2 Peter claims to be written by Peter, and 3:1 refers to this being the second letter of Peter. There is also substantial internal evidence for its Petrine authorship, namely: the author was a witness to the transfiguration (1:16-18), and was friends with Paul (3:15).
However , there has been doubt cast on its authorship even from the third century by Eusebius and Origen. In fact even Calvin expressed some doubt about its authorship. Luther also had some doubts (in addition, he had a low opinion of James). It is interesting that such luminaries as Calvin and Luther had doubts about some books of the New Testament. My natural reaction is to think that to doubt the clearly claimed authorship of books of the Bible marks you as a liberal and therefore discount your views. Clearly one cannot apply this approach to Calvin and Luther!
The Petrine authorship was accepted at the Council of Carthage in 397 AD. I will assume that since the book claims to be written by Peter, then this is the case.
The book contains a lot on how to deal with false teachings, in particular in regard to the second coming. The book also has some key statements on the authority of Scripture, both on Old Testament prophets (1:20,21), and on the writings of Paul (3:16).
Verse 1 emphasises the preciousness of their faith. This echoes the sentiments of 1 Peter 1:7. Our faith is of immense value, which is why the enemy tries to rob us of our faith, and why we must do our best to nurture our faith. The best way to do this is to live by faith, the more we do this the more our faith will grow.
"Grace and peace be yours in abundance" is almost identical to 1 Peter 1:2.
However , there has been doubt cast on its authorship even from the third century by Eusebius and Origen. In fact even Calvin expressed some doubt about its authorship. Luther also had some doubts (in addition, he had a low opinion of James). It is interesting that such luminaries as Calvin and Luther had doubts about some books of the New Testament. My natural reaction is to think that to doubt the clearly claimed authorship of books of the Bible marks you as a liberal and therefore discount your views. Clearly one cannot apply this approach to Calvin and Luther!
The Petrine authorship was accepted at the Council of Carthage in 397 AD. I will assume that since the book claims to be written by Peter, then this is the case.
The book contains a lot on how to deal with false teachings, in particular in regard to the second coming. The book also has some key statements on the authority of Scripture, both on Old Testament prophets (1:20,21), and on the writings of Paul (3:16).
Verse 1 emphasises the preciousness of their faith. This echoes the sentiments of 1 Peter 1:7. Our faith is of immense value, which is why the enemy tries to rob us of our faith, and why we must do our best to nurture our faith. The best way to do this is to live by faith, the more we do this the more our faith will grow.
"Grace and peace be yours in abundance" is almost identical to 1 Peter 1:2.
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