The second epistle of the book of Peter was Peter’s farewell words.

I – THE WRITER OF THE SECOND BOOK OF PETER

Who wrote the book of 2 Peter (2 Peter 1:1)? _________ 

II Peter 1:1 “Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:”

     The name is written either “Simon” or “Simeon”, in Hebrew “Symeon” (Acts 14:14) which properly means “hearing”. But notice the first epistle I Peter 1:1 begins simply “Peter, an apostle”. The name Simon however, was his proper name “Peter” or “Cephas”, having been added to it by the Saviour (John 1:42; compare with Matthew 16:18).

     Peter mention of his original name according with the design here, to warn against the coming false teachers, by setting forth true “knowledge” of Christ on the testimony of the original apostolic eyewitnesses like himself. This was not required in his first letter (I Peter).

     In the first epistle of Peter the word “apostle” only is used. But here in his second epistle he mentioned “a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ.” However, like Paul who uses the word “servant” as applicable to himself in (Romans 1:1 “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God), and to himself and Timothy in the commencement of the epistle to the Philippians (Philippians 1:1 “Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:”).

     The debate over whether the Apostle Peter wrote II Peter involves different views on Authorship of the Petrine epistles: linguistic differences, historical traditions, and pseudonymity. Many modern critical scholars and university professors, religious leaders, conclude that Peter did not write it, while traditional and conservative scholars defend direct or assisted authorship.

     The Peter claims that he was the writer of the second epistle of Peter because he was one of those present on the mount of transfiguration as an eyewitness, and certainly this was true of Peter (II Peter 1:16-18 “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. ¹⁷ For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. ¹⁸ And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.”, compare with Matthew 17:1-2 “And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, ² And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.”).

 

II – THE WORDS BEFORE THE DEATH OF PETER 

     The book of II Peter features Peter’s final testimony or last words, similarly of Paul’s last book II Timothy as a farewell warning against false teachers. Peter was aware of his impending death, referencing Jesus Christ’s prophecy about that he would soon die (II Peter 1:14 “Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.”).

     Read John 21:18-19 “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. ¹⁹ This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.”

Jesus foretold the manner of Peter’s death, perhaps to prepare him for the circumstances he would face now that his Lord had been resurrected and would no longer be with him physically. Jesus reminded Peter that, in the past (“when you were younger”), Peter had a certain amount of freedom to come and go as he pleased. The day was coming when that would no longer be the case. Jesus said “when thou shalt be old” does not necessarily mean Peter would live to a ripe old age. Jesus Christ told Peter that he would die when he was old and also that he would stretch forth his hands and he would be taken where he did not wish to go. In fact, ancient writers say that Peter was put to death about thirty-four years after Jesus’ prophecy Peter’s precise age at that time is not known.

     The Bible does not tell us how the apostle Peter died. As far as we know from history, Peter was crucified by the Romans about the same time Paul was martyred (under the Roman emperor Nero). The Bible doesn’t tell us how the apostle Peter died. The most commonly accepted church tradition is that Peter was crucified upside-down in Rome because he did not feel that he was worthy to be crucified in the same position as His Saviour and because he had denied Jesus on the night of the arrest (Matthew 26:33-35, 69-75). But, this is only a tradition, and the Bible does not confirm or deny the story.

     As Peter thought of his approaching death, did he have any hope or any assurance that he might go to heaven? _____ (I Peter 1:3-5).

I Peter 1:3-5 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵ Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

     Peter is saying we are begotten us again of the Spirit by the Word (I Peter 1:23) which means we are before children of wrath, naturally dead in sins.

     What “unto a lively hope” means? It is explained by (v.4 “to an inheritance incorruptible…fadeth not away.”) and (v.5 “unto salvation…ready to be revealed in the last time”.)

     Peter is saying we are begotten unto a hope living through (v.3 “the resurrection of Jesus Christ”).

     Peter is saying that our “hope” is, Christ rising ordained the power, and is the pattern of the believer’s resurrection. The soul, born again from nature into grace, is also born again unto the life of glory. Our private adoption is now (Galatians 4:6); our public, at the coming resurrection.

     The four causes of salvation are:

     (1) the primary, God's mercy;

     (2) the proximate, Christ's death and resurrection;

     (3) the formal, our regeneration;

     (4) the final, our eternal bliss.

