So what are the key elements that our author sought to memorialize here in the book of 2 Peter? Well, there are two points of emphasis in this letter that we can summarize as follows…
- The danger posed by heretical teachings and those who endorse them.
- The importance of acquiring authentic Biblical knowledge.
One pastoral commentator takes a holistic approach to these twin areas of concern…
“In 1 Peter, he emphasized suffering and the hope of heaven. In this letter, he addressed the apostasy and heresy that was growing in the church and that would be increasing in the future. The defense against this false teaching was to be a strong adherent to the inspired Word of God. He referred often to knowledge and learning. This emphasis on the Word of God bears a striking similarity to Paul’s emphasis in his last book, 2 Timothy. Both men, in their final books, drove home the point that studying the Word of God, and teaching the Word of God, is the only way to continue to grow to be who God wants us to be.” (1)
Another source adds, “The word, ‘knowledge,’ appears in some form 16 times in these 3 short chapters. It is not too much to say that Peter’s primary solution to false teaching is knowledge of true doctrine.” (2) While the book of 2 Peter does not specify the aberrant teachings in question, that ambiguity works to our advantage in certain respects. Since false ideologies are present in every generation, these warnings remind us to stay vigilant, no matter how those doctrines come packaged.
Nevertheless, we can make an educated guess about the concerns that may have prompted this letter. For instance, several New Testament-era churches were dealing with a form of Gnosticism that had made inroads into the church at large. One scholar offers a concise overview that highlights the two primary forms of that doctrine…
“There were two types of Gnostic false teachers: (1) salvation is through secret knowledge and, therefore, it does not matter how you live (antinomian libertines) and (2) salvation through secret knowledge plus a very restricted lifestyle (legalists).” (3)
The teachers mentioned in the epistle of 2 Peter seem to belong to the former category, for “Evidently they believed grace made them ‘free’ to do whatever they pleased (2:19). Accordingly, they exercised their ‘freedom’ in immoral behavior and ridiculed those who did not follow their example (perhaps labeling them prudish or legalistic).” (4)
(1) Chuck Smith, The Word For Today Bible, “Introduction To The Second Epistle Of Peter” pg. 1649
(2) John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006).
(3) Dr. Bob Utley, Free Bible Commentary, Colossians 2 [2:16-23] Copyright © 2014 Bible Lessons International http://www.freebiblecommentary.org/new_testament_studies/VOL08/VOL08A_02.html
(4) Kendall, David W. “IV. Occasion” In Asbury Bible Commentary. 1199. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, © 1992.