Key Passage
17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unscrupulous people and lose your own firm commitment,
18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
II Peter 3:17-18 (NASB 2020)
Series Content
- Introduction to II Peter
- Lesson-01: Called to Abundant Living – Part I (1:1-4)
- Lesson-02: Called to Abundant Living – Part II (1:5-11)
- Lesson-03: Called to Abundant Living – Part III (1:12-21)
- Lesson-04: Watch Out for the Deceivers – Part I (2:1-9)
- Lesson-05: Watch Out for the Deceivers – Part II (2:10-22)
- Lesson-06: Remember, Rejoice, Remain – Part I (3:1-9)
- Lesson-07: Remember, Rejoice, Remain – Part II (3:10-18)
Scriptural Setting
Geographical Setting
Timeline
Content Outline
About the Author
The Message of II Peter
“Second Peter was written for the purpose of exposing, thwarting, and defeating the invasion of false teachers into the church.
Peter intended to instruct Christians in how to defend themselves against these false teachers and their deceptive lies.
Another recurring theme is the importance of knowledge.
The word knowledge appears in some form sixteen times in these three short chapters.It’s not too much to say that Peter’s primary solution to false teaching is knowledge of true doctrine.”
Dr. John MacArthur“Knowing his remaining time was short, Peter wrote this letter, probably from Rome, as he neared the time of his martyrdom.
In chapter 1, he affirmed that God has given us all things pertaining to life and godliness, and we must diligently grow in these virtues.
In chapter 2, he warned us against false teachers who speak with great swelling words and emptiness. It concluded with chapter 3devoted to the Lord’s return, when the heavens will pass away with great noise and the elements will melt with fervent heat. In light ofthis what sort of people ought we be?
We should be people who are known, Peter said by our holy conduct and godliness, as we look for and hasten the coming of our Lord.”
Dr. David Jeremiah“Imagine what it would be like to receive a letter from someone who was a personal friend of Jesus during his earthly ministry. Beyond that, imagine receiving two letters from such a person.
When Peter writes to the church about faith and trust in the providence of God in the midst of suffering, he is speaking not in abstract terms but from the vantage point of one who has been called personally to endure such sufferings himself.
He is one who testifies beyond speculation, as one who was an eyewitness, testing not to cleverly devised myths or fables, but to what he had seen with his eyes and heard with his ears.”
Dr. R.C. Sproul“The small groups of believers must have been very concerned. Here they were, far from Jerusalem, the founding center of the church and of their faith, dispersed in the regions of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia (which is now Turkey).
Did the persecution which was increasing mean they were on the wrong road? Sothe believers wondered, should we be listening to new teachers instead of to the gospel message we originally heard?
In response to this situation, Peter wrote two letters. It was important to be sure that his readers would be able to hold on to the truths which he had taught.
Peter insists that it was the truth. He was an eyewitness not just of this but of all Jesus had said and done during their three years together.
Hold on to his death and resurrection, he says. That’s the sheet-anchor. He is the true Messiah, and one day will be publicly revealed as such.”
Dr. N.T. Wright“All is not well in the professing church. There are dangerous people and dangerous doctrines abroad, and God’s people need to be alert.
The church is suffering from a false view of separation, as well as a false view of cooperation.
Too often we are aiding the enemy and injuring the brotherhood by attitudes and actions that are contrary to God’s Word.‘By entertaining of strange persons,’ said John Flavel, ‘men sometimes entertain angels unawares, but by entertaining strange doctrines, many have entertained devils unawares.’
It is time to be alert!”
Dr. Warren Wiersbe“Peter calls for faithfulness and confronts corrupt teachers who distorted Jesus’ message. Peter issues two warnings against corrupt teachers who are leading the Christian communities astray with their way of life and distorted theology.
Peter addresses their objections to the reality of Jesus’ resurrection and the final judgment. He reminds Christians that their hope is in God.
In his time on the Day of the Lord, he will expose evil and injustice and remove it to make way for a new Heaven and Earth that’s permeated with righteousness, God’s love, and people who love God and each other.
2 Peter is an intense, passionate farewell speech addressed to the same messianic church communities as 1 Peter. In the book, Peter challenges Jesus’ followers to continue growing in their faith, love, and service to God and be ready for Jesus’ return”
Bible Project
References
- The Bible Project: II Peter
- The Tony Evans Bible Commentary by Dr. Tony Evans
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The MacArthur Bible Commentary by Dr. John MacArthur
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Be All The More Diligent To Make Your Calling and Election Sure: 1-2 Peter: An Expositional Commentary by R.C. Sproul
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Be Alert: Beware of the Religious Impostors (NT Commentary 2 Peter, 2 & 3 John, Jude) by Warren W. Wiersbe
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For Everyone Bible Study Guides: I & 2 Peter and Jude by N.T. Wright