2 Peter 1:1-15
Lesson 452
Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."
"The Second Epistle of Peter"
"True verses false prophecy."
Authorship:
Despite a minority opinion to the contrary, Second Peter was written by Jesus' disciple Peter (1:1), who also wrote 1 Peter (1 Peter 1:1). Peter was the oldest of the twelve disciples. He was also called Simon Peter, Simeon (Acts 15:14), Simon Bar-jona (Matthew 16:17), meaning Simon, son of Jonah (Matthew 1:42), or just Simon (Matthew 10:2). Jesus re-named him Peter on the day they met (John 1:42). The Greek translation for Peter is Petros (meaning rock), the Aramaic is Cephas (John 1:42), and the Latin is Petrus.
Peter was born in Bethsaida (John 1:44) on the northern coast of the Sea of Galilee. He was the son of Jona (also called Jonah or Jonas John 21:15-17) and the older brother to the disciple Andrew (John 1:40; 6:8). Peter was a simple fisherman in Capernaum (Matthew 4:18; Mark 1:16) and partners with James and John (Luke 5:10) when he met Jesus. Bold but uneducated (Acts 4:13), Peter (and Andrew) were Jesus' first disciples (Matthew 4:18-20; Mark 1:16-18) and became part of Jesus' inner circle. Jesus used Peter's home as His base whenever they were in Galilee. Peter wrote the First and Second Epistles of Peter (1 Peter 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1). He walked on water (Matthew 14:28-31), performed the miracle at the Beautiful Gate (Acts 3:1-10), witnessed the Transfiguration of Jesus (Matthew 17:1-9; Mark 9:1-13; Luke 9:28-36; 2 Peter 1:16-18), the resurrection of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37-42), and Jesus praying in Gethsemane as He waited to be arrested (Mark 14:32-34). Peter rose before the mob to resist Jesus' arrest (John 18:10-13), yet within hours, he denied even knowing Him three times (Matthew 26:69-75; John 18:15-27). After the crucifixion, Peter became the rock on which Jesus built His church (Matthew 16:16-19) and helped spread the Gospel from Jerusalem to Rome. Whenever the Bible lists the twelve disciples/apostles, Peter is always listed first (Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19), and Roman Catholics call him their first Pope. Peter was married (Matthew 8:14; Mark 1:30; Luke 4:38) and brought his wife (Concordia) on his missionary journeys (1 Corinthians 9:5). Although Jesus told Peter he would be crucified when he "shalt be old" (John 21:18-19), the Bible gives no details of his death. However, the Christian writers Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus (AD 160-220) and Origen Adamantius (AD 185-254) report that Peter was crucified upside down by Emperor Nero in Rome about AD 70, approximately three years after writing 2 Peter. An unverified tradition claims that Peter's wife, Concordia, was also martyred for her faith.
Purpose and Theme:
Second Peter was the last book added to the New Testament (in the third century) and bears many similarities to "The General Epistle of Jude" (especially chapter two). Second Peter refers to 1 Peter and is addressed to the same Jewish
converts scattered throughout Asia Minor that Peter wrote to in 1 Peter (3:1). However, in his first epistle, Peter wrote
about the dangers Christians face from non-believers. Here we learn that sometimes the threat can be from fellow
Christians. Second Peter deals with internal church problems and is, first and foremost, a letter of warning. It warns
believers about false teachers, and deceivers, and exposes the misguided doctrines (including an early form of Gnosticism) that sometimes lead Christians astray. Second Peter tells us to be ready for Jesus' return. The dangers of following a false doctrine are as real today as in Peter's day, perhaps more so. With television, social media, and the internet, clever but false preachers can reach large audiences with seemingly sincere messages.
One of the seven epistles, 2 Peter has eleven important references to the Old Testament (look for them) and teaches that Christian Gentiles of the time, although unschooled in the Mosaic Law, were equal to Christian Jews in the eyes of God. This was a controversial notion to Jewish converts who considered themselves spiritually superior.
Second Peter teaches that believers must be patient, firm in their belief, and true to the word of God as they struggle to live virtuous lives in preparation for the final day of judgment. When Christ returns, Peter tells us that heaven and earth will be replaced with a new heaven and earth.
Despite a minority opinion to the contrary, Second Peter was written by Jesus' disciple Peter (1:1), who also wrote 1 Peter (1 Peter 1:1). Peter was the oldest of the twelve disciples. He was also called Simon Peter, Simeon (Acts 15:14), Simon Bar-jona (Matthew 16:17), meaning Simon, son of Jonah (Matthew 1:42), or just Simon (Matthew 10:2). Jesus re-named him Peter on the day they met (John 1:42). The Greek translation for Peter is Petros (meaning rock), the Aramaic is Cephas (John 1:42), and the Latin is Petrus.
