The Significance of 2 Peter

As part of the requirements for one of my seminary classes, all students were required to follow a guided template in explaining the significance of certain books of the Bible. Below is the third one about 2 Peter.

The summary follows four main parts: The purpose of the book (including the argument), a short summary of the book, what I want the audience to know regarding knowledge and action, and finally how this book will affect my personal character development. Each of us will be different in how 2 Peter challenges us to grow and it is also dependent on the season of life we are in. Certain themes are more prominent in different seasons that help us grow and stick out more to us. God will speak into our lives through Scripture to tell us what He wants us to hear. You can read the same passage a year later and be reminded of a different truth that is important.

This post will focus on the significance of 2 Peter.

The Significance of 2 Peter to Your Life & Ministry

1. State briefly the purpose and argument of the book? (Give references to support your statements). What I want you to do here is (1) discern the importance of what this book teaches well enough to remember it; (2) the argument is trying to assess how the author develops and accomplishes his purpose.
   1. Purpose (Major Theme or Purpose): Second Peter has two main purposes: guarding the faith and growing in grace and knowledge. The primary intent is to warn Christians about the threat of false teachers (2:1-22; 3:17). These believers were already established in the truth (1:12), but there is a risk that they will fall away from their position because of these false teachers (1:10; 3:17). This book is an appeal to the readers to think correctly by acquiring true knowledge (1:16-21; 3:18). The only way to cure immaturity is to grow to maturity in Christ in order to resist the false teachings (1:2-11; 3:18). The two themes of 2 Peter, guarding the faith and growing in grace and knowledge, are woven throughout the book (3:17-18). Peter tells his readers to guard the truth and themselves against error by growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
   2. Argument (What is the author trying to accomplish and how is he doing it?): Peter accomplishes his purpose and theme by challenging them to grow in maturity in Christ (1:1-21), warning them against the false teachers (2:1-22), and encouraging them to focus on Christ’s coming, which is the goal of growing in knowledge (3:1-18). Second Peter begins and ends with an emphasis on knowledge (1:2; 3:18). Peter emphasizes that knowing Christ is the key to guarding the faith and to grow in maturity (1:12-21; 3:14-16). The words know or knowledge, in their varied forms, occur sixteen times in 2 Peter. Peter’s use of the future tense through most of chapter 2 suggests that this was going to be a continuing problem in the church. Thus, he knew he had to encourage his readers to keep growing in maturity and guarding their heart from false teachers.
2.  Give a short paragraph of how this book fits into the overall message or argument of the whole Bible. Support your statements with passages from the OT & NT. Give crossreferences from both Testaments—(like chapter and verse, 2:12 for example; “passages” means more than one)?

3. What do I want my congregation, audience, or study group to apply after studying this book? What would I want them NOT to forget? What does it do for YOU?

