Page 57 - General Epistles (James through Jude) Textbook

Study Section 11: Brief Introductory Matters of Second Peter,
Confirmation of Calling and Election, False Teachers, and Jesus’ Second
Coming.

11.1 Connect.

When Jesus stood on top of the Mount of Olives 40 days after his resurrection, his disciples
watched as he ascended into the clouds in the sky. Two men, probably angels, stood by them
and asked them why they were standing around, looking up. They reminded them that Jesus
would return in the same manner and that some day the clouds will open and Jesus will come
back to earth. For almost 2,000 years, Christians have been anxiously waiting for this event to
occur.

Do we know when this will happen? The Bible tells us that we will not know the day or hour, but it does
give us what the seasons will be like. Great prophecies in the Bible tell us that Jews will return once
again the Promised Land and will become a nation. That has happened after 2,000 years. The Bible says
that as the days of Noah, so shall the coming of the Son be. Wickedness will be rampant on earth. That
is obviously here! And the Bible predicts a Great Apostacy will come where even “believers” will turn
from their faith. That is happening now! His coming could be any day. II Peter 3 talks about this great
day. Let’s dig in…

11.2 Objectives.

1. The student should be able to identify and explain Christians’ responsibilities before Jesus
Christ returns for the second time.

2. The student should be able to describe and defend the second coming of Jesus Christ based
on some promises that Peter reiterated.

3. The student should be able to know how to identify and describe false teachers based on the biblical
description of who false teachers are.

11.3 Brief Introductory Matters of Second Peter, Confirmation of Calling/Election, False
Teachers, and Jesus’ Second Coming (2 Pet. 1:1—3:18).

Brief Introductory Matters (Date of Writing/Occasion/Purpose).

On the author and place of writing, refer to the introductory matters of first Peter.

Date of Writing.
2 Peter 1:13-14 suggest a date prior to Peter’s death and possibly after writing his first letter. Craig L.
Blomberg dates probably during the persecution of Christians by the Emperor Nero who died in A.D.
68. Carson and Moo suggests a date “before A.D. 65, when reliable early tradition records Peter’s
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death as a martyr at the time of Emperor Nero’s persecution of Christians in Rome.” He could have
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written this letter anywhere between A.D. 65-67.

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