2 Peter - Verse-by-Verse Biblical Exegesis

e our defense – knowledge. Where is this knowledge, and how does it come to us? Peter
will say the only way is through the Word of God. (J. McGee) More deadly (than
external threats from Iran, Sudan and North Korea) is that self-destructive madness that
operates within the churches as a direct consequence of ruinous heresies secretly
introduced into the mainstream of church teaching. (J. Stott)
A structural similarity between the two Petrine epistles is undeniable and supports the
probability that one author composed these two letters (S. Kistemaker):
1 Peter 2 Peter
1:10-12 1:19-21 inspiration of Old Testament
1:2 1:10 doctrine of election
1:23 1:4 doctrine of the new birth
2:11-12 1:5-9 need for holiness
3:19 2:4 sinful angels in prison
3:20 2:5 Noah and his family protected
4:2-4 2:10-22 immorality and judgment
4:7-11 3:14-18 exhortation to Christian living
4:11 3:18 doxology
The exigence of 2 Peter is the presence in the church of false teachers (2:1) who
apparently are backslidden Christians (2:15, 20-22). These false teachers have gathered a
following to their practice and teaching (2:1-3, 14, 18), particularly from among those
who are weak or new in faith (2:14, 18). Their proselytizing continues to be a danger
(3:17) even to those of a mature faith. (D. Watson) The reality of your salvation is this:
you have received from God a precious saving faith that gives you a perfect standing in
Christ equal to all other believers. It is designed to multiply grace and peace to you. But
that happens only when you have a deep, true knowledge of Christ. And that eliminates
the superficial people – those who jump on the Jesus bandwagon … There is a lot of
superficiality in Christianity. But Peter is saying that a deep knowledge of Christ is an
indicator of true saving faith. (J. MacArthur) To minimize the influence of false teachers,
the author urges the faithful to strive for Christian maturity and godliness in accordance
with apostolic doctrine. (D. Watson)
CHAPTER 1
LWB 2 Peter 1:1 Simeon Peter, a bondslave and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those
[the elect of God] who have obtained by divine appointment equal faith [by
regeneration] with us [other apostles] through the just and equitable method of
operation [salvation mechanics] of our God [deity of Christ] and Savior, Jesus
Christ.