1. 3. KNOWING/MEMORY – Give four (4) PRINCIPLES (values; ethical standards; doctrines; main beliefs) that you gleaned from this book and that you and your congregation will think of and remember when the book is named. These should be appropriate to the text, so GIVE REFERENCES (chapters and verses) for each. 
      • The goal of growing in knowledge is the future expectation of Christ’s coming
        • I want the audience to remember that despite the tribulations that surrounds us, there is hope in the glorious future ahead. While at times it may not seem like Christ is coming, Christ return is certain, God is patient, and He has a purpose for His timing (3:8-10). As we wait for the Lord’s return, we should live holy and godly lives (3:11b), live expectantly (3:12-13), live purposefully (3:14), and live thoughtfully (3:15-16).
      • Growing in knowledge leads to maturity.
        • I would like the audience to remember that growing in knowledge will help them become more mature and can determine false teachings better. Peter describes false teachers (2:1-3) and denounces their evil ways (2:10-22), but we need to guard the truth and ourselves against error by growing in grace and knowledge of Jesus (3:1718). I want the audience to know that knowing Christ is the most important issue in life and eternity, and that we need to pour ourselves into knowing the Father.
      • The process of growth takes time but is worth it.
        • I want the audience to remember that growing takes time just as it takes time for a child to grow in maturity. As they grow in Christ, this will help them better handle false teachers. There will be setbacks and delays in maturity, but it is a lifelong process. The best defense against the false teachers and bad doctrine is growing in maturity to Christ (1:2-11; 3:18). God has given us everything we need to grow (1:34), but growing requires nurturing (1:5-7). But as a believer grows, they will be more effective and fruitful (1:8), productive (1:9), evidence faithful lives (1:10a), resist falling away (1:10b), and will receive a rich welcome (1:11).
      • The inspiration of Scripture.
        • The audience should remember that 2 Peter 1:20-21 is one of the two most important verses on the nature and origin of Scripture in conjunction with 2 Timothy 3:16. The audience can see from Peter how the Holy Spirit worked through the human authors to write Scripture. Peter also equated Paul’s writings, as well as other New Testament writings with the inspired writings of the Old Testament (3:15-16). I want the audience to know that while 2 Peter is a short book, it is important in the overall development of the inspired and inerrant Word of God.

4. DOING/ACTION – What you will lead others to do that is based on the text or passage that suggested this action. You are required to do two (2) of these and be sure to give references It must be supported by a particular text, so be sure to give chapters and verses, example 2:12.

• Develop a curriculum for people to better understand the inspiration of Scripture (2 Pet 1:20-21).
  • Develop a teaching series on the inspiration of Scripture. This will include how the Bible was inspired by the Spirit using human agents. This series will also look at the inerrancy, canonicity, and authority of Scripture.
  • Develop a booklet that allows the audience to see the statistics that favor the Bible’s inerrancy and inspiration. This will be like an apologetics pamphlet
  • Work with community groups to ensure their discussions are focusing on the inspiration of Scripture. Also, I can provide a question and answer guide to follow that would help the leaders in their discussions.

• Develop a “maturity” roadmap to help the people grow in knowledge (2 Pet 1:2-11, 16-21; 3:17-18). o Create a lesson roadmap with spiritual “markers” that focuses on one topic at a time that builds a solid foundation. As the audience uses the roadmap, they can see where they were (what they learned), where they are at now (currently learning), and where they are going (what they will learn in the future).
  • Work with the technology group to incorporate this roadmap into the church’s app. As people mark off these different task, they can earn “badges” or “level-up” to encourage them to keep proceeding. o Encourage small groups to keep focusing on what they learned and what they currently need to be learning to grow in knowledge. As well as remind the groups of the foundational building blocks that they have learned.

5. BEING/PERSONAL CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT –What one (1) thing touched your heart, as you were reading/studying this book? Tell what it was and what text influenced you – Scripture reference(s) required. What you are going to do about it?

• The thing that touched me most about 2 Peter was how knowledge helps the believer in many ways. Knowledge of God and knowing God takes time and can seem like a slow process (1:311). But without continually studying God and spending time with Him, we become susceptible to false teaching, to legalism, and we lose sight of who He is (2:1-3, 10-22). If we strive to know God more and more each day, we are better equipped to handle the daily struggles. Knowledge helps us to focus on the future hope we have in Christ, and gives us something to look forward to. Knowledge also helps us to live the right way for God each day.
• What am I going to do: First, I will take time to have regular Bible study. As I read a passage each day, I want to focus on it or re-read it throughout the day in hopes of having it sink in and help me remember. Second, as I read Scripture devotionally, I will pray through it. I will see what this tells me about God, about me, and my need for Him. Third, I can ask others to hold me accountable if I start to follow legalistic ways. Finally, I will keep a page on my phone and desk that incorporates the main points of living for God from 2 Peter 3:12-16: live a holy and godly life, live expectantly, live purposefully, and live thoughtfully. This will help be a constant reminder of how I am to live.