II Peter

An Introduction
Green, 2 Peter & Jude (Michigan: Eerdmans Publishing), 1987.

Comparing the Two Epistles

I Peter
Christians facing persecution Key: Hope Events of Christ to comfort & emulate Apokalupisis (Return) word of comfort Cross as a principle to following in suffering

II Peter
Christians facing false doctrine Key: True Knowledge Christs return to give hope & warning Parousia (Return) word of warning Return of Christ to warn of judgment on unfaithful

Comparison Summary
Thus, in the Second Epistle the past judgment of God in Old Testament days and his future judgment at the parousia support the strong moral challenge of the letter, where the imitating Christ theme of 1 Peter would have been out of place and ineffective. The writers mind is full of danger of false teaching. The full knowledge of Jesus Christ is the best safeguard against these dangers, and it is this, therefore, which is stressed, in contrast to the hope which pervades 1 Peter. Both letters are determined, as far as subject matter goes, by the pastoral needs which evoked them, and herein lies the difference in the doctrinal emphasis between them. Green, 2 Peter & Jude (Michigan: Eerdmans Publishing), 1987.

arose among the people, 2 Peter 2:19-20 just as there will also be false teachers Reference to2 The day of the Lord as that never cease from sin, enticing Lord will come like a destructive thief, Peter 3:17-18 among you, who will secretly introduce just as there will also 20 For if after they have escaped the defilements transfiguration (1:16) a thief in the night unstable souls, having a heart 2 Peter 1:16-17 heresies, even denying the Master 17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, (3:10; Mt.24:43) be false teachers of the world by the knowledge of the Lord Prophesy of Peters who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon be on your guard lest, being carried trained in greed, accursed 16 For we did not follow 2 Peter 1:13-15 will pass away with a roar death (1:14; Jn.21:21 Predictions of the themselves. 2 And many will follow among you, who will and Savior Jesus Christ, they are away by the error of unprincipled men, you children; 18 For speaking out cleverly devised tales 23) parousia their sensuality, and because of them the way 14 again knowing that the laying aside of my and the elements will be secretly introduce entangled in them and are fall from your own steadfastness, of the truth will be maligned; and in power arrogant words of vanity when we made known to you the Denial of the Lord (2:1) 3 Reference to earthly dwelling is imminent, NAS destructive heresies, overcome, thethey last state has become their greed will exploit you with establishing, ,sterizo they entice by fleshly desires, and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but Invasion of words; false as also our Lord Jesus Christ false their judgment from even denying the worse for them than the first. (3:17; 1:12; 1 Pet.5:10; and the earth and its prophets (2:1ff; by sensuality, those who barely we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. long ago is not idle, and their has made clear to me. cp. Lk.22:32) Master who bought them, bringing NAS Mk.13:22) destruction is not asleep. works will be burned up. escape from the NAS ones live in error NASwho Reference to fishing, swift upon themselves. Last state destruction worse thanNAS

II Peter: Emphasis on Life of Jesus 2 Peter 2:1 2 Peter 3:10 2 Peter 2:14-15 2 Peter 2:1-4 2:1 But false prophets also and Peters Life 10 But the day of the 2:1 But false prophets also arose among the people, 14 having eyes full of adultery and
in which the heavens

destroyed with intense heat,

first (2:20; Mt.12:45)NAS NAS

NAS

deleazo (2:14, 18) means to catch by lure

Epistles Teachings on Eschatology

Will mean judgment for the wicked (1 Pt.4:5, 17; 2 Pt.3:7) Will mean joy for the faithful 1 Pt.4:13; 2 Pt.3:13f) Made the sanction for holy living (1 Pt.4:7; 2 Pt.3:11, 14) 1 Peter suggest coming soon (1 Pt.1:4-8; 4:7) 2 Peter indicates delay (2 Pt.3:4)

2 Peters Doctrine of Destruction of World Consistent with Scripture

Thief metaphor
(3:12)

Need for Godly Living

(3:12)

Falling of stars
(3:12)

Watchfulness
(3:12, 13)

Falling Away
(3:4)

