Second Peter is short concise book of the bible yet still, viewed by many as one of the most controversial books in the New Testament
Author
The letter itself bears plentiful testimony to Peter’s authorship. It claims to have been written by “Simon Peter” within the text itself (2 Pet. 1:1). It even identifies itself as his second letter. The author refers to the Lord’s prediction about Peter’s death (John. 21:18, 19; 2 Pet. 1:14). He also claimed he was an eyewitness of the transfiguration (1 Pet. 1:16-18).
Recipients
If 2 Peter 3:1 is referring to 1 Peter, and most say that it is, 2 Peter was obviously written after 1 Peter, which was penned in 64 AD. If Peter were alive in 67 AD, when Paul wrote 2 Timothy, it is likely that Paul would have mentioned him. Second Peter 1:14 seems to indicate the letter was written just prior to his death, which was probably in 64 AD. Second Peter 3:1 also seems to suggest that Peter was addressing readers based in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) just as he did in 1 Peter, although the more open greeting in of 2 Peter 1:1 would allow for a wider audience. The occasion of this letter was false teachers who were appearing and would continue to appear. They will deny the Second Coming of Christ (2 Pet. 3:4) and live a lustful lifestyle (2Pet. 3:3, 2:10, 14), and lead others, even believers astray (2 Pet. 2:14). These false teachers denied the Lord and were bold and irreverent (2 Pet. 2:10b, 12), by scoffing at the promise of the Lord’s return (2 Pet. 3:3-4). They lived immoral lives (2 Pet. 2:13), seduced unstable souls (2 Pet. 2:14, 18), and caused the way of truth to be denied (2 Pet. 2:2). They made great promises of freedom but were yet slaves of sin (2 Pet. 2:19). They were disobedient to established authority (2 Pet. 2:10c, 12). It is apparent that these false teachers were already at work in certain places (2 Pet. 2:11, 12, 17, 18,20, 3:5, 16), but with prophetic insight Peter saw that the evil would become much more widespread (2 Pet. 2:1, 2, 3:3).
Message
The message of 2 Peter is primarily the Second Coming of Christ. He begins by talking about and describing the promise that Christ’s will come (2 Pet. 3:4,9, 13). He talks about the coming of the Lord in chapter 1 (2 Pet. 1:16), and at the end of chapter 3 (2 Pet. 3:4, 10, 12). False teachers and scoffers have come and are and will deny these truths and lead believers into a life of ungodliness. The message is, in light of the return of the Lord, believers should avoid false teachers and live godly lives.
Structure
Second Peter is basically in the form of an ancient letter. It has a salutation, a body, and a benediction.
I. 1:1-21 God's power at work in believers
II. 2:1-22 Warning against false teachers
III. 3:1-18 Significance of Christ's return
Purpose
The main purpose of 2 Peter is to warn against false teachers and scoffers. The false teaching seems to have included ideas that became fully developed in the Gnostic heresies of the second century. Gnostics were people who claimed to have higher spiritual knowledge which led to a separation between belief and behaviour. They argued that their knowledge placed them in a realm where the deeds of the body no longer affected the purity of the soul. Therefore, for people who possessed this higher knowledge, immoral practices were not so wrong
It is evident from the content that Peter means to warn believers lest they be led astray with the error of the wicked (2 Pet. 3:17). Chapter 2 warns of the false teachers, who walk according to the flesh and despise authority (2 Pet. 2:10). They are selfwilled (2 Pet. 2:10), wicked (2 Pet. 2:14), and will be judged (2 Pet. 2:1, 3, 4). These heretics will use deceptive words (2 Pet. 2:3) to lead believers astray (2 Pet. 2:2, 18, 3:17).
The second purpose of 2 Peter is to remind them of what they knew and to encourage them to take note so they can grow. Peter does not claim to be telling them anything new. He repeatedly says he is reminding them of things they already knew (2 Pet. 1:12, 3:1, 15, 17). His purpose is to remind them and thus encourage them to godliness and growth (2 Pet. 1:5, 3:11, 17, 18). These two things are connected, he says. Resisting error will help insure godliness and growth.
Summary:
Peter wrote his second epistle to a wider audience to warn them against coming false teachers and ridiculers and to remind them that since the Lord is returning, they should live godly lives. In light of the return of the Lord, believers should avoid false teachers and live godly lives.