THE BOOKS OF PETER...THE LETTERS OF PETER: AUTHENTICITY OF...
Authenticity of 1st Peter
Denied by many liberals...Accepted by some.
Usual objection...Sounds too much like Paul.
Problems (for liberals)...If Peter & Paul are so similar and have the same views about Jesus, then hard to have split between them, or between them & Gospels...If Peter, Paul & Gospels too much alike, hard to propose they are wrong!
Apostolic unity is hard on liberal theories.
Conservative liberals say Peter's view is new, not going back to Jesus.
1st Peter was recognized early in church.
Evidence for its use widespread.
Authorship in antiquity not doubted within the church.
Usual objection...Sounds too much like Paul.
Problems (for liberals)...If Peter & Paul are so similar and have the same views about Jesus, then hard to have split between them, or between them & Gospels...If Peter, Paul & Gospels too much alike, hard to propose they are wrong!
Apostolic unity is hard on liberal theories.
Conservative liberals say Peter's view is new, not going back to Jesus.
1st Peter was recognized early in church.
Evidence for its use widespread.
Authorship in antiquity not doubted within the church.
Authenticity of 2nd Peter
Universally rejected by liberals
Their arguments: Style is different from 1st Peter. Refers to Paul's letters as scripture, so late. Copied from Jude's letter. No early references to 2nd Peter.
These arguments are answerable.
Their arguments: Style is different from 1st Peter. Refers to Paul's letters as scripture, so late. Copied from Jude's letter. No early references to 2nd Peter.
These arguments are answerable.
Style of 2nd Peter
Yes, it differs from style of 1st Peter.
1st Peter may have been written with help from Silas/Silvanus (1st Peter 5:2..."...shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to {the will of} God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness..." (NASB)).
If this is Paul's Silas, he probably had better Greek language ability than Peter.
Neither letter is bad Greek, though.
No book is closer to 2nd Peter than 1st Peter.
1st Peter may have been written with help from Silas/Silvanus (1st Peter 5:2..."...shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to {the will of} God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness..." (NASB)).
If this is Paul's Silas, he probably had better Greek language ability than Peter.
Neither letter is bad Greek, though.
No book is closer to 2nd Peter than 1st Peter.
Reference to Paul
Only a problem if Paul & Peter enemies.
This is not the view of Acts & Paul's letters...Peter recognized Paul's ministry to Gentiles.
Peter would surely have known of Paul's letters, as their ministries overlapped in both time and space.
But Peter implies Paul's letters are scripture.
Did the Apostles expect more scripture?...Jesus said the Holy Spirit would teach them...They were given authority to "bind & loose." Rabbinic term for rule-making & abrogating...So, if the Lord didn't return right away, they would expect to write it themselves.
This is not the view of Acts & Paul's letters...Peter recognized Paul's ministry to Gentiles.
Peter would surely have known of Paul's letters, as their ministries overlapped in both time and space.
But Peter implies Paul's letters are scripture.
Did the Apostles expect more scripture?...Jesus said the Holy Spirit would teach them...They were given authority to "bind & loose." Rabbinic term for rule-making & abrogating...So, if the Lord didn't return right away, they would expect to write it themselves.
Resemblence to Jude
2nd Peter does resemble Jude in places
Possibilities: 2nd Peter copied Jude, so probable late...Jude copied 2nd Peter, so 2nd Peter early...Both copied another source.
Actually looks like Jude copied 2nd Peter...See our discussion under Jude
Possibilities: 2nd Peter copied Jude, so probable late...Jude copied 2nd Peter, so 2nd Peter early...Both copied another source.
Actually looks like Jude copied 2nd Peter...See our discussion under Jude
Lack of Early Attestation
Should not be over-emphasized.
Yes, no other book in New Testament canon so poorly attested.
But no other book outside New Testament so well-attested.
Some book in New Testament has to be last in attestation!
Possible explanations: 2nd Peter did not exist until late (130 AD)...It existed but was not mentioned...It did not have as wide circulation as 1st Peter.
It did not exist till late...Liberals favor this, but a problem here...How get in canon so late?...Plenty of competitors by mid-2nd century
It existed but was not mentioned...A statistical fluke...We know the Apostolic Fathers did not quote from every book they viewed as canonical; see under New Testament Canon.
It didn't have as wide circulation as 1st Peter...Location of recipients not given in 2nd Peter...Perhaps a smaller subgroup of 1st Peter's recipients.
Some possible allusions to 2 Peter: 1st Clement 11 refer to 2 Peter 2:6 – 9?...Piety of Lot, God rescues godly, punishes others...Ps-Barnabas 15 - "day of Lord shall be as 1000 years"...Psalm 90:4 has same times, but opposite order...2nd Peter 3:8 is very close in the Greek...Jude quoting 2nd Peter?...See discussion under Jude.
