Bible Commentaries
2 Peter 1

Verse 1

Book Comment:

Good Resource: Raymond Kelcy in the Living Word Commentary series, by Sweet Publishers.

- - - Walking Thru the Bible - - -

parWalking Thru The Bible

2 PETER

(cf. also JUDE)

The Writer: The apostle Simon Peter is the author of this letter (2 Peter 1:1). The internal evidence for his authorship include:

1. The writer was present at the transfiguration of Christ (2 Peter 1:16-18)

2. Jesus had told him something of his death (2 Peter 1:12-14; cf. John 21:18-19, John 13:36)

3. He associated himself with the other apostles (2 Peter 3:2)

4. He asserts that this is his second epistle (2 Peter 3:1)

Probably no character other than Jesus himself is better known to New Testament readers than Peter. He, his brother Andrew, James, and John were partners in a fishing business; Jesus called them to be "fishers of men" (Luke 5:9-11). When the Lord chose twelve apostles, these four men were in that select group, and in all four lists of the apostles, Peter’s name comes first (Matthew 10:2-4).

Although his name means "a rock" he was sometimes more like shifting sand in his early career (Matthew 14:28-31; Matthew 16:21-23; Matthew 26:69-75). After the establishment of the church he was known as one of the "pillars" of the church at Jerusalem (Galatians 2:9).

Time: Peter thought that his death was near when he wrote the letter (cf. 2 Peter 1:12-14). If that is so we should date the epistle about AD 66-67. At this time there is great hostility between the Jews and the Romans and war is building between the Jews and the Gentiles in Palestine and Christians (especially Jewish Christians) are being persecuted mercilessly by Nero.

Paul may have been put to death already in Rome about the time of Peter’s writing and Peter is shortly to be put to death there also by Nero. This letter is about AD 67 just shortly before Peter’s place and the likely place of its origin is Rome.

The Readers: No specific church or location of churches are named in the letter and so it is generally regarded as a "catholic" or "universal" epistle. However, chapter 2 Peter 3:1 mentions that this is his second letter to them. If the reference is to I Peter then the recipients would be the churches of Asia-Minor and the date would be subsequent to Peter’s other letter to them. The first letter is address to Christians scattered among the Roman provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia (1 Peter 1:1).

He mentions that Paul had also written to them. His reference to Paul is in glowing terms which assures us that any riff between Peter and Paul exists only in the minds of the critics. True, Paul had once rebuked Peter openly, but Peter is not one to hold resentment, especially when he has been wrong. In fact, he speaks of Paul’s writing and puts it into the classification of "scripture."

Style of Second Peter: While this is Peter’s second epistle we notice that the style of 2 Peter is quite different than that of his first epistle. This is explained on the basis that the subject matter and the purpose of this second letter is vastly different than the first. The same man might write a love note to his wife one minute and then write a memo to his boss and we would expect the styles and contents of those to be quite different.

In 2 Peter the emotional factor is different. In his first letter Peter wrote to comfort and strengthen a persecuted church while in this letter he is bent on warning those churches of false teachers which can be more disastrous than persecution.

The similarities between 2 Peter and the book of Jude are very obvious. The two epistles apparently were not widely separated in time. They are both writing about the same problem facing Christians at the same time and that would account for much similarly. But yet the books are still so parallel that it may well be that one of them is familiar with the other’s writing and is making reference to it in his own letter. If that is the case, our question is, which one wrote first? It is very difficult to tell but there are certain points which tend to favor the priority of 2 Peter over Jude.

Example: Peter’s principal statement relative to the false teachers is in the future tense, 2 Peter 2:1-3, while Jude refers to them as having already come. Jude admonishes his readers to remember what the apostles had said concerning the coming "scoffers." The only time the identical word "scoffers" appear is in 2 Peter 3:3.

- - - - -

Date: c. AD 66 - 67

Key Word: "know" and cognatives = 16 times. (ch. 1, 9 times).

Peter / Jude relationship: 2Peter speaks of the false teachers as coming 2 Peter 2:1, whereas Jude speaks of them as present.

- - - -

Verse Comment:

Faith -- without the article, thus "trust".

Us -- Jewish Christians, or the apostles.

God -- Christ is God and Savior, vs. 2 Peter 1:1 ; He is Lord, 2 Peter 1:2 ; God is His Father 2 Peter 1:17. cf. Titus 2:13.

Verse 2

2 Peter 1:2

Knowledge -- a key word in 2Peter. (9 times in this chapter.)

Verse 3

2 Peter 1:3

See 2 3:16 note for the "Authority of the Bible"

Verse 4

2 Peter 1:4

Corruption -- ref to death brought on by the lust of Eve.

1 John 3:2 ,

Verse 5

2 Peter 1:5

Add -- The word add, in the imperative, translates epichorēgēsate, from which come the English words “chorus,” “choreograph,” and “choreography.” In ancient Greece the state established a chorus but the director, the chorēgys, paid the expenses for training the chorus. Then the word came to be used of one who provides for or supports others or supplies something for them in abundance. A believer is to “furnish, supply, or support” his life with these virtues. (The same word is trans. “supplies” in 2 Corinthians 9:10 and “supported” in Colossians 2:19. Peter used it again in 2 Peter 1:11 where the NIV renders it “receive.”) (Bible Knowledge Commentary)

Virtue -- moral excellence{courage}

Knowledge -- understanding of the will of God.

