At a Glance
2 Peter in Brief
Second Peter is a farewell. The apostle knew he would die soon, and he wrote to leave his people grounded in Christ and on guard against error.
- Author. Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:1). He was an eyewitness on the mount of transfiguration (2 Peter 1:16–18), he calls this his second letter (2 Peter 3:1), and he speaks of our beloved brother Paul (2 Peter 3:15).
- Date. About AD 65 to 67, from Rome, shortly before Peter's death (2 Peter 1:14).
- Written To. them that have obtained like precious faith with us (2 Peter 1:1), the same churches as 1 Peter (2 Peter 3:1).
- Setting. False teachers were slipping into churches, and mockers were asking where the Lord's promised return was.
- Key Verse. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).
- Key Word or Theme. Knowledge. Knowing Christ truly is the safeguard against error.
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Further reading
For Deeper Study
- Be AlertAmazon Warren W. WiersbeCovers 2 Peter, 2 and 3 John, and Jude, with a good eye for false teaching.
- Exploring the Epistles of PeterAmazon John PhillipsA clear expository commentary on both letters of Peter.
- Foxe's Book of MartyrsAmazon John FoxeThe classic Protestant record of those who died for the faith, from the early church to the English Reformation.
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How the Bible Fits Together
The Bible is sixty-six books written by about forty men over some fifteen hundred years, yet it tells one story of God's redemption from creation to the new earth, and its center is Jesus Christ.
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