2 Peter Bible Study Resources

Study questions, maps, charts, key words, history, background, outlines, and links to help you study Peter’s second epistle.

Bible Study: 2 Peter: How to Find Life

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Jump to: Background; ** Maps; ** Key Words; ** Encyclopedias; ** Commentaries; ** Articles; ** GotQuestions ** Next **

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Basics

• Author: The Apostle Peter
• Who was Peter?
• Date: Before Peter’s death in 68 AD (approx 65-68 AD)
• Recipients: Church at large

Genre: Understanding Epistles

Section 1: Background

Background & Outlines

• Peter NASB Study Text
• 2 Peter ESV Study Text
• A Comparison of  2Peter 2 & Jude
• Peter’s use of the Old Testament
• Map of NT Churches
• Blue Letter Bible: Peter in New Testament
• Blue Letter Bible: Chronology of Acts/Epistles
• Ray C. Stedman: Overview of the Book
• John MacArthur: Author, Date, Background
• NIV: 2 Peter Introduction
• ESV: Introduction to 2Peter
• ESV: The Global Message of 2Peter
• 2 Peter – Charles Swindoll
• 2 Peter: Introduction, Argument, and Outline  – Daniel Wallace
•  James Van Dine: Introduction to 2 Peter
• Key to 2 Peter – William Orr
• 2 Peter – Myer Pearlman (1935)
• Synthetic Bible Study – 2 Peter – James Gray (1906)
• 2 Peter Introduction – Wil Pounds
• David Malick (Bible.org): Introduction To The Book Of 2 Peter
• David Malick: Argument Of The Book Of 2 Peter

History

• Eyewitness History: Persecution Under Nero
• Eyewitness History: Burning of Rome 64AD
• Eusebius: Persecution under Nero
• Peter’s Wife (Zondervan)

Section 2: Maps

Maps from Bible-History.com

• Israel in NT Times
• Kingdom of Herod the Great
• Herod’s Kingdom Divided
• New Testament Jerusalem
• New Testament Cities
• Apostles’ Journeys

Section 3: Key Words

Key Words in 2 Peter

Occurrences are based on New American Standard Text. “4x/3v” means the word appears 4 times in 3 verses. “3x” means the word appears 3 times in 3 verses.

• Jesus Christ (9x/8v) – Strong’s G2424 in 2Pe 1:1; 2Pe 1:2; 2Pe 1:8; 2Pe 1:11; 2Pe 1:14; 2Pe 1:16; 2Pe 2:20; 2Pe 3:18.
• God (7x) – Strong’s G2316 in 2Pe 1:1; 2Pe 1:2; 2Pe 1:17; 2Pe 1:21; 2Pe 2:4; 2Pe 3:5; 2Pe 3:12.
• knowledge (8x) – Strong’s G1922 in 2Pe 1:2; 2Pe 1:3; 2Pe 1:8; 2Pe 2:20; Strong’s G1108 in 2Pe 1:5; 2Pe 1:6; 2Pe 3:18; Strong’s G50 in 2Pe 2:12.
• know (3x) – Strong’s G3609a in 2Pe1:12; Strong’s G1097 in 2Pe1:20; 2Pe 3:3; known (3x/2v) – Strong’s G1107 in 2Pe 1:16;  Strong’s G1921 in 2Pe 2:21.
• reminder (2x) – Strong’s G5280 in 2Pe1:13; 2Pe 3:1; remind (1x) Strong’s G5279 in 2Pe1:12; remember (1x) – Strong’s G3403 in 2Pe3:23. “call these things to mind” – 2Pe1:15; “pay attention” in 2Pe1:19. forgotten (1x) – Strong’s G3024 in 2Pe 1:9.
• true (3x) – Strong’s G1922 in 2Pe 1:3, 2Pe 1:8;  Strong’s G227 in 2Pe 2:22;.
• truth (2x) – Strong’s G225 in 2Pe 1:12; 2Pe 2:2.
• false (3x/2v) – Strong’s G5578 in 2Pe 2:1; Strong’s G5572 in 2Pe 2:1; Strong’s G4112 in 2Pe 2:3.
• destroyed (5x) – Strong’s G5351 in 2Pe 2:12; Strong’s G622 in 2Pe 3:6; Strong’s G3089 in 2Pe 3:10; 2Pe 3:11; 2Pe 3:12.
• destruction (6x) – G684 in 2Pe 2:1; 2Pe 2:3; 2Pe 3:7; 2Pe 3:16; Strong’s G2692 in 2Pe 2:6; Strong’s G5356 in 2Pe 2:12.
• judgment (5x) – Strong’s G2920 in 2Pe 2:4; 2Pe 2:9; 2Pe 2:11; 2Pe 3:7. Strong’s G2917 in 2Pe 2:3.
• promise (3x) – Strong’s G1860 in 3:4, 3:9; Strong’s G1862 in 3:13
• word/words (3x) – Strong’s G3056 in 2Pe 1:19; 2Pe 2:3;2Pe 2:18; (implied); 2Pe 3:5; 2Pe 3:7; Strong’s G4487 in 2Pe 3:2.
• righteousness (4x) – Strong’s G1343 in 2Pe 1:1; 2Pe 2:5; 2Pe 2:21; 2Pe 3:13. righteous (3x/2v) – Strong’s G1342 in 2Pe 2:7; 2Pe 2:8.
• godliness (4x) – Strong’s G2150 in 2Pe 1:3; 2Pe 1:6; 2Pe 1:7; 2Pe 3:11.
• prophecy (2x) – Strong’s G4394 in 2Pe1:20; 2Pe 1:21; prophet (1x) – Strong’s G4396 in 2Pe 2:16; prophetic (1x) – Strong’s G4397 in 2Pe 1:19.
• heavens (5x) – Strong’s G3772 in 2Pe 3:5; 2Pe 3:7; 2Pe 3:10; 2Pe 3:12; 2Pe 3:13.
• diligent (3x) Strong’s G4704 in 2Pe 1:10; 2Pe 1:15; 2Pe 3:14; / diligence (1x) Strong’s G4710 in 2Pe 1:5; / make certain (1x) – Strong’s G4160 G949 in 2Pe 1:10.

