Background of II Peter

Text: II Peter 1:1

Getting Acquainted:

1. What section of the Bible does II Peter fit?
2. Read the book of II Peter in one sitting, as if you just received this letter from your grandpa.
3. What kind of book is II Peter?

Read the book of II Peter a second time while jotting down answers to the following questions:

1. What words, phrases, or ideas do you see repeatedly being mentioned?
2. Who are the people mentioned in the book?
3. What events are mentioned that would help date this book?
4. What locations are mentioned?
5. Jot down any passages that were particularly hard to understand, so we can come back to them later.

The Date

There is a modern-day controversy over II Peter. Skeptics date the book between A.D. 80 to 90, and some date it as late as A.D. 150. If such were true, then the statement that it was written by Simon Peter would be false and thus, the entire book would not be from God.

The primary claim that it was written late is that it isn’t quoted by early Christian writers. It is a false claim because Clement of Rome loosely quotes II Peter in a book he wrote that is dated to A.D. 95.

• “Far from us be that which is written, “Wretched are they who are of a double mind, and of a doubting heart; who say, ‘These things we have heard even in the times of our fathers; but, behold, we have grown old, and none of them has happened to us.’” [I Clement 23]. This appears to be based on James 1:8 and II Peter 3:3-4.
• “Noah preached repentance, and as many as listened to him were saved” [I Clement 7]. This appears to be alluding to II Peter 2:5.
• “On account of his hospitality and godliness, Lot was saved out of Sodom when all the country round was punished by means of fire and brimstone, the Lord thus making it manifest that he does not forsake those who hope in him, but gives up those who depart from him to punishment and torture” [I Clement 11]. This is based on II Peter 2:6-9.

In “The Canonicity of Second Peter” [Southern Presbyterian Review, Volume 33, Number 1 (January 1881) 45-75], Benjamin B. Warfield counted 15 or 16 quotes from II Peter in early Christian writings. Robert Picirilli lists 22 possible references to II Peter in the writings of the early church fathers [Wayne Stiles, “Is 2 Peter Peter’s?” Bible.org, 3 June 2004.]

“Dr. James White has a little article with an excellent graphic of an ancient manuscript of P-72 which has both I and 2 Peter (and Jude) in it. One of the pages of this manuscript shows the end of 1 Peter and the beginning of 2nd Peter and this manuscript called P-72 is dated at around 200 AD.” [Ken T., “Good Evidence for Historical Reliability for 2 Peter as written by Peter Himself”, Beggars All, 18 June 2011.]

Internally, Peter states that he believes his death would take place shortly (II Peter 1:14). Clement of Rome stated in his Letter to the Corinthians (around A.D. 90), "Let us take the noble examples of our own generation. Through jealousy and envy the greatest and most just pillars of the Church were persecuted, and came even unto death… Peter, through unjust envy, endured not one or two but many labors, and at last, having delivered his testimony, departed unto the place of glory due to him." Tertullian (about A.D. 195) said, "But if you are near Italy, you have Rome, where authority is at hand for us too. What a happy church that is, on which the apostles poured out their whole doctrine with their blood; where Peter had a passion like that of the Lord, where Paul was crowned with the death of John.” Several other writers concur that Peter was killed in Rome during Nero’s persecutions. [John Oakes, “What is the evidence that Peter was crucified upside down in Rome?” Evidence for Christianity, 20 March 2010.]

Peter also mentions Paul’s writings (II Peter 3:15-16), which would place Peter’s writing in the latter part of Paul’s life. It does not mean that all of Paul’s writings were complete, but it does indicate that Paul’s letters were being circulated at the time II Peter was written.

Also, II Peter had to have been written sometime after I Peter since it mentions the prior letter (II Peter 3:1).

Peter’s death is believed to have taken place in A.D. 68; thus, II Peter would likely have been written somewhere between A.D. 64 and A.D. 68.

The Author

The book is consistent with what we know of Peter’s life.

• It plainly states that it is written by Simon Peter (II Peter 1:1). Thus, it gives both Peter’s birth name and the Lord’s nickname for him.
• It refers to Jesus' prediction of Peter’s death in John 21:18-19 (II Peter 1:14).
• It mentions that the author witnessed the transfiguration (II Peter 1:16-18).
• It acknowledges the first letter written by the same author (II Peter 3:1).
• The author sees himself as an equal to Paul (II Peter 3:15).

Phrases and words used in II Peter match Peter’s sermons in Acts. But you will see some skeptics point out that the style of I Peter is different from II Peter. However, it should be noted that I Peter was written with a secretary (I Peter 5:12), while II Peter doesn’t mention a secretary. The Greek in I Peter is polished while the Greek in II Peter is more rugged.

Why Some Find II Peter Controversial

Perhaps we should look at why skeptics are so set on rejecting II Peter.

First, Peter confirms that Paul’s writings are Scriptures (II Peter 3:16). Skeptics don’t want confirmation that the writings in the Bible were seen as the writings of God, especially Paul’s writings.

Second, II Peter 2 and Jude are very similar in content. They are not the same, but they are close enough to cause people to wonder if Peter borrowed from Jude or if Jude borrowed from Peter.