The Book of 2 Peter is the twenty-first book in the New Testament. It was written by the apostle Peter shortly before his martyrdom around AD 64–65. The key themes of 2 Peter include growing in the knowledge of Christ, being steadfast in the faith, warning against false teachers, and looking forward to the day of the Lord.
2 Peter is comprised of 3 chapters with a total of 61 verses. It was likely written from Rome sometime between AD 64-65. The letter was addressed to the same churches in Asia Minor as 1 Peter. The purpose of 2 Peter was to warn believers about false teachers and to exhort them to grow in their faith in Christ.
Chapter 1
In chapter 1, Peter begins by affirming that believers have received a faith of equal worth through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:1). He prays that grace and peace would be multiplied to them through the knowledge of God and Jesus (2 Peter 1:2). God’s divine power has granted believers everything needed for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called them (2 Peter 1:3). Through God’s glory and excellence, He has granted His precious and magnificent promises so that believers may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption of the world (2 Peter 1:4). For this reason, believers should make every effort to supplement their faith with virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love (2 Peter 1:5-7). If these qualities are present and increasing, believers will keep from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:8). But if anyone lacks these qualities, they are blind, having forgotten they were cleansed from their former sins (2 Peter 1:9). Therefore, brothers and sisters should be diligent to make their calling and election sure by practicing these qualities, which will keep them from ever stumbling (2 Peter 1:10). In this way, there will be richly provided an entrance into the eternal kingdom of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:11).
Peter knew his death was imminent, so he intended to keep reminding the believers of the truth after he was gone (2 Peter 1:12-15). When Jesus revealed His glory to Peter, James, and John on the mountain, it confirmed the prophetic word about Christ’s coming (2 Peter 1:16-18). Prophecy never had its origin in human will, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:19-21).
Chapter 2
In chapter 2, Peter warns about false prophets just as there were false prophets among the people of Israel (2 Peter 2:1). Many will follow the false teachers’ sensuality leading to the way of truth being maligned (2 Peter 2:2). In their greed, the false teachers will exploit believers with false words (2 Peter 2:3). But their condemnation has long been prepared and their destruction is not sleeping (2 Peter 2:3). If God did not spare the angels when they sinned but cast them to hell and committed the ancient world to destruction, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly and keep the unrighteous under punishment for judgment day (2 Peter 2:4-9).
These false teachers indulge in the flesh, despise authority, and slander angels yet even angels, though greater in might and power, do not pronounce slanderous judgment (2 Peter 2:10-11). But the false teachers are like irrational animals, creatures of instinct born to be caught and destroyed. They revel in broad daylight; they are blots and blemishes who revel in their deceptions (2 Peter 2:12-13). Their eyes are full of adultery; they entice the unstable and have hearts trained in greed (2 Peter 2:14). They left the straight way and wandered off to follow Balaam who loved gain from wrongdoing (2 Peter 2:15-16). These men are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm reserved for utter darkness (2 Peter 2:17). With loud boasts of folly, they entice people who have just escaped from those living in error promising freedom while they themselves are slaves to corruption (2 Peter 2:18-19). If they have escaped the world’s corruption by knowing Jesus but are again entangled in it, their last state has become worse than the first (2 Peter 2:20). It would have been better never to know the way of righteousness than to know it and turn back from the holy commandment (2 Peter 2:21). True proverbs say that a dog returns to its vomit and a sow returns to wallow in the mire (2 Peter 2:22).
Chapter 3
In chapter 3, Peter stimulates the believers by way of reminder to remember the predictions of the holy prophets and commandment from the Lord through the apostles (2 Peter 3:1-2). In the last days, scoffers will come saying where is this coming Jesus promised? (2 Peter 3:3-4). But they deliberately ignore that the heavens and earth were created by God’s word and perish in the flood (2 Peter 3:5-6). The present heavens and earth are stored up for fire and destruction on the day of judgment when the ungodly will perish (2 Peter 3:7). Believers should not ignore the Lord’s patience means salvation as Paul also wrote about (2 Peter 3:8-9, 15-16). The day of the Lord will come like a thief when the heavens will pass away with a roar, elements destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works laid bare (2 Peter 3:10). Since all these things are to be destroyed, what sort of people ought believers to be in holiness and godliness as they wait for and hasten the coming day of God (2 Peter 3:11-12). But they wait for the new heavens and new earth where righteousness dwells according to God’s promise (2 Peter 3:13).
Therefore, beloved, be diligent to be found without spot or blemish before God at peace (2 Peter 3:14). Count the patience of the Lord as salvation just as Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given him (2 Peter 3:15). Some twist Paul’s words to their own destruction but believers know them as the rest of Scriptures (2 Peter 3:16). Since they know these things beforehand, beware lest they be carried away by the error of lawless people and lose their own stability (2 Peter 3:17). But grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory now and forever (2 Peter 3:18).
In summary, 2 Peter reminds believers to grow in maturity and knowledge of Christ. It warns of false teachers who will try to lead people astray with sensuality, greed, and deception. But it encourages endurance and waiting patiently for the return of Jesus, even if people ridicule and doubt. When Christ returns, there will be judgment for the ungodly but the righteous will dwell with God in the new heavens and new earth. Therefore, believers should strive to be found holy, godly, and at peace with God while waiting for and hastening the day of the Lord.