About This Book
Second Peter warns against false teachers infiltrating churches while encouraging growth in Christian virtues and anticipating Christ's return despite scoffers' mockery. Peter greets believers who share precious faith through Christ's righteousness. God's divine power provides everything needed for life and godliness through knowing Christ, granting precious promises enabling participation in divine nature while escaping worldly corruption. Believers should supplement faith with virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love—possessing these qualities prevents ineffectiveness and confirms calling and election.
Peter intends to remind readers of these truths constantly since his departure approaches soon, as Christ indicated. The apostles didn't follow cleverly invented myths but were eyewitnesses of Christ's majesty at the transfiguration when God's voice declared Jesus His beloved Son. Prophetic Scripture originated not from human will but from the Holy Spirit inspiring prophets. False teachers will secretly introduce destructive heresies, denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction.
Many will follow their sensuality, and the way of truth will be blasphemed. Through greed they'll exploit believers with false words, but judgment awaits. God didn't spare sinning angels, the ancient world (except Noah), or Sodom and Gomorrah (but rescued righteous Lot), demonstrating He knows how to rescue the godly from trials and keep unrighteous under punishment. These false teachers are bold, willful, irrational animals destined for destruction, reveling in dissipation, adultery, greed, and abandoning the right way.
Scoffers will come questioning Christ's return, but God's timing differs—one day equals a thousand years. The Lord delays not from slowness but patience, not wanting any to perish. The day will come unexpectedly; heavens will pass away, elements melt, earth be exposed. Believers should live holy lives, hastening Christ's coming.
Paul's letters contain difficult passages the ignorant twist.