Peter was born in Bethsaida (John 1:44) on the northern coast of the Sea of Galilee. He was the son of Jona (also called Jonah or Jonas John 21:15-17) and the older brother to the disciple Andrew (John 1:40; 6:8). Peter was a simple fisherman in Capernaum (Matthew 4:18; Mark 1:16) and partners with James and John (Luke 5:10) when he met Jesus. Bold but uneducated (Acts 4:13), Peter (and Andrew) were Jesus' first disciples (Matthew 4:18-20; Mark 1:16-18) and became part of Jesus' inner circle. Jesus used Peter's home as His base whenever they were in Galilee. Peter wrote the First and Second Epistles of Peter (1 Peter 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1). He walked on water (Matthew 14:28-31), performed the miracle at the Beautiful Gate (Acts 3:1-10), witnessed the Transfiguration of Jesus (Matthew 17:1-9; Mark 9:1-13; Luke 9:28-36; 2 Peter 1:16-18), the resurrection of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37-42), and Jesus praying in Gethsemane as He waited to be arrested (Mark 14:32-34). Peter rose before the mob to resist Jesus' arrest (John 18:10-13), yet within hours, he denied even knowing Him three times (Matthew 26:69-75; John 18:15-27). After the crucifixion, Peter became the rock on which Jesus built His church (Matthew 16:16-19) and helped spread the Gospel from Jerusalem to Rome. Whenever the Bible lists the twelve disciples/apostles, Peter is always listed first (Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19), and Roman Catholics call him their first Pope. Peter was married (Matthew 8:14; Mark 1:30; Luke 4:38) and brought his wife (Concordia) on his missionary journeys (1 Corinthians 9:5). Although Jesus told Peter he would be crucified when he "shalt be old" (John 21:18-19), the Bible gives no details of his death. However, the Christian writers Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus (AD 160-220) and Origen Adamantius (AD 185-254) report that Peter was crucified upside down by Emperor Nero in Rome about AD 70, approximately three years after writing 2 Peter. An unverified tradition claims that Peter's wife, Concordia, was also martyred for her faith.
Purpose and Theme:
Second Peter was the last book added to the New Testament (in the third century) and bears many similarities to "The General Epistle of Jude" (especially chapter two). Second Peter refers to 1 Peter and is addressed to the same Jewish
converts scattered throughout Asia Minor that Peter wrote to in 1 Peter (3:1). However, in his first epistle, Peter wrote
about the dangers Christians face from non-believers. Here we learn that sometimes the threat can be from fellow
Christians. Second Peter deals with internal church problems and is, first and foremost, a letter of warning. It warns
believers about false teachers, and deceivers, and exposes the misguided doctrines (including an early form of Gnosticism) that sometimes lead Christians astray. Second Peter tells us to be ready for Jesus' return. The dangers of following a false doctrine are as real today as in Peter's day, perhaps more so. With television, social media, and the internet, clever but false preachers can reach large audiences with seemingly sincere messages.
One of the seven epistles, 2 Peter has eleven important references to the Old Testament (look for them) and teaches that Christian Gentiles of the time, although unschooled in the Mosaic Law, were equal to Christian Jews in the eyes of God. This was a controversial notion to Jewish converts who considered themselves spiritually superior.
Second Peter teaches that believers must be patient, firm in their belief, and true to the word of God as they struggle to live virtuous lives in preparation for the final day of judgment. When Christ returns, Peter tells us that heaven and earth will be replaced with a new heaven and earth.
2 Peter is broken down into four main segments.
1) Verses 1:1- 15 - A powerful opening salutation (1:1-2); The true Christian lives a virtuous life (1:3-12); Peter on his pending death (1:12-15).
2) Verses 1:16- 21 - True prophecy, The Second Coming. The Transfiguration (1:16-18). Scripture comes from God (1:20-21).
3) Verses 2:1-22 - False prophecy. False teachers (2:1-3); Law of Recompense (2:4-10a); How to recognize false prophets (2:10b-16); The fate of false prophets (2:17-22).
4) Verses 3:1-18 - The hope of true prophecy. More on the Second Coming (3:1-8); The Second Coming is inevitable (3:8-10); Prepare for the Second Coming (3:11-13); Be holy and hopeful (3:14-16); Summary and closing remarks (3:17-18).
1) Verses 1:1- 15 - A powerful opening salutation (1:1-2); The true Christian lives a virtuous life (1:3-12); Peter on his pending death (1:12-15).
2) Verses 1:16- 21 - True prophecy, The Second Coming. The Transfiguration (1:16-18). Scripture comes from God (1:20-21).
3) Verses 2:1-22 - False prophecy. False teachers (2:1-3); Law of Recompense (2:4-10a); How to recognize false prophets (2:10b-16); The fate of false prophets (2:17-22).
4) Verses 3:1-18 - The hope of true prophecy. More on the Second Coming (3:1-8); The Second Coming is inevitable (3:8-10); Prepare for the Second Coming (3:11-13); Be holy and hopeful (3:14-16); Summary and closing remarks (3:17-18).
Study Tip:
Apply important verses to your life by asking yourself;
What lesson does this verse teach?
Does it warn me of something to avoid?
What difference would it make in my life?
Apply important verses to your life by asking yourself;
What lesson does this verse teach?
Does it warn me of something to avoid?
What difference would it make in my life?