Verse 6

2 Peter 1:6

Temperance -- self control

Patience -- steadfastness, long suffering

Godliness -- Reverence and piety toward God, right conduct regarding God.

Verse 7

2 Peter 1:7

Brotherly kindness -- "philadelphia" = brotherly affection

Charity -- ἀγάπη, the highest and noblest kind of love, (love in action.)

Verse 8

2 Peter 1:8

Abound -- i.e. they must be ample, "to increase".

In the knowledge -- εἰς ,

Knowledge -- If one has them, he didn’t say he would be saved, but he would not be unfruitful in the knowledge. No matter how much one may have these attributes, if he has not been purged of his old sins he is LOST.

Verse 9

2 Peter 1:9

Blind -- because of failure to grow. This one says, "I don’t see why I need to come on Sunday night." He is telling the truth, he doesn’t see-- he is blind!

Old sins -- the sins before conversion.

Verse 10

2 Peter 1:10

Brethren -- Note that Peter also used this word in Acts 2. Acts 2:29.

Election sure -- those responding; sure = firm, steadfast.

Never fall -- Though a "near-sighted" person might stumble and fall, because you "see" the truth, you will not.

Fall -- πταίω ptaíō; fut. ptaísō. To stumble, fall (this word has to do with sure footedness of a horse.)

Verse 11

2 Peter 1:11

So -- by giving diligence.

Everlasting kingdom -- "the eternal kingdom of Christ."

Verse 12

2 Peter 1:12

New Paragraph:

Know -- Know them from where? Cf. 2 Peter 3:15.

Verse 13

2 Peter 1:13

Remembrance -- These things can be remembered by reading Peter’s scripture.

Verse 14

2 Peter 1:14

Put off -- probably a reference to John 21:18-19, but possibly to some recent revelation. (Mixed figures of speech, "put off" and "tabernacle.")

Verse 15

2 Peter 1:15

Decease -- "exodus"

Have these things always in remembrance -- Could this be a reference to Mark’s gospel? Early testimony is that Mark wrote down Peter’s preaching (gospel).

Verse 16

2 Peter 1:16

Cunningly devised -- The gospel is not a conspiracy.

Fables -- The origin of the Second Coming is not in fables.

Power and coming -- has single article, thus one unit.

Coming -- Is this reference to Jesus’ second coming, or his first coming? From 2 Peter 3:4 it seems clearly to refer to his Second Coming.

Coming -- παρουσία parousía; gen. parousías, fem. noun from parṓn (part. of páreimi [G3918], to be present) present, presence, a being present, a coming to a place. Presence, coming or arrival.

Majesty -- "grandeur"

Verse 17

2 Peter 1:17

Excellent glory -- God Himself.

Verse 18

2 Peter 1:18

Ref to Matthew 17:1 ff.

Verse 19

2 Peter 1:19

Meaning: ?

1) Appealing to prophecy as something more convincing than Apostle’s proclamation, OR;

2) More likely saying the transfiguration scene served as confirmation of Old Testament prediction.

Take heed -- pay attention

Day star -- Christ

See note at Isaiah 14:12

Verse 20

2 Peter 1:20

(Note the incorrection interpretation of this passage by the Roman Catholic church.)

Prophecy -- Prophetic scripture didn’t originate in the prophet’s own mind.

Private interpretation -- ".. of the event."

Verse 21

2 Peter 1:21

Moved -- φέρω = borne along, carried along by.

There are several ways to move someone: 1) with a pin jab (65), or 2) by 4 or 5 men picking up a man and moving, carrying, him. The Holy Spirit carried men’s minds.

φέρω phérō; fut. oísō, aor. ḗnegka, aor. pass. ēnéchthēn, obsolete form oíō (G3634a), to bring, carry. To bear, bring. ...

Figuratively to be moved, incited (2 Peter 1:21 ) (WordStudy)

Holy Ghost -- Peter’s only reference to the Holy Spirit in his epistle, and it has to do with the inspiration of Scripture. 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Timothy 2:15

HOLY SPIRIT

Member of Godhead- Matthew 28:19, 1 John 5:7-8,

"He"- John 16:13; John 1:1-17, Acts 8:29,

Gave us God’s word- 2 Peter 1:21,

"Sword of Spirit" is "Word"- Ephesians 6:17,

Holy Spirit baptism- Occurred twice

1. On Pentecost-- To give power to the apostles-- Acts 1:8 & Acts 2:1-4

2. At Cornelius’ house to show that gentiles accepted- Acts 11:15-18 & Acts 15:7-8.

3. Paul later wrote that there is now only "One Baptism"- Ephesians 4:4

4. Baptism in the name of Christ is water baptism- Acts 10:47-48 and Acts 2:38. It is commanded of everyone- Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:16