2 Peter

While Peter's first epistle dealt with facing adversaries outside the church, his second addressed the issues of enemies within. At the time of writing, Peter was near the end of his life (1:14). Still, he encouraged the believers to maintain purity in doctrine and remain true in the faith.

After the exhortation to grow in godliness and confidence in the Scriptures, Peter cautioned these believers to be wary of false prophets and teachers in their midst, and provided a clear description to help identify who these leaders and teachers were in the following areas:

1. Beliefs – Deny the Lord Jesus Christ
2. Moral conduct – Covetous, gainsaying and immoral
3. End – Swift destruction

Peter continued to sound out another group of enemies within the church: those who mock in unbelief at the second coming of the Lord, and scoff at those who look to Christ's return. He foresaw that this spirit of unbelief will rear its ugly head again in the last days, when many in the churches shall choose to ignore the warning signs and continue to indulge in their own wanton lifestyles.

The remedy to guard against such an attitude of callousness and lustful abandon is to keep on growing in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto you do well to take heed, as unto a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn and the day star arise in your hearts.

OUTLINE OF 2 PETER

1. Greetings (1:1-2)
2. Fortifying Against False Teachers (1:3-21)
a. Growing in Godliness  (1:3-14)
b. Knowing the Scriptures (1:15-21)
3. Recognizing False Teachers (2:1-22)
a. Recognizing their Ploys (2:1-3)
b. Recognizing their Punishments (2:4-9)
c. Recognizing their Personalities (2:10-22)
4. Overcoming False Teachers (3:1-18)
a. Resisting their Mentality (3:1-7)
b. Awaiting the Lord's Manifestation (3:8-10)
c. Growing in Maturity (3:11-18)