Image by Cailin Valente
Buon giorno bella! ☺ It’s great to be back with you this week! I am super excited for these next twelve days!
I know you just went through a study of 1 Peter and now it’s time to delve into 2 Peter. Besides the standard commentary in the New American Bible translation, I will be using information from Dr. Scott Hahn’s “Catholic Bible Dictionary,” and the “New Testament Reading Guide: The Epistles of Saint James, Jude, Peter” written by Eugene H. Maly. To begin let’s go over the authorship and layout of this compact yet substantial book.
The author of 2 Peter speaks about having been an eyewitness to the transfiguration of Jesus. He continues to say this is the “second epistle I am writing to you” which makes us believe that he is Peter, one of the twelve apostles. However, many Bible scholars believe that one of Peter’s disciples is the author. Using another’s name was a common literary device in the ancient world. It created an air of authority.
Peter the apostle was already in Heaven holding the keys to its gates by the time this was written!
Some quick facts:
The consensus is that the author of 2 Peter uses the book of Jude as a source for a lot of his information.
The book’s audience/readers were Christians; some of them being converts from paganism.
Even though 2 Peter presents itself as an epistle (letter to the Church) it is really a homily. The homily addresses a few major problems facing the Church.
We will be breaking up the three chapters into four main sections throughout these twelve days.
The main sections of the book are as follows:
I. Address-1:1-2
II. Progress in Virtue-1:3-21
III. The False Teachers-2:1-22
IV. The Second Coming of Christ-3:1-18
Ready...set...let’s get started! In verses 1-2 we are greeted by the author who identifies himself as Peter (Symeon). He says he is the prince of the apostles, one of Jesus’ apostles and closest friends (throughout our study I will refer to the author as Peter out of convenience).
A real bond exists between Peter and his readers because they both have been given “an equal privilege of faith” through justice in Christ. God has given Peter the same faith he gives you and me. He is not preferential in his gifts, he gives freely and equally to us all.
The end of this verse serves as an introduction to one of the main themes of the book. Peter desires that we deeply know Christ. He wants this knowledge of the divine favor God gives us to fill our souls with delight!
<3 Until tomorrow, God bless you <3