Yes, no other book in New Testament canon so poorly attested.
But no other book outside New Testament so well-attested.
Some book in New Testament has to be last in attestation!
Possible explanations: 2nd Peter did not exist until late (130 AD)...It existed but was not mentioned...It did not have as wide circulation as 1st Peter.
It did not exist till late...Liberals favor this, but a problem here...How get in canon so late?...Plenty of competitors by mid-2nd century
It existed but was not mentioned...A statistical fluke...We know the Apostolic Fathers did not quote from every book they viewed as canonical; see under New Testament Canon.
It didn't have as wide circulation as 1st Peter...Location of recipients not given in 2nd Peter...Perhaps a smaller subgroup of 1st Peter's recipients.
Some possible allusions to 2 Peter: 1st Clement 11 refer to 2 Peter 2:6 – 9?...Piety of Lot, God rescues godly, punishes others...Ps-Barnabas 15 - "day of Lord shall be as 1000 years"...Psalm 90:4 has same times, but opposite order...2nd Peter 3:8 is very close in the Greek...Jude quoting 2nd Peter?...See discussion under Jude.
Date of 1st and 2nd Peter
If genuine, then written before Peter’s death...Martyred in Nero's reign; Nero's suicide 68 A.D.
1st Peter before 2nd Peter..."This is the 2nd letter I am writing" – 2nd Peter 3:1
1st Peter sounds like persecution going on...Written to warn of change in Roman policy?...If so, then probably not before fall 64 A.D.
2nd Peter probably close to his death, but Peter not yet in prison.
So both letters in range 64 – 68 A.D.
1st Peter before 2nd Peter..."This is the 2nd letter I am writing" – 2nd Peter 3:1
1st Peter sounds like persecution going on...Written to warn of change in Roman policy?...If so, then probably not before fall 64 A.D.
2nd Peter probably close to his death, but Peter not yet in prison.
So both letters in range 64 – 68 A.D.
Written From Babylon
Ancient city?...City gone, but area still called "Babylon"
Near modern Cairo?...Also called "Babylon" in New Testament times
Figurative for Rome?...Rev 17:9 refers to Rome as "Babylon."...Peter may have used term for Old Testament enemies...May be used to hide Peter’s location.
Near modern Cairo?...Also called "Babylon" in New Testament times
Figurative for Rome?...Rev 17:9 refers to Rome as "Babylon."...Peter may have used term for Old Testament enemies...May be used to hide Peter’s location.
Recipients of 1st Peter
Written to Asia Minor (all but 2 south provinces)...Areas where Paul had ministered...Perhaps Peter had also ministered here...Perhaps he is warning Paul's churches.
Recipients seem to be mainly Gentiles rather than Jews.
Recipients seem to be mainly Gentiles rather than Jews.
Main Theme
To encourage Christians in persecution:
See references to persecution...1:6 – 7 – "distressed by trials… tested by fire"...4:4 – verbal abuse...4:12 – 13 – “fiery ordeal… testing…"...4:16 – "suffers as a Christian"
Sounds like organized persecution, probably Nero's
See references to persecution...1:6 – 7 – "distressed by trials… tested by fire"...4:4 – verbal abuse...4:12 – 13 – “fiery ordeal… testing…"...4:16 – "suffers as a Christian"
Sounds like organized persecution, probably Nero's
Peter's Encouragement
Look back to Christ's suffering...We share in it in some way...1:11 – predicted by prophets...2:21 – serves as our example...3:17 – suffer for doing right...4:1 – prepare to suffer as Christ did...4:13 – share sufferings of Christ
Look forward to Christ's coming...1:3 – "a living hope… imperishable inheritance"...3:22 – Jesus has already gone to heaven...4:7 – "the end of all things is at hand…"...4:13 – will rejoice at his coming
Look forward to Christ's coming...1:3 – "a living hope… imperishable inheritance"...3:22 – Jesus has already gone to heaven...4:7 – "the end of all things is at hand…"...4:13 – will rejoice at his coming
A Second Theme
Peter exhorts believers to holy living...1:13 – "gird up your minds for action…"...2:12 – "keep your behavior excellent…"...4:1 – "live no longer for the lusts of men…"
Recipients of 2nd Peter
Address is very general..."Those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours"...All Christians intended, or some partial group?...Some overlap with recipients of 1st Peter, as 2nd Peter 3:1 says "this is the 2nd time I’ve written you."
Main Themes of 2nd Peter
Growth (chapter 1)
Apostasy (chapter 2)
Second coming (chapter 3)
Apostasy (chapter 2)
Second coming (chapter 3)