Section 5: Commentaries

Commentaries & Study Bibles

• Top 5 Commentaries on 2 Peter & Jude – Ligonier.org
• Best Commentaries on 2 Peter & Jude- Tim Challies
• Calvin’s Commentary on the Bible: 2 Peter
• Albert Barnes Notes on the Whole Bible: 2 Peter
• Alfords Exegetical Commentary: 2 Peter
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary on the Bible: 2 Peter
• Geneva Study Bible: 2 Peter
• Reformation Study Bible Notes: 2 Peter
• Precept Austin Commentaries & Sermons: 2 Peter

ESV Study Bible

• Deity of Jesus in 2 Peter
• Introduction to 2 Peter (Includes timeline) 
• The Global Message of 2 Peter
• What is heresy?
• 2 Peter 3:10 Like a Thief in the Night
• NT Theology and Key Dates

Section 4: Encyclopedias

Dictionaries & Encyclopedias

Letter

• Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary: Peter, Second, Theology of
• American Tract Society Peter, Epistles of
• Bridgeway Bible Dictionary: Peter, Letters of
• Easton’s Bible Dictionary Peter, Second Epistle of
• Fausset Bible Dictionary: Peter, the Epistles of
• Holman Bible Dictionary: 2 Peter
• Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible Peter, Second Epistle of
• Hastings’ Dictionary of the NT Peter Epistles of
• Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature: Peter epistles of
• Morrish Bible Dictionary Peter, Second Epistle of
• International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Peter, the Second Epistle of
• McClintock and Strong’s Bible Encyclopedia Peter, Second Epistle Of
• The Nuttall Encyclopedia: Peter, the Second Epistle of
• Smith Bible Dictionary Peter, Second Epistle of
• 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica: Epistles of Peter

Peter (aka Simon Peter, Simon, Cephas)

• American Tract Society Dictionary: Peter
• Bridgeway Bible Dictionary: Peter
• Easton’s Bible Dictionary: Peter
• Fausset Bible Dictionary: Peter
• Holman Bible Dictionary: Peter
• Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Peter
• Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature: Peter
• Morrish Bible Dictionary: Peter
• International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Peter, Simon
• McClintock and Strong: Peter
• The Nuttall Encyclopedia: Peter, the Apostle
• The Jewish Encyclopedia:
• 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica: Peter
• Peter means “rock or stone” – Hitchcock’s Bible Names
• Simon means ” that hears; that obeys” – Hitchcock’s Bible Names
• Cephas means a rock or stone – Hitchcock’s Bible Names
• Peter’s Wife (Zondervan)
• Eusebius: Persecution under Nero
• Whyte’s Bible Characters Peter

Silas, Silvanus

• American Tract Society: Silas; Silvanus
• Bridgeway Bible Dictionary: Silas
• Easton’s Bible Dictionary: Silas
• Fausset Bible Dictionary: Silas
• Holman Bible Dictionary: Silas, Silvanus
• Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Silvanus
• Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature: Silvanus
• Morrish Bible Dictionary: Silas
• International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Silvanus
• McClintock and Strong: Silvanus
• Silas in Acts:  Acts 15:22-41; Acts 16; Acts 17; Acts 18:5

