For where there is a legal ‘will,’ there must also be a death brought forward in evidence—the death of him who made it.
Hebrews 9:16 Weymouth New Testament
In the year of our Lord, 54
The New and convincing Testament of the Apostle Peter
The Apostle writes his final testimony from Rome, providing convincing truth of Christ which many of us have sought as a new testament of good news.
Hearing now a second Epistle read in our church from Simon Peter, the saints consider assurance of their salvation.
Even the Jews will agree that Jesus had died some thirty years ago now. But among them many also maintained their faithful testimony of the Lord’s resurrection on the third day after Jesus’ crucifixion.
Furthermore hundreds of Jews, Gentiles and Romans alike had reported numerous appearances of the risen Christ Jesus during a time of forty days after the Cross and His burial in Jerusalem.
Jews see a fulfillment of prophetic Scripture and Greeks amazingly now seem included in a New Covenant as elect in the fellowship of the church — chosen and elect to eternal life by God the Father of all creation in the Sacrifice of His Only Son Jesus Christ for our sins.
And Peter has confirmed this!
The Last Will of Peter – Remember His Teaching
Simon Peter, a prisoner for the Gospel in Rome, has good reason to believe that this second epistle may be the Apostle’s last letter to the church.
Historical context of Peter’s Second Epistle
Recent AD First Century Historical Events (all dates approximate)
- ~ AD 30-33 – Resurrection of Jesus Christ witnessed by Simon Peter and the Apostles and more than 500 witnesses (some still living at the time of Peter’s two Epistles).
- Peter & John jailed in Jerusalem for their testimony of Christ as the risen Messiah of Israel
- ~ AD 37 – Caligua Caesar declares himself a god
- ~ AD 40 Peter proclaims the Gospel to the Gentiles in Joppa and other towns
- ~AD 41-54 – Claudius Caesar rules the Roman Empire
- ~AD 44 – the Apostle James, brother of John also of Jesus’ inner circle, is martyred
- ~ AD 49 – Jews (including followers of “the Way”) expelled from Rome
- ~ AD 54-68 – Nero Caesar rules the Roman Empire
- AD 50’s – John Mark, a scribe to Peter who had previously accompanied Paul on his first missionary journey, writes his GOSPEL which is read in churches as testimony primarily of the Apostle Peter.
- ~ AD 60 – Paul is brought to Rome, placed under house arrest and later released.
- AD 60’s – The Apostle Matthew records his GOSPEL.
- AD 60’s – Luke, an esteemed gentile physician to Paul, records his GOSPEL followed by a second volume detailing the ACTS of the Apostles.
- ~AD 62 – James, leader of the Jerusalem church, author of his own epistle and half-brother of Jesus is martyred.
- AD 64 – Peter and Paul remain diligent in sending several epistles (from Rome)to the church
19 JULY, 64 AD – a great fire burns for six days, consuming many structures in Rome.
2 Peter 1:
Simeon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who have received the same kind of faith as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:
Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been strengthened in the truth which is present with you.
I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder, knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has indicated to me.
And I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you will be able to call these things to mind.
2 Peter 1:12-15 LSB
meta emos exodos
.. ‘after my decease,’ translates the King James.
‘to have these things always in remembrance.’
v.15 KJV
What this Apostle of Christ Jesus is about to tell those chosen for eternal life reminds us of the Apostolic faith we must remember. Peter’s witness stands against those like the Caesar’s — Caligula and Nero — idolatrous men who declare that they have become gods.
Peter’s testament here In his second epistle stands firmly against a false gospel and philosophies seeping into the churches.
One false gospel seeking to undermine the Way and Truth will later claim to be a “Gospel of Peter,” introducing heresies opposed to the true faith of the Apostles.
So Peter reminds of of his unique witness of the Divine Jesus of Nazareth.
Peter’s Testimony of Christ’s Divine Nature
For we did not make known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, following cleverly devised myths,
but being eyewitnesses of His majesty.
Peter testifies to his EYEWITNESS of the GOOD NEWS previously recorded in THREE GOSPELS.
For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory:
“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
2 Peyer 1:17 NKJV
and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
v. 18 LSB
Apostolic testimony or idios interpretation?
And so we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.
2 Peter 1:19 NASB20
Know this first of all,
2 Peter 1:20 LSB
that no prophecy of Scripture comes by one’s own interpretation [idios epilysis].
For no prophecy was ever made by the will of man, but men being moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
The Stage is set for the Debate of False Prophets
As I have pointed out from this current historical context of Peter’s second epistle to the Church, not only do Rome and local communities oppose the true gospel, but in fact, many Christians trained in Jewish culture have an agenda of their own to convert Christ’s church to more palatable heresies desired by many.
The Greeks and Romans did not care whether their gods really existed. They were myths and they knew they were myths.
(May I interject that the same applies to Hindus, Buddhists, Universalists and many other compromising polytheistic or atheistic religions of this century.)
[Referring to vs.16-18]
Peter was not ready to put off his mortal tent for a myth but for that which he had witnessed.
RC Sproul 1-2 Peter – An Expositional Commentary, p.203
NEXT: Accepting Apostolic Testimony OR Following False Prophets
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