Literary Plan of 2 Peter

Encapsulated in 1:12-15 Baucklam Defends Against These False Doctrines The preaching of the apostles was a myth (1:16-19) Old Testament prophecy was not inspired (1:20-21) Divine judgment is idle and ineffective (2:3-10) Where is the promise of His coming? (3:5-10)

Attacks the view that one can sin all they want for the judgment can be discounted Interdependence of eschatology & ethics (1:3-11; 3:11-13) On that bases, denounces false teachers (2:10-22) Demonstrates ethics of true disciples (3:11-16)

Date and Destination of 2 Peter

Likely written in Rome before Peters martyrdom (1:15) Likely written to same recipients of first epistle (3:1; cp. 1 Pt.1:1, 2) Readers are a mixed audience of Jewish and Gentile Christians Readers are people whom the author had personally written to and ministered among (1:16; 3:1) Readers who had received at least one letter from Paul (3:16)

There is no trace in the opponents either of Jude or Peter of that cosmological dualism which lies at the heart of Gnosticism. There is no trace of a demiurge or of opposition to the bodily resurrection. There is no evidence that their license was based on dualism. So we cannot call those attacked in Jude or Peters writings by the name Gnostic. The most we can do is to realize that many of their characteristics reappear in second-century Gnosticism. Yet, the eternal and complete truth of God delivered through the Apostles and inspired writers was all sufficient to deal with the heresies of Gnosticism.

Four major contributors to Gnostic thought.

Palestinian Judaism Grecian Philosophy Persian Mysticism Oriental Asceticism

Syncretism
An attempt to unite conflicting ideologies into one common doctrinal package (Gal.5:1-4; 2:11-21).

Summary of Pre-Gnostic Views

Emphasis on knowledge Felt emancipated from claims of morality Arrogance towards unenlightened church leaders Interest in angelology Salvation is present to the gnostic, not at the end of time Divisiveness Lasciviousness Perverted grace into license Confident that the true spirit could not be affected by what the flesh does No duty to authorities Antagonistic to eschatology

Pre-Gnosticism: Attached in 2 Peter & Jude

Denied the Lordship of Jesus (2 Pt.2:1;Jude 4) Defiled the love-feasts (2 Pt.2:10, 12ff; Jude 4, 12) Fond of rhetoric, out for gain (2 Pt.2:3, 12, 14-15, 18; Jude 16) Arrogant toward the Lord, church leaders & angels (2 Pt.2:1, 10, 11; Jude 8) Appeared as visionaries or prophets (2 Pt.2:1; Jude 8) Self-willed and set up divisions with attitude of superiority (2 Pt.2:2, 10, 18; Jude 19) Scoff at parousia (2 Pt.3) Twist prophets and Pauline writings for their own ends (1:18-2:1; 3:15, 16)

Early Foretaste of Gnosticism

Proto-gnostic Libertines of Corinth in 50s & Nicolaitans of Asia

Sexual freedom (1 Cor.6:12-13) Superior knowledge gave lax views toward cults (1 Cor.8; 2 Pt.2:10) Abuses at the love feasts (1 Cor.11:21) Despised angelic powers (1 Cor.11:10) Fostered separatist tendencies (1 Cor.3; 11:18f)

Elitism in the Spirit (1 Cor.12:1-3; 14:37-39; 2 Cor.12:1-3) Disbelief in the future element of the kingdom (1 Cor.15) leading to license (1 Cor.15:32) Nicolaitans & those who follow Balaam (Rev.2, 3; 2 Pt.2:15; Jude 11; Rev.2:14))

Continued Progression Toward Full Blown Gnosticism of the Second Century

Colossae in the Sixties
1) Speculative Thinking 2) Immorality 3) Concern with Angels

Johannine Church of the 80s & 90s

1) Insubordination 2) Separatism 3) Immorality 4) Emphasis on knowledge 5) Lack of love

Summary of 2 Peter
Reisner, Quoted by Green, p.46

First, the author seeks to bind them to the apostolic tradition (1:19ff) Second, he stresses that there is no credibility in claims to spirituality which are not backed by a holy life (1:5, 9) Third, he urges respect for the supernatural powers(2:9, 15, 18) Fourth, he teaches that the world will have an end and will be replaced by Gods new creation Fifth, the author has wise words to say both on the delay and the acceleration of the parousia (3:10f)