Book of Enoch

• The Book of Enoch text
• What is the Book of Enoch?
• Holman Bible Dictionary: Psuedepigrapha
• Enoch in the Bible: Genesis 5:21-22; Luke 3:37; Hebrews 11:5; Jude 1:14
• Holman Bible Dictionary: Enoch
• Article on Genesis 6: Who were the Nephilim (Answers in Genesis)
• The Assumption of Moses (quoted in Jude 1:9)

Section 6: Articles

Articles

• The Sufficiency of Scripture for Life and Godliness 2 Peter 1:1-4
• Richard Bauckham, “2 Peter: a supplementary bibliography,” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 25.1 (March 1982): 91-93.
• Michael J. Gilmour, “2 Peter In Recent Research: A Bibliography,” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 42.4 (Dec. 1999): 673-678.
• Donald Guthrie, “Recent Literature on the Petrine Epistles,” Themelios 1.1 (Oct. 1962): 13-23.
• William G. Hupper, “Additions to ‘a 2 Peter bibliography’,” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 23.1 (March 1980): 65-66.
• Michael J. Kruger, “The Authenticity of 2 Peter,” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 42.4 (Dec. 1999): 645-671.
• Terrance Callan, “The Soteriology of the Second Letter of Peter,” Biblica 82 (2001): 549-559.
• Terrance Callan, “The Christology of the Second Letter of Peter,” Biblica 82 (2001): 253-263.
• Terrance Callan, “The Style of the Second Letter of Peter,” Biblica 84 (2003): 202-224.
• Terrance Callan, “Use of the Letter of Jude by the Second Letter of Peter,”Biblica 85 (2004): 42-64.
• J. Daryl Charles, “The Language and Logic of Virtue in 2 Peter 1:5-7,” Bulletin for Biblical Research 8 (1998): 55-73.
• J. Daryl Charles, “The Angels under Reserve in 2 Peter and Jude,” Bulletin for Biblical Research 15.1 (Spring 2005): 39-48.
• Walter M. Dunnett, “The hermeneutics of Jude and 2 Peter: the use of ancient Jewish traditions,” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 31.3 (Sept. 1988): 287-292.
• Michael J. Gilmour, “Reflections on the Authorship of 2 Peter,” The Evangelical Quarterly 73.4 (Oct.-Dec. 2001): 291-309.
• Michael Green, 2 Peter Reconsidered, 1961. London: The Tyndale Press, 1968. Pbk. ISBN: 0851110207. pp.37.
• P. H. R. van Houwelingen, “The Authenticity of 2 Peter: Problems and Possible Solutions,” European Journal of Theology 19.2 (2010): 119-129.
• The Authorship of Second Peter (Hampton Keathley IV)
• Is 2 Peter Peter’s? (Wayne Stiles)
• A Brief Note on a Textual Problem in 2 Peter 3:10 (Dr. Daniel B. Wallace)
• The Canonicity of Second Peter
• A Test Case for Conjectural Emendation: 2 Peter 3:10d – Aaron K Tresham
• Hampton Keathley: The Authorship of Second Peter

Section 7: Got Questions

GotQuestions.org

• Book of 2 Peter – Bible Survey
• Questions about 2 Peter
•  What is the effectual calling/call?
• What is spiritual growth? What is progressive sanctification?
• What is spiritual maturity? How can I become more spiritually mature?
• In what ways are believers partakers of the divine nature?
• What does Peter mean when he tells us to make our calling and election sure in 2 Peter 1:10?
• Is eternal security biblical?
• What is conditional security?
• Can a Christian lose salvation?
• Is there such a thing as an ex-Christian?
• What does it mean that the Bible is infallible? What is biblical infallibility?
• Did the writers of the New Testament regard their writings as Scripture?
• What does 2 Peter 1:20 mean about interpreting Scripture?
• What does it mean that the Bible is God-breathed?
• Why is it important to believe in biblical inerrancy?
• What is the doctrine of the sufficiency of Scripture? What does it mean that the Bible is sufficient?
• Does the Bible contain errors, contradictions, or discrepancies?
• Do I have to believe the Bible is inerrant to be saved?
• Does the inerrancy of the Bible only apply to the original manuscripts?
• What does it mean that the Bible is infallible? What is biblical infallibility?
• How can I recognize a false teacher / false prophet?
• Should Christians judge the teachings of their leaders?
• What is apostasy and how can I recognize it?
•  What was it like in the days of Noah?
•  What is God’s relationship to time?
• What is the day of the Lord?
•  What does the Bible say about the end of the world?
• Is Jesus coming soon?
• What does it mean that heaven and earth will pass away?
• How can I overcome my fear of the end of days?
• What does the Bible mean when it refers to the end of the age?
• Does Bible prophecy predict that there will be a World War 3 (III, three) before the end times?
• What does it mean to grow in grace?
• How can I become more like Christ?
• How can I become more Christ-like?

Section 8: Next

Next: John’s letters

Previous: 1 Peter

Series: Resources by Book

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