Nearly every book in the New Testament has its share of critics who question the authenticity and divinely inspired nature of that book. The Biblical epistle of 2 Peter is no exception. Nevertheless, the book of 2 Peter has sparked a substantial debate among New Testament scholars, one that surpasses that of many other books in the Biblical canon.
While various ancient authors quoted or alluded to the book of 2 Peter, the first explicit reference to this epistle did not appear until the third century A.D. The dissimilarities in style, content, and vocabulary that exist between the books of 1 and 2 Peter have also raised concerns regarding Peter’s authorship. In seeking to address those objections, we can begin with a look at what this letter claims for itself…
- First, the author claims to be Peter in the opening verse of this letter (2 Peter 1:1).
- The author alludes to Jesus’ prediction of his death (2 Peter 1:14, compare with John 21:18-19).
- 2 Peter chapter one refers to Jesus’ transfiguration and makes the following claim: “…we witnessed his majesty with our own eyes” (2 Peter 1:16 GW).
- The closing chapter of this letter references an earlier epistle that presumably refers to the Biblical book of 1 Peter (2 Peter 3:1).
With this in mind, how can we reconcile these differences between the epistles of 1 and 2 Peter? We might explain some of those variations if we consider the possibility that Peter employed an amanuensis (or secretary) to compose his previous letter (see 1 Peter 5:12). On the other hand, the book of 2 Peter might have been authored by Peter himself, or a different secretary under his guidance.
Furthermore, these letters differ in terms of their subject matter. Just as dissimilarities can arise between two books on different subjects by the same author, it is important to note the topical differences that exist between the letters of 1 and 2 Peter. The dominant theme of 1 Peter involves the importance of honoring God in responding to the trials and sufferings we experience in life. 2 Peter tackles the issue of false teachers and the need to adhere to sound doctrine.
Finally, it’s hard to believe that an unknown author would fabricate a cautionary letter on the subject of false teaching while falsely claiming to be Peter. Furthermore, 2 Peter 1:16 states, “When we told you about the power and the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, we were not telling clever stories someone had made up…” (CEV). If 2 Peter was written by a spurious author, then the book itself would be a “clever story someone had made up.”
Therefore, it seems best to accept the author of 2 Peter for who he claims to be.