2 Peter chapter 1
1:1, 2 Peter identifies himself using the Aramaic Sumeon rather than the more familiar Greek Simon. He describes
himself as a servant (Greek doulos, lit., "slave") and as an apostle, one sent with a commission.
1:3, 4 His divine power is a title for God used by Jews who revered Him so much that they would not pronounce His
name.
1:5-7 In this section Peter urges his readers to grow to spiritual maturity. Add to your faith indicates the areas of
growth that follow after salvation. Virtue is moral excellence. Knowledge is spiritual truth. Temperance is self-control.
Patience is endurance. Godliness is God-likeness. Brotherly kindness (Greek philadelphian) is brotherly love.
Charity (Greek agapen) is volitional love. this process is a lifelong cycle of spiritual growth for all believers.
1:10, 11 Ye shall never fall: The author is not referring to falling from salvation but to failure in Christian living. The
everlasting kingdom refers to the eternal realm of God where Jesus is the undisputed Ruler. It is synonymous with
heaven. Thus, the one who acquires the virtues of verses 5-7 will have a rich inheritance in heaven.
1:14, 15 Shortly I must put off this my tabernacle refers to Peter's impending death, which the Lord had predicted in
John 21:18, 19. Thus, Peter urges his readers to remember his testimony after he has died.
1:16, 18 Peter claims to have been one of the eyewitnesses of his majesty at the transfiguration of Christ, when He
was revealed to Peter, James, and John in all of His glory (Matthew 17:1-8).
1:19-21 A more sure word of prophecy refers to the infallibility of Scripture as the greatest and clearest revelation of
God to man. "Prophecy" may be used here as a general term for divine revelation. Private interpretation means
"origination." Thus, the true revelation does not originate by the will of man. It comes from God Himself through holy
men who were godly human instruments of recording God's message. Moved by the Holy Ghost describes the
process of revelation and inspiration. "Moved" means to be "carried along as a sailboat in the wind.'' Thus, human
beings were so moved by the Holy Spirit that what they wrote was God's inerrant Word.
2 Peter chapter 2
2:1-3 The opposite of true revelation is the message of false prophets and false teachers who deceive God’s flock
and bring in damnable heresies. These heresies (unorthodox teachings) include and open denial of Christ Himself.
Denying the Lord that bought them indicates that Christ’s atonement potentially extends to all men, including these
false teachers who reject Him. Therefore, they will experience destruction because they themselves will be deceived
by their own teaching and continue to reject the way of truth.
2:3-9 Future universal judgment of this world is illustrated by the reference to the flood (Gr. kataklusmon,
“cataclysm”) of Noah’s day which came upon the old world, that is, the antediluvian world. The universal extent of the
Flood is assumed by the author as an illustration of coming is sued to illustrate the fact that God will deliver His own
from the coming universal judgment at the end of this age. The deliverance of Lot from Sodom and Gomorrah is
used to illustrate the fact that God will deliver His own from the coming universal judgment.
2:10-17 False teachers are polemically described as cursed children, literally, “children of a curse”; wells without
water, unable to satisfy the spiritual thirst of men; and clouds that are blown about be every wind of doctrine (see
Jude 12).
2:18-22 False teachers are further called servants of corruption because, despite their profession of salvation, they
have become entangled in the world and overcome by it. Therefore, their latter end is worse that their beginning
profession, because they have now embarked on a course of action that denies their profession of Christ. The
illustrations of the dog and the sow vividly portray their folly.
2 Peter chapter 3.
3:1, 2 Peter clearly places the holy prophets of the Old Testament on the same level of inspiration and authority as
the apostles of Christ in the New Testament, emphasizing the inspiration of all Scripture.
3:3-7 Peter further warns that in the last days of the church age, scoffers (lit., "mockers") will ridicule the promise of
Christ's second coming. He further states that arguments based on supposedly unchanging processes since
creation fail to recall the severity of the flood of water upon the earth. Just as God once destroyed the world by
water, so it is now reserved unto fire until the day of judgment. See the description of fiery judgments in Revelation
17-19.
3:9 God is not willing that any should perish clearly expresses desire for the salvation of all who will trust in Him.
Salvation is equated here repentance.
3:10-13 The day of the Lord here refers to the return of Christ in judgment, not the Rapture, since this day results in
final apocalyptic judgment. The heavens that shall pass away with a great noise are the atmospheric heavens. The
elements shall melt with fervent heat certainly could refer to a nuclear holocaust. Thus, Peter urges his readers to
look beyond this present world to the new heaven and a new earth characterized by righteousness.
3:14-18 Peter's reference to our beloved brother Paul indicates that the rift between Peter and Paul was not
permanent (Galatians 2:14). Peter further refers to Paul's epistles in relation to the other scriptures by equating
them with all other Scripture, including the Old Testament.