Introduction to II Peter  

Dr. Gail E. Terrell
Pastor, Grace Baptist Church, Hamilton, Ohio

  1. Author.   The apostle Simon Peter wrote II Peter (1:1) in about 66 A.D. shortly before his death as a martyr (1:14).   II Peter was written after a number of Paul’s epistles were written (3:15).   Peter identifies this epistle as:   This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance.
  2. Recipients.   II Peter was written …to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ (1:1).   These recipients must be the same as those for I Peter since Peter identifies this epistle as the second epistle written to them (3:1).   Jude was familiar with II Peter and recognized its author as the apostle (3:1-3; Jude 17-18).
  3. Theme.   The answer to false knowledge is true knowledge: warnings against false teachers.
  4. Key verses.   2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.   3:1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: 3:2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour.
  5. Key words used in II Peter:   know, knoweth, knowing, known, knowledge – 16 times.
  6. References to the Lord’s church in II Peter.   The word church does not appear in II Peter.   However, II Peter does emphasize that brotherly kindness is a necessary fruit in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (1:7-8).   Note that all Christians and members of all churches are to share in kindness and fellowship with one another.   The Lord’s churches are ordained of God to provide assemblies of Christians for such encouragements:   Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another; and so much more, as ye see the day approaching.
  7. II Peter has 3 chapters, 61 verses, and about 1,559 words.

 Notes