Where Jesus is in this book
Jesus in 2 Peter
In his final letter Peter, knowing his death is near, writes to guard the church against false teachers and scoffers. He anchors believers in the true knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, whose power gives everything we need for godliness, and whose promised return, though delayed by mercy, is certain.
The book in brief
2 Peter is a farewell letter written as Peter senses his death approaching. He wants believers to be secure against error after he is gone. He begins by urging them to grow in the knowledge of Christ, adding virtue to faith, and reminds them that he was an eyewitness of Jesus's majesty on the mount of transfiguration (chapter 1). He then exposes false teachers who exploit the church with greed and sensuality, warning that judgment awaits them as it did the ungodly of old (chapter 2). Finally he confronts scoffers who mock the promise of Christ's return, explaining that the Lord is not slow but patient, not willing that any should perish. The day of the Lord will come, and believers should live holy lives as they await new heavens and a new earth (chapter 3).
A moment that points to Him
2 Peter 1:16 to 18 anchors everything, where Peter insists he did not follow cleverly devised myths but was an eyewitness of Christ's majesty. On the holy mountain he saw Jesus receive honor and glory from the Father and heard the voice declare Him the beloved Son. This is the transfiguration, a preview of Christ's coming glory. Against every false teacher and scoffer, Peter stakes his testimony on what he saw with his own eyes: the divine glory of Jesus, confirmed by the Father's own voice, guaranteeing that the promised return is no myth.
Where Jesus is in this book
2 Peter presents Christ as the glorious, divine Lord and Savior whose knowledge is the ground of the Christian life. The letter opens by calling Him our God and Savior Jesus Christ, confessing His deity (chapter 1:1). Peter says Christ's divine power grants us everything needed for life and godliness, so that we may become partakers of the divine nature (chapter 1:3 to 4). He grounds his message in the transfiguration, where he witnessed Christ's majesty and the Father's approving voice (chapter 1:16 to 18). Against scoffers, Peter defends the certainty of Christ's return and the day of the Lord, framing the delay as the Savior's patience toward sinners (chapter 3). He closes by urging believers to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to whom he ascribes glory forever (chapter 3:18). Christ is thus divine Savior, transfigured King, and coming Judge.
Questions people ask
Why does 2 Peter say Jesus has not returned yet?
In 2 Peter 3:8 to 9 Peter answers scoffers who mock the delay. He explains that God does not measure time as we do, and that the apparent slowness is actually patience. The Lord is not willing that any should perish but that all should reach repentance. The delay is mercy, giving people time to turn to Christ.
What is 2 Peter's warning about false teachers?
Chapter 2 warns of teachers who secretly bring in destructive heresies, driven by greed and sensuality, exploiting believers with false words. Peter says their judgment is sure, citing examples of God's past judgments and rescues. He urges Christians to guard the true knowledge of Christ and grow in grace, so they are not carried away by the error of the lawless.