Quizzing the New Testament : 2 Peter

Answer: A servant and apostle of Jesus Christ

"Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:
Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord." (2 Peter 1 v. 1-2)

Most scholars consider it unlikely that the apostle Peter wrote this letter as its style and content suggest a date after his death. To modern ears this sounds like forgery, but it was an accepted literary convention to continue writing in somebody's name those things you believed they would have written had they still been alive.

The question mark over its authorship and the very different style of its writing led to the letter having problems being accepted into the New Testament canon. It has also had its subsequent critics which have included Martin Luther and John Calvin.

Answer: Shortly before his death

"So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things." (2 Peter 1 v. 12-15)

Tradition holds that Peter was martyred in Rome some time during the 60s AD.

Answer: Greek philosophical concepts

It should be clear just from Peter's initial summary of Christian belief that this is a very different presentation of the gospel to that found in Acts:
"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." (2 Peter 1 v. 3-4)

The letter seeks to counter false teachers whose message is probably based upon Greek philosophy. It is not clear, therefore, whether the writer has genuinely integrated these ideas into the Christian message or whether he is merely seeking to speak in the "language" of his opponents.

Answer: The transfiguration

"We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, 'This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.' We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain." (2 Peter 1 v. 16-18)

Peter is not only emphasising his own authority as an apostle but also the centrality of Jesus to the Christian gospel. This will come into question in the second chapter where Peter attacks those who are "denying the sovereign Lord who bought them" (2 Peter 2 v. 1).

Answer: The writings of the Old Testament prophets

"And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts." (2 Peter 1 v. 19)

As Peter contends for traditional Christian belief, he builds his foundation upon Jesus, whose divine power has given Christians all that they need (2 Peter 1 v. 3); who calls them into effective and productive lives (2 Peter 1 v. 8); and who will welcome them into an eternal kingdom (2 Peter 1 v. 11). His coming, Peter says, makes more sure the words of the prophets that were inspired by God's Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1 v. 21). For Peter, any authentic expression of faith has to start here.

Answer: Secretly introducing destructive heresies

Peter does not specify the nature of these heresies, but he describes his opponents as "denying the sovereign Lord who bought them" (2 Peter 2 v. 1); following "the corrupt desire of the sinful nature" (2 Peter 2 v. 10); despising authority (2 Peter 2 v. 10); and disputing that Jesus would come again (2 Peter 3 v. 4).

The evidence of chapter 2 would seem to suggest they possessed a distorted view of grace that led them to believe they could act as they pleased without fear of judgment.

Answer: Jude

The similarities are quite remarkable and scrutiny of the texts definitely suggests that Peter is dependent on Jude rather than the other way round.

Both letters, for example, refer to rebellious angels imprisoned and awaiting judgment; to Balaam; to Sodom and Gomorrah; to the blackest darkness reserved for the false teachers and, with almost identical wording, to the fact "that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires" (2 Peter 3 v. 3).

Answer: Dogs and Pigs

"Of them the proverbs are true: 'A dog returns to its vomit,' and, 'A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.'" (2 Peter 2 v. 22)

The image of the false teachers returning to that which they had previously left behind is vivid enough in itself, but Peter may be indicating something more. At this time, both the Cynic and Epicurean philosophies were prevalent in the Roman Empire. Amongst their detractors, the Cynics were labelled dogs and the Epicureans, pigs. Furthermore, both philosophies stressed virtue and a simple asceticism which meant that, to the uninitiated, they were easily confusable with Christianity. It is possible, therefore, that these philosophical beliefs were mixed into the false teaching that Peter was condemning.

Answer: Thousand

One of the factors leading people to consider alternative theologies may have been a disillusionment caused by the non-arrival of the second coming. Peter is careful to assert that this will still happen - God's promises remain sure - but it is subject to God's timing.

He writes that Jesus will return when least expected, like a thief, a phrase also used by Paul (1 Thessalonians 5 v.2) and John (Revelation 16 v. 15).

Answer: Hard to understand and distorted by ignorant people

"Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction." (2 Peter 3 v. 15-16)

It is quite likely that distortions of Paul's letters were at the heart of the false teaching that Peter was trying to correct. Paul, himself, was fully aware that his theology could be construed in such a way as to lead to a form of lawlessness, as he writes:
"What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?" (Romans 6 v. 1).

Peter concludes by urging his readers to not "be carried away by the error of lawless men" and prays that they may "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3 v. 17-18).