2 Peter - Introduction

INTRODUCTION

The Apostle Peter, the chief of Jesus’ original twelve disciples, wrote this letter in about 65 A.D., near the end of his life. Peter wrote this letter to refute a false teaching that was spreading among Christians throughout the Middle East. There were many false teachers who were teaching that it was necessary to obtain a special knowledge of Christ to be saved, but that it was not necessary to obey Him or to lead a holy life. Peter’s main teaching in this letter is that without godly behavior, such “knowledge” of Christ is false knowledge, not real knowledge.

OUTLINE

1. The Christian Virtues (1:1-21).
   1. Challenge to Go Forward in Grace (1:1-15).
   2. The Glory of Christ (1:16-21).
2. False Teachers (2:1-22).
   1. Judgments Against False Teachers (2:1-9).
   2. Characteristics of False Teachers (2:10-22).
3. Christ’s Second Coming (3:1-18).
   1. The Certainty of Christ’s Coming (3:1-10).
   2. The Moral Implications of Christ’s Coming (3:11-18).