2 Peter - Verse-by-Verse Biblical Exegesis

long period. This distinction between the knowledge that is given (gnosis), and a
knowledge that is gained (epignosis), is an important key to understanding apostolic
Christianity. (J. Stott)
I thank the Lord that hundreds of people have been converted through listening to the
Word of God, but actually I began my radio ministry of teaching the Word of God with
the intention of helping believers to grow up in the faith. I am not an obstetrician
bringing babies to birth, but a pediatrician whose job it is to give believers the milk of the
Word and then to try to give them a porterhouse steak now and then. My friend, you will
not be able to live for God in these days of apostasy unless you have a knowledge of the
Word of God – and that is Peter’s theme. (J. McGee) The word know or knowledge is
used at least thirteen times in this short epistle. The word does not mean a mere
intellectual understanding of some truth, though that is included. It means a living
participation in the truth. (W. Wiersbe) Growth in grace is urged by Peter as
indispensable, not to impress the world but to rescue the young believers from spiritual
disaster ... The purpose of 2 Peter is twofold: to expose false guides for what they were
and, more important still, to set before the churches the conditions of survival when
doctrinal and moral perversions infiltrate their fellowships, appearing to carry all before
them. (J. Stott)
The community is now troubled, not so much by persecution as by false teaching and
doctrinal and moral confusion. The authority of Simeon Peter is called upon to correct
such abuses. (R. Brown) Peter’s second epistle has three distinct parts: an exhortation for
the believers to grow spiritually (chap. 1), instructions for them to oppose the doctrines
and lifestyles of false teachers (chap. 2), and teachings that prepare them for the end of
the world, the judgment, and the day of the Lord (chap. 3). Peter realizes that the end of
his life is near. Before he departs from this earthly scene, he wants to give his readers
spiritual directives so that they are able to reject heresies and mature spiritually in the
knowledge of Christ. (S. Kistemaker) His letter has three main thoughts: (a) Christians
must match their Christian calling and resources with growth in practical holiness; (b)
Every attempt to delude them with false doctrine and its consequent licentiousness must
be resisted and refuted; (c) Christians must live their lives in the light of the coming day
of God. (D. Wheaton) Very possibly, the new teachers were professing to have been
given a personal enlightenment, enabling them to put aside the Scriptures as now
superseded by the “inner light,” a claim frequently made in the history of the churches ...
Fakes lie at the heart of Peter’s concern in this letter. (J. Stott)
Spiritual knowledge is Peter’s answer to overcoming false doctrines. In fact, he uses the
word to know and its related words sixteen times in the epistle. With six of these
references the apostle intensifies the thought by using the words epignosko and epignosis.
These words mean “additional knowledge” and “full or complete knowledge.” This
knowledge is shared with the believer by the work of the Holy Spirit. (W. Baker) In 2
Peter we see that apostasy is approaching, the storm is coming. How are we to prepare to
meet it? There is only one way, Peter says, and that is through knowledge. Not only
through faith in Christ, not only by believing in Him, but also to know Christ … The
great subject of this epistle is going to be not only the apostasy but also that which will