animals.

      d’. 2:17-22, knowledge of Christ and the truth of the parable. 

    c’. 3:1-13, this is the second letter. 

  b’. 3:14-16, be without spot or blemish. 

a’. 3:17-18, conclusion.

Main themes: Getting ready for the Second Coming of Christ. This theme has two important parts: (1) the coming is imminent; (2) the evildoers will be judged.

The second important theme is the false teachers who deny the security of Second Coming. It can include the false prophets (old and new), disobedient angels, and preachers of lawlessness (those of propagate anti-nomism).

Assurance is the divine nature of the Scriptures – the words of godly man (authors of Old and New Testaments) were guided by the Holy Spirit. 

Main Characters: Peter; Jesus Christ (he refers both to the experience of Transfiguration [“we” should include also John and James (Mt. 17:1)] and his own deep understanding of Lord’s glory); Noah; Lot; Balaam, son of Beor, and his donkey; “our beloved brother Paul”.   

Reflection in other parts of the Bible: Old Testament – Noah, Lot, and Balaam (all three stories have moral degradation component); Proverbs 26:11 does not give a “wise saying” on a dog, but also delivers a teaching on foolish behavior.

Gospel texts – Transfiguration (Mt. 17:1-8; Mk. 8:2-8; Lk. 9:28-36).

Other NT: reference to St. Paul; morning star (cp. Rev. 22:16).       

Lutheran teaching:

The hallmark of the Lutheran church is salvation only by God’s grace without any of human works (Ap. XX:12-13; FC SD IV:1-22,33) based on 2 Pet. 1:10.  

The Doctrine of Free Will and Election (FC Epitome XI:14; SD II:49; XI:28, 83-84) is heavily based on the epistle.  

Lutheran hymnody:

LSB 873 – Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies

LSB 416 – Swiftly Pass the Clouds of Glory

Relevancy of the Book: The letter has at least two important messages for a modern man. The course of the world’s history sooner or later will come to its end. Christ will come to evaluate the deeds of people: righteous will be transformed into His glory and evil doers (especially false teachers) will reach their ugly end. The knowledge about this is based on written, inerrant, and inspired Word of God.     

Memory verses: 

2:19-21: And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamb shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your heart, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.