2 Peter 1 second epistle was written shortly (3 years) after his first Peter’s letter (as also Paul to Corinth, Thessalonika, and Timothy). It was probably written after death, somewhere between Paul’s a.d. 64-68; Peter his as being in mentions “all epistles” circulation already. This epistle has had a rough passage through the centuries. It was considered second-class Scripture by Luther, rejected by Erasmus, and regarded with hesitancy by Calvin. Despite some scholastic controversies (which we won’t bother to detail) by the 4th century it was well accepted throughout most of the world. In Cave 7 at Qumran a papyrus fragment, 7Q5, appears to be part of Gospel, comprising 6:52-53. Mark’s A tiny fragment (only 2 cm), 7Q10, found in the same cave has on it 6 letters in two lines which could come only from 2 Peter 1:15, if they come from the NT at all. [Source: Jose O’Callaghan, “Los papiros griegos de la cueva 7 de Biblioteca de Autores Qumran,” Madrid, Cristianos, 1974, pp. 74-75, plate v.] It has been conjectured that this letter might have been a covering document to Gospel to the Qumran community shortly Mark’s before the Jewish War in a.d. 68 when the cave was closed. Like all epistles, it is corrective: it is the prophet or “second” exhorter who speaks. In his final message just prior to his martyrdom, Peter gives us some specific warnings concerning the oncoming apostasy that will sweep over Christendom. The Two Epistles of Peter
2 Peter 1 Peter’s second epistle was written shortly (3 years) after his first letter (as also Paul to Corinth, Thessalonika, and Timothy). It was probably written after Paul’s death, somewhere between a.d. 64-68; Peter mentions “all his epistles” as being in circulation already. This epistle has had a rough passage through the centuries. It was considered second-class Scripture by Luther, rejected by Erasmus, and regarded with hesitancy by Calvin. Despite some scholastic controversies (which we won’t bother to detail) by the 4th century it was well accepted throughout most of the world. In Cave 7 at Qumran a papyrus fragment, 7Q5, appears to be part of Mark’s Gospel, comprising 6:52-53. A tiny fragment (only 2 cm), 7Q10, found in the same cave has on it 6 letters in two lines which could come only from 2 Peter 1:15, if they come from the NT at all. [Source: Jose O’Callaghan, “Los papiros griegos de la cueva 7 de Qumran,” Madrid, Biblioteca de Autores Cristianos, 1974, pp. 74-75, plate v.] It has been conjectured that this letter might have been a covering document to Mark’s Gospel to the Qumran community shortly before the Jewish War in a.d. 68 when the cave was closed. Like all “second” epistles, it is corrective: it is the prophet or exhorter who speaks. In his final message just prior to his martyrdom, Peter gives us some specific warnings concerning the oncoming apostasy that will sweep over Christendom. The Two Epistles of Peter
2_Peter_TJL_compilation4.docx