SECOND PETER
The Folly of Following False Teachers
This second epistle of Peter was perhaps the last book to be accepted fully into the New Testament Canon. Even Eusebius, writing in the mid fourth century writes: But that [epistle of Peter] which is called the second, we have not, indeed, understood to be embodied with the sacred books, yet, as it appeared useful to many, it was studiously read with the other Scriptures.
Yet the internal evidence in the book is so overwhelming: the author calls himself Symeon [the title used by the Jerusalem council in Acts 15:14]; he calls himself an apostle [1:1]; he claims personal contact with Jesus on the mount of Transfiguration [1:17-18].; he was warned by Jesus of his impending death [1:14]. It is even quoted by very early writings, yet was disputed by some early cataloguers. So this bears out that if not from Peter’s hand, it is not worthy of description as a truthful word from God.
To some, the best evidence of 2 Peter’s authenticity is the letter of Jude itself! Jude was written later, from A.D. 70 to 80 by most estimates. Peter was crucified about A.D. 64 so he could not have used Jude as a source, yet there are remarkable similarities in both subject and order in their messages, yet with little actual quotation. From internal evidence, the false teachers predicted by Peter are active in Jude’s time.
The difference in style is easily explained when we see Silvanus as the scribe for the first letter and Peter writing himself without help, perhaps in a Roman prison, in the second.
The message of Peter is a call to increasing conformity to God’s will, spelled out in simple steps [1:5-11]. Then he calls upon his own experiences to awaken his audience to the “sure word of prophecy” which he cogently explains. Let this then be our memory verse: 2 Peter 1:20-21 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. NIV
But Peter immediately moves to the problem of “false prophets” described in such terms as destructive, lascivious, and covetous. These words compare these sinning teachers to the sinning angels and Noah’s sinning generation and Sodom’s sinning inhabitants; all of whom brought down great punishment and destruction upon themselves. [2:1-8]. He continues to describe these pretenders and warns against being deceived by them through the rest of the chapter. The illustrations and descriptions are vivid and are severe cautionings to any who would manipulate God’s teaching [2:20-22].
Peter then looks toward the coming of Jesus and the new heaven and earth, giving a description of the preceding judgment on the earth that sounds remarkably like a nuclear holocaust [3:10].
Peter ends his letter with an affectionate reference to “beloved brother Paul” which would be appropriate if they were both in prison for their Faith, which is what tradition records. What is remarkable is that Peter speaks of Paul’s writings as “Scripture” in 3:16, using the same term that is used of Old Testament scriptures, and giving implicit authority to New Testament Scripture which were not yet fully written. Paul and Peter had had their differences [see Gal. 2:11-21] but they were evidently reconciled and speaking with one voice at the end.
Peter, perhaps remembering his own time of denial, begs his readers to not fall from steadfastness and to grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. We need this message today.
THOUGHT QUESTIONS:
1) Can you make a list of “red flags” to determine if someone is a false teacher from this book? Can it be used today? Should it be used?
2) It is popular today to accept anciently rejected writings as truth [such as the sources of The DaVinci Code novel]. What are the signs of authenticity for the books we now have in the Bible? How can we tell?
3) How can we look forward to the Day of God and “speed its coming” [2 Peter 3:12]? Should the 2000 years since Christ dissuade us?