2 Peter Bible Project: A Guide to the Book

Verses to read

• “seeing that his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and virtue”

  2 Peter 1:3

• “The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but is patient with us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

  2 Peter 3:9

Why did Peter write this letter?

Peter wrote this letter as a warning. He knew he was going to die soon, and he wanted to protect the church. He saw that some people were trying to change the message of the Gospel. The Gospel is the good news that Jesus saves us from sin.

These false teachers were telling people they could do whatever they wanted. They said God would not judge them for their bad choices. Peter wrote to say that these ideas were wrong. He wanted Christians to remember the true words spoken by the prophets and by Jesus.

Growing in Christian character

In the first part of the book, Peter talks about growth. He says that God has given us everything we need to live a good life. We do not have to try to be good on our own power. God gives us His power to help us.

Peter lists qualities we should add to our lives. These include faith, goodness, knowledge, and self-control. He also mentions love. If we keep growing in these areas, we will become more like Jesus. This keeps us from becoming lazy in our faith.

Warning against false teachers

The middle of the book is a strong warning. Peter describes people who claim to know God but act in selfish ways. They often care more about money or their own desires than they care about the truth. Peter says their teaching is like a well with no water.

He reminds the readers that God has judged people for pride and sin in the past. He mentions stories from the Old Testament to show that God sees everything. Peter wants us to be careful about who we listen to when we study the Bible.

The promise of Jesus' return

Some people in Peter's time were laughing at the idea of Jesus coming back. They thought that because it had been a long time, it would never happen. Peter explains that God does not see time the same way we do. To God, a thousand years is like a single day.

God is waiting because He is patient. He wants to give more people time to turn away from sin and follow Him. Peter says that when Jesus does return, He will create a new heaven and a new earth where everything is good and right.

Common questions

Who wrote the book of 2 Peter?

The book was written by the Apostle Peter, who was one of Jesus' twelve disciples. He wrote it to encourage and warn the early church before he died.

What is the main message of 2 Peter?

The main message is to grow in the knowledge of Jesus and to stay away from false teachings. It emphasizes that God's promises are true and that we should live ready for His return.

What does 2 Peter say about the end of the world?

It says that the current heavens and earth will pass away with a great noise. God will then bring a new home for His people where there is no more sin.

Why is 2 Peter important for us today?

It reminds us that our faith should change how we live. It also helps us stay patient when we feel like God is taking a long time to answer our prayers.