This epistle was written from Rome before Peter's anticipated martyrdom ( 1:14-15 ), between A.D. 62 and 66.
Second Peter is the last recorded word of the first Pope.
Peter refers to Paul's letters (3:15-16} as already well known in the Church, thus proving they were written quite early. And by the way, if you find Paul's writings difficult, you're in good company: so did Peter (3: 16)!
This short letter is Peter's "reminder" (1:12) of the familiar, essential Gospel truth and of its solid foundation in two public facts. Only Judaism and Christianity are religions of eyewitnessed facts; all others are (pagan) myths, (Oriental) mysticisms or (modernist) moralisms.
The two facts are (1) the disciples' and Peter's own eyewitness experience of Jesus (1:16-18) and (2) the, written prophecies of Scripture which Jesus fulfilled: "For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His glory.... And we have the prophetic word made more sure.
"You will do well to pay attention to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. First of all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the impulse of man, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God (l:l6,19-2l).
This passage seems clearly to reject both the modern view of Scripture as human interpretation rather than divine intervention, and the Protestant principle- of private interpretation.
1 Peter deals with external dangers to the Church, i.e., persecution and sufferings. 2 Peter tackles internal problems, i.e., sins and heresies.
The early Church and Christians were being confused by bad teaching. This is why the New Testament is so consistently harsh on false doctrine: Down the road it always harms people, and Christians love people. It's out of compassion for people that the Church has always been so hard-headedly concerned about doctrine.
Just-as false as well as true prophets filled the history of Israel, they persisted in the early Church. And does anyone really doubt who they are today?
Peter points out the connection between false doctrine and false practice. Orthodoxy (right belief) and orthopraxy (right practice) always stand or fall together. The saints are always orthodox and consistently refute all who say orthopraxy alone is enough.
For just as true doctrine naturally produces true living (since good works are the fruit of faith, cf. James), false doctrine always produces false living: licentiousness (2:2), greed (2:3), arrogance and the despising of authority (2:10), lust (2:10,13,14) and a false "freedom" (2:19: "They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption; for whatever overcomes a man, to that he is enslaved" ).
False teachers also scoffed at the belief that Christ would return to judge them (3:3-10). Peter writes some disturbingly strong words against these teachers, just as Jesus used similar words against the Pharisees and scribes-not out of hatred but out of the kind of "tough love that shouts "Danger!" when someone is near the edge of a cliff.
For God cannot change His essential nature, which is both love and justice. He delays His punishments to give men time to repent (3:9-15), but punishment for sin is inevitable (2:4-6; 3:9,12,17). This is a theme taught on every page of Scripture, yet one hardly taught on a single page of modern books of "religious education." The God of infinite love cast His rebel angels into hell, destroyed the world with a flood and rained fire on Sodom. It is not possible that He will wink sleepily at New York and Belfast.
The best antidote for heresies is the positive one: understanding the truth. That's why Peter the Rock writes this reminder of the foundations of the faith (1:12-13; 3:1-2). "Reminding" is the business of the Magisterium and the papacy-the rock. Buildings with a strong rock as their foundation like those on Manhattan Island, can grow to skyscrapers. A foundation has to be conservative, like an anchor.
Peter Kreeft is the author of many books including "Making Choices'' (Servant Books) and Back to Virtue (Ignatius).
Peter Kreeft's series on Scripture is reprinted with Permission of National Catholic Register. For information regarding subscriptions:
email cmedia@pipeline.com or phone in the USA: (800) 421-3230
Back to CHRISTLIFE: New Testament Studies by Peter Kreeft