Before diving into the passages themselves, it’s always a good idea to reflect upon the book overall. Who wrote it? Why? What’s it generally about?
The author of the book is pretty clear, it’s stated as the first two words in 2 Peter 1:1, “Simeon Peter.” Of course, that hasn’t prevented the critics of the past 150 years from trying to look for another author. Some scholars even say the book was forged. (The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: 2 Peter & Jude, p. 1) Yet, the book’s content really helps negate any such claim of forgery. The book itself denounces the false teaching and deception such a forger would be engaged in. (Ibid. p. 12) In any case, while there are scholars who doubt that Peter was the author, I don’t know of any compelling evidence for those doubts and accept it has Peter’s.
The book itself is probably written toward the end of Peter’s life. While he does not say so, it is possible that Peter was in prison and waiting for a death sentence to be carried out, based upon his comment in 2 Peter 1:14, “since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon.” This would place the place of the writing in Rome around AD 67 or 68. (Ibid., p. 14) According to verse 2 Peter 3:1, this is his second letter and likely a follow up to 1 Peter, which is addressed to the “elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.” It is clearly a letter to believers based upon comments in 2 Peter 1:1, 12-15, 3:1, 18.
The book itself is directed almost exclusively at the defense of the gospel against false teachers. The entire book is directed towards standing strong in the truth and standing against false teachings and false teachers. The MacArthur outlines it like this (Ibid. p. 15)
- Avoiding False Teaching by Understanding Salvation (2 Peter 1:3-11)
- Avoiding False Teaching by Understanding the Scriptures (2 Peter 1:12-21)
- Avoiding False Teaching by Understanding False Teachers (2 Peter 2:1-22)
- Avoiding False Teaching by Understanding the Future (2 Peter 3:1-18)
I think that’s a pretty good outline. In these last days, I think this is a pretty important theme since there are more varieties of false teaching than there are believers.
Next week, I plan to dig in to the salutation itself. That may not sound interesting, but it’s really surprising how much there is in those first two verses.
Cheers.
