[Life of Apostle Peter Timeline]
This second epistle by Peter is tied with six other books for the third shortest in Scripture in terms of chapters. It is the 12th shortest in terms of total verses and the 12th shortest in terms of words.
In its original manuscript order, the fifth division of the Bible is composed of seven books known as the General Epistles. These books are James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2 and 3 John as well as Jude. 2Peter is the second largest, in terms of chapters, of the seven General Epistles. The second epistle by Peter is also the third largest in terms of verses and the fourth largest in terms of words.
Date Written
The Apostle Peter wrote 2Peter between 65 and 66 A.D. likely from the city of Babylon. It is one of the last four New Testament books written.
The Author
Peter was possibly between 65 and 66 years old when he wrote 2Peter. He was about 68 years old when he died as a martyr under Emperor Nero. Evidence highly suggests that Peter did not die in Rome nor did he ever evangelize the city!
2Peter Chapter Outline
Chpt. 1: Peter opens his short epistle by revealing the purpose of all of God's promises is to have humans become partakers of the same divine character he has always possessed (verses 3 to 4)!
[The Greatest Biblical Promises!]
Peter then teaches that, starting with faith, a believer should add to it virtue, then knowledge, self-control and a few other traits that will lead to the love of God. If a Christian has such things they will not be unfruitful in their lives (verses 5 to 8).
Peter encourages believers to be diligent and work out their own salvation as not doing so will lead to their fall (verses 9 to 10).
[What Special Relationship
Does God Want With Us?]
[What Are the Fruits of God's Spirit?]
Verses 13 to 15 is a reference to Jesus' words which warned Peter that when he was old he would die a martyr's death (John 21:18). The apostle wanted to insure that after his departure from this life that what he taught would still be available to the church (verses 13 to 15). The epistle of 2Peter was written when the apostle was roughly 65 to 66 years old.
[Where Did Transfiguration Occur?]
The apostle then offers his eyewitness account of Jesus' glory, at the transfiguration, as evidence that the Lord's return in power is true. He also strongly asserts God's direct involvement not only in inspiring the prophets of the Old Testament but also how they interpreted and conveyed that information to others (verses 19 to 21).
Chpt. 2: Peter opens the chapter by warning that the church has had, and will continue to have, false teachers spreading lies among God's people. This situation is nothing but a continuation of the false prophets that plagued ancient Israel in the Old Testament. Led by selfish, carnal desires, such people promote teachings that not only are destructive, they give God's truth a bad reputation (verses 1 to 3)!
[How Can We Detect False Prophets?]
Verses 4 to 9 offers a few examples of God executing his judgment, in his own time, against sinners. Although He is fully aware of the behavior of all humans, he always chooses the best time to punish sinners without regard to whether people agree with his timing. He is also fully capable of saving the righteous even in the midst of punishing the disobedient.
Peter continues his condemnation of false teachers as those who mock what they don't understand. They dedicate their lives to pursuing various lusts and will do whatever it takes for gain.
People who promote lies also make bombastic claims which appeal to the negative pulls of human nature so that they can bring their listeners under the bondage of sin. Peter makes it plain that such destructive people pretend to be Christians and freely mingle with believers with the goal of taking them down (verses 10 to 15, 17 to 19)!
Verses 20 to 22, to close the chapter, offers a stark warning. Peter warns that it IS possible for someone who was at one time a Christian to reject God and again become a slave to sin. Those who do this end up in a far worse state than they were when they pursued their lusts prior to their conversion. According to the apostle, it would have been better if they had NEVER known God's truth!
Chpt. 3: Peter's last chapter begins with his warning about how people in general will behave just before the return of Jesus.
In the End Time many will mock God, even going so far as tempting him by questioning his existence and why he has yet to return to the earth. This will lead to those who are true Christians being scorned and even rejected as being crazy to believe in the fantasy that a Creator of all things exists (verses 3 to 6).
Peter then makes the point that God plans his actions on an entirely different level than humans. To our Creator time is meaningless, a day is like a thousand years and 1,000 years like a day (verses 7 to 8). While humans who don't know God believe his perceived lack of action shows he either doesn't care or doesn't exist, the truth behind his behavior is revealed by the apostle.
[Symbolism of the Number 1,000]
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2Peter 3:9).
Peter then discusses the prophetic Day of the Lord and warns that its coming will not be expected! After the Lord returns, rules the earth for 1,000 years, and the Judgment Day is completed, God will cleanse the universe with fire. He will then create a new heavens and earth where only righteousness will exist (verses 10 to 13).
Peter closes his epistle by mentioning that some of the Apostle Paul's teachings were initially hard to understand. While those who are true Christians can ultimately comprehend what he taught, those who are unstable twist and distort the truth behind his writings to their own destruction. Christians are encouraged to be aware of such deceptive practices lest they be led astray and fall (verses 15 to 18).