     John is the disciple of love; Paul is the disciple of faith; Peter is the disciple of hope. That is why, Peter and most of all the apostles, urges the resurrection of Christ: Between the history and his letter (introduction of Peter’s book), so a proof of genuineness of his conversion. Christ’s resurrection was the occasion of Peter’s own restoration by Christ after his fall. An the angel told Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome to tell the disciples and Peter to go to Gallilee to see Christ’s resurrection (Mark 16:7 “But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.”). Peter have hope of salvation that after he died he will go to heaven.

III – THIS WRITTEN TO REMIND US EVEN THOUGH PETER IS NO LONGER WITH US 

     What is the purpose why Peter wrote the book of Peter? God not only need to teach us new truths, but God must remind us of things we already know because we always tend to forget many things.

II Peter 1:12 “Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.”

     Notice the words “I will not be negligent” Peter is saying “I will be about always to put you in remembrance (an accumulated future): he is saying “I will regard you as always needing to be reminded (II Peter 1:15 “Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.”)

     How often is the reminder? It says “always” that is why Peter writes the second letter so soon after the first letter because there is likely to be more and more need of admonition on account of the increasing corruption (II Peter 2:1 “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”).

     When Peter mentioned the phrase “in the present truth”, he talks about the Gospel truth; formerly promised to Old Testament believers as about to be, now in the New Testament actually with, and in, believers, so that they are “established” in it as a “present” reality. The importance of the present truth which is the Gospel truth renders frequent monitoring never unnecessary or excessive (Romans 15:14 “And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.”)

 

II Peter 3:1 “This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:”           

     This now refers to a second letter he wrote, it means Peter intended audience is the same as that of I Peter. The word “unto you” indicates that the second letter, though more general in its address, included especially the same persons as the first was addressed to. The seven letters were written by James, John and Jude shortly before their deaths: while having the prospect of being for some time alive, they felt writing less necessary.

     Notice Peter says “by way of remembrance” meaning “in putting you in remembrance (II Peter 1:12). Peter is saying ye already know (II Peter 3:3 “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,”), so it is only needed that Peter reminds them like in (Jude 1:5 “I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.”).

     In II Peter, some very important things are said about the Bible (II Peter 1:19-21; II Peter 3:15-18)

II Peter 1:19-21 “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: ²⁰ Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. ²¹ For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

II Peter 3:15-18 “And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; ¹⁶ As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. ¹⁷ Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. ¹⁸ But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

     Peter was aware that he and other apostles were soon die and soon would be no more apostles. Can the church continue without the apostles? Yes, the church would continue to exist in the ministry God designed to even though the church has no longer apostles. Why? The church has the New Testement which the Apostles gave us, therefore, the church still has the teaching of the Apostles (Acts 2:42 “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”).

     It is a great joy and privilege that Peter and some of the Apostles could visit us at the church to preach and teach unto us the truths of God, but this is impossible. We now possessed two letters written by Peter, but he is no longer with us. Peter is telling us the wisdom that God given to Paul that his writings need to be understood and can profits us (II Peter 3:15-16) but Paul was dead but his letters can be used by all of us. This teaches us that we need to give importance for the Bible, that is what we need today, and it reminded us of all God wants us to remember always, even though the Apostles have died many years ago.     

IV – THE WORD “KNOWLEDGE” CONSIDERED KEY WORD IN THE BOOK OF II PETER

     The word “knowledge” is the key word in II Peter. Can you find the seven occurrences of the word knowledge in II Peter.

II Peter 1:2 “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,”

II Peter 1:3 “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:”

II Peter 1:5 “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;”

II Peter 1:6 “And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;”

II Peter 1:8 “For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

II Peter 2:20 “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.”

II Peter 3:18 “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

 

     The more we have the knowledge about Jesus Christ, we have a scriptures and protection, the less we will be deceived by false teaches (II Peter 2)

     The more we have the knowledge about Jesus Christ, the more by God’s grace grown as a child of God (II Peter 1; II Peter 3; see II Peter 3:18).

     When a sinner got saved, he came to know his Savior Jesus Christ (John 17:3 “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”)

     As begotten of God by the gospel of Christ and by His resurrection, we should spent each day to know our Savior better and better (II Peter 3:18). Paul says in Philippians 3:10 “that I may _______ Him”.

 

     Be reminded of Peter last words when he was still alive and live with it, II Peter 3:18 “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

     Grow in God’s grace knowing more deeper about the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

     

 

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