II PETER---APOSTASY IN ACTION

INTRODUCTION

1.    Much controversy has raged over the authorship of this epistle. As with the same question regarding other books in the Bible, they are unfounded. There is no doubt in the minds of earnest Bible-believing scholars that Peter is, indeed, the man the Holy Spirit used to pen this letter.

2.    Differences between I and II Peter

A.   II Peter has no reference to Christ’s death, suffering, resurrection or ascension.

B.   The spirit of this book is one of anxiety and severity as a result of its reference to the end of the age.

C.   It connects the Second Coming of Christ with the punishment of the wicked, while I Peter connects it with the glorification of the saints.

D.   The keynote of II Peter is knowledge; I Peter is hope.

DATE: A.D. 66-67

1.    Probably written very near the time of Peter’s death (1:14)

2.    Peter’s martyrdom took place about A.D. 68.

3.    Tradition holds that Peter was crucified, but upside down. He refused to die after the ordinary procedure of crucifixion because he contended that he was not worthy to die in the same manner as his Lord.

KEY VERSES: 1:19-21

KEY WORDS

1.    Knowledge (1:2, 3, 5, 8; 2:20; 3:18) - refers to the value of a “knowledge of the Lord”.

2.    Diligence (1:5, 10; 3:14) - a characteristic of the man himself, who was very energetic

3.    Remembrance (1:12, 13, 15; 3:1, 2)

4.    Corruption (1:4; 2:12, 19, 20) - used in reference to life and doctrine

THEME

The call to purity and loyalty in the last days which are marked by corruption and apostasy

OCCASION OF THE LETTER

1.    Gnosticism had crept in among the believers. (For details of this error, see the notes on Colossians.) (2:1, 2, 10-12)

2.    Antinomianism had also crept into the church.

A.   An antinomian is one who holds that, under the Gospel dispensation, the moral law is of no use or obligation. (2:19)

B.   Such a spirit was already active in some places. (2:19-22)

C.   Peter foresaw that it would soon be more generally spread throughout. (2:1-13)

PURPOSE OF WRITING

1.    To encourage Christian growth in his readers (1:3-10; 3:10-14; 3:18)

2.    To warn them of false teachers (2:1-3:5)

3.    To encourage them to patiently wait for the Lord’s return (3:1-9)

       “When easy-going kindness lounges in the place of righteous indignation, and allows Christ-dishonoring false doctrine to play havoc inside the church, kindness has ceased to be Christian, it has become disguised disloyalty, camouflaged cowardice, or a moral wasting-disease.”                                                                                                           --J. S. Baxter

OUTLINE OF THE BOOK

  I.    THE CONVICTIONS OF THE FAITH (ch. 1)

A.   As to the walk with God (1:1-15)

1.    The secret of commencing well (1:1-4)

2.    The secret of continuing well (1:5-9)

3.    The secret of completing well (1:10-15)

B.   As to the Word of God (1:16-21)

 II.    THE CONTENTIONS FOR THE FAITH (ch. 2)

A.   The doctrine of the heretics (2:1-3a)

B.   The doom of the heretics (2:3b-9)

1.    The nearness of that doom (2:3b)

2.    The nature of that doom (2:4-9)

C.   The deeds of the heretics (2:10-22)

1.    Their conduct is exposed (2:10-14)

2.    Their claims are exposed (2:15-19)

3.    Their converts are exposed (2:20-22)

III.   THE CONSUMMATION OF THE FAITH (ch. 3)

A.   Peter exposes the scoffers (3:1-13)

1.    Their insistent denial of the promise (3:1-4)

2.    Their ignorant denial of the promise (3:5-13)

B.   Peter exhorts the saints (3:14-18)

--Exploring the Scriptures;

                                                                                                               John Phillips