The Second Epistle of Peter
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Introduction[i]
The
Second Epistle of Peter is even more simple than the First. Like those of Jude
and John, it is written essentially with a view to the seducers, who, with large
promises of liberty, beguiled souls into sin and licentiousness, denying the
coming of Christ, and in fact disowning all His rights over them. The epistle
admonishes the same Christians to whom the First was written, pointing out the
characteristic features of these false teachers; denouncing them with the
utmost energy; explaining the long-sufferance of God, and announcing a judgment
which, like His patience, would befit the majesty of Him who was to execute it.
But
before giving these warnings, which begin with Chapter 2, the apostle exhorts
Christians to make their own calling and election sure — not evidently in the
heart of God, but as a fact in their own hearts, and in practical life, by
walking in such a manner as not to stumble; so that testimony to their portion
in Christ should be always evident, and an abundant entrance be ministered to
them.
These exhortations are founded, first, on that which is already given to Christians; secondly, on that which is future — namely, the manifestation of the glory of the kingdom. In touching upon this last subject, he indicates a still more excellent portion — the bright Morning Star, the heavenly Christ Himself and our association with Him before He appears as the Sun of righteousness. Thirdly, we shall see that the warnings are founded also on another basis — namely, the dissolution of the heavens and the earth, proving the instability of all that unbelief rested upon, and furnishing for the same reason a solemn warning to the saints to induce them to walk in holiness.