century Gnostics, nothing is said of them that would not fit into the later years of Peter's life.
Some have suggested a later date because they interpret the reference to the fathers in 3:4 to mean an earlier Christian generation. However, the word is most naturally interpreted as the OT patriarchs (cf. Jn 6:31, 'forefathers'; Ac 3:13; Heb 1:1). Similarly, reference to Paul and his letters (3:15-16; see Author) does not require a date beyond Peter's lifetime.
There are conspicuous similarities between 2 Peter and Jude (compare 2Pe 2 with Jude 4-18), but there are also significant differences. It has been suggested that one borrowed from the other or that they both drew on a common source. If there is borrowing, it is not a slavish borrowing but one that adapts to suit the writer's purpose. While many have insisted that Jude used Peter, it is more reasonable to assume that the longer letter (Peter) incorporated much of the shorter (Jude). Such borrowing is fairly common in ancient writings. For example, many believe that Paul used parts of early hymns in Php 2:6-11 and 1Ti 3:16.
In his first letter Peter feeds Christ's sheep by instructing them how to deal with persecution from outside the church (see 1Pe 4:12); in this second letter he teaches them how to deal with false teachers and evildoers who have come into the church (see 2:1; 3:3-4 and notes). While the particular situations naturally call for variations in content and emphasis, in both letters Peter as a pastor ('shepherd') of Christ's sheep (Jn 21:15-17) seeks to commend to his readers a wholesome combination of Christian faith and practice. More specifically, his purpose is threefold: (1) to stimulate Christian growth (ch. 1), (2) to combat false teaching (ch. 2) and (3) to encourage watchfulness in view of the Lord's certain return (ch. 3).
Greetings (1:1-2)
Exhortation to Growth in Christian Virtues (1:3-11)
The Divine Enablement (1:3-4)
The Call for Growth (1:5-7)
The Value of Such Growth (1:8-11)
The Purpose and Authentication of Peter's Message (1:12-21)
His Aim in Writing (1:12-15)
The Basis of His Authority (1:16-21)
Warning against False Teachers (ch. 2)
Their Coming Predicted (2:1-3a)
Their Judgment Assured (2:3b-9)
Their Characteristics Set Forth (2:10-22)
The Fact of Christ's Return (3:1-16)
Peter's Purpose in Writing Restated (3:1-2)
The Coming of Scoffers (3:3-7)
The Certainty of Christ's Return (3:8-10)
Exhortations Based on the Fact of Christ's Return (3:11-16)
Conclusion and Doxology (3:17-18)
2Pet1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
2Pet1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
2Pet1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
2Pet1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
2Pet1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
2Pet1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
2Pet1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
2Pet1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Pet1:9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
2Pet1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
2Pet1:11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
2Pet1:12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.
2Pet1:13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;
2Pet1:14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.
2Pet1:15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.
2Pet1:16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
2Pet1:17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
2Pet1:18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
2Pet1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
2Pet1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
2Pet1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
2Pet2:1 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.
2Pet2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
2Pet2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
2Pet2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
2Pet2:5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
2Pet2:6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
2Pet2:7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
2Pet2:8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
2Pet2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
2Pet2:10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
2Pet2:11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them
