Bible Text: 2 Peter 1:1-11 | Preacher: Pastor Joe Ricchuiti | Series: 2 Peter, How Faith Grows

“Peter’s first letter dealt with persecution from outsiders. This second letter concerns dangers within the church itself, from false teachers and those who fail to take the Scriptures seriously. The great value of 2nd Peter is found in the apostle’s call to resist false teaching by growth in godliness, while we await the promised return of Jesus Christ.” (Lawrence O. Richards).

Second Peter was written by the Apostle Peter sometime between 64 and 68 AD. It appears to have been written to the same recipients as First Peter (1:1) according to 2 Peter 3:1.

A possible outline for the book would be:
The key to growth (chapter one); II. The answer to error (chapter two); III. The certain judgment to come (chapter three)

Some of the topics Peter tackles in Second Peter:

-how to be effective and productive in our spiritual life

-the authority of the Bible

-False teachers and Fallen Angels

-The Second Advent

-God’s patience

-connection between our present conduct and future judgment

-growth in grace and knowledge of Jesus

Peter writes:

-out of a need to protect these congregations

-to combat false teachers

-to remind them of the truths they had learned from him

-to challenge them to grow spiritually

-to expose the characteristics of false teachers