2 Peter - Verse-by-Verse Biblical Exegesis

among them a deliberate ignorance of unpalatable truth (3:5), as well as that instability
that leads unbalanced enthusiasts (3:16) to distort Scripture. (J. Stott)
In my teaching I spend very little time on issues of introduction, that is, on the authorship
and other critical issues that have been raised concerning the different books of the Bible.
I would ordinarily just pass over this because to me, 2 Peter is a part of the Word of God
and I think there is an abundance of evidence both internal and external. (J. McGee) For
more than 17 centuries this brief but poignant epistle has withstood the blasts of skeptical
scholars who have denied the authenticity of its claim to Petrine authorship. (K. Gangel)
The reasons that this epistle has been rejected by some cannot be substantiated. There is a
great deal of internal evidence, especially certain autobiographical sections (2 Peter 1:13-
14; 1:16-18; and 3:1), which are to me absolutely conclusive that Simon Peter wrote this
epistle. (J. McGee) Even a cursory reading of 2 Peter 2 and Jude 4-18 confirms their
striking similarity. However, the exact nature of their dependence on each other and the
effect of that dependence on their canonicity and authenticity has been the subject of
much debate. (K. Gangel) Second Peter is the swan song of Peter, just as 2 Timothy is the
swan song of Paul. Thee are striking similarities between the two books … Peter warns
of heresy among teachers; Paul warns of heresy among the laity. (J. McGee)
Peter wants us to ensure that the Christianity which we have received, believed, lived,
and passed on to others is the genunine article and not a substitute ... In other words, we
need first to check our gospel’s origin, then its quality, thirdly its results, and fourthly its
content. (J. Stott) 2 Peter 1:1-3 tells us the specific identity of the audience to which Peter
is writing: “To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours.” Peter writes to
a specific group, not to all of mankind. This not only refers to faith as a gift, but it surely
limits the context to the saved. (J. White) Gnosis is the word he uses for “information
knowledge.” As he makes clear, that is the kind of knowledge which we can add to or
grow in by being better informed about God and His Word. We can have that kind of
knowledge by understanding Bible passages, reading good books and being well taught.
But it is dangerously easy to be a well-informed non-Christian who misses the key
ingredient, which is Peter’s other word for knowledge, epignosis. It has the sense of
personal knowledge, the knowledge of a husband or wife or good friend that goes beyond
knowing things about them and actually knows them. (J. Stott)
The difference in the style of the two Petrine epistles may be attributed to two scribes. (S.
Kistemaker) First Peter instructs believers how to react to their external enemies, while
the Second Epistle strengthens believers to resist the internal adversaries of the truth. The
First inculcates hope amid suffering, the Second accentuates the need of full knowledge
as the safeguard against vicious error … The keynote of 2 Peter is knowledge. A
prominent place is given to it. (D. Hiebert) 2 Peter is a homily on Christian growth, set in
the context of threats to Christian stability from a type of destructive and heretical
teaching that is as common today as it was in apostolic times and that seems to hold out a
perpetual attraction to some vigorous evangelical communities. In 1:1-11 we possess
what is a classic NT exposition of this theme, including the brilliant little ladder of
advance towards maturity, from faith to love, in verses 5-7 ... including that knowledge of
the truth as it is in Jesus, which can be built up by application and endeavor only over a