The two letters in the New Testament bearing the name of the apostle Peter were probably written from Rome shortly before Peter’s death at the hands of Nero, no later than A.D. 68. They resemble so closely Peter’s sermons in the book of Acts that there is no reason to doubt his authorship.

The first letter was written to Christians living in Asia Minor who were suffering under persecution with the purpose of offering encouragement. The first two chapters form an excellent summation of our salvation, just what would be needed to help Christians bear up under opposition. We need to be reminded again and again of the fact that Christ died a substitutionary death for us, taking the wrath of God in his own body on the tree, so that we could be holy and acceptable to God, saved by the redemption purchased by the greatest of all prices, the precious blood of Christ. Truly born of God by incorruptible seed, the living and abiding word of God, we are people who are chosen by God, kept by Him through faith, awaiting the revelation of our final salvation, waiting to receive the place reserved for us in heaven.

Peter’s approach to teaching is actually the same as Paul’s: first to establish in the minds of his readers, in this case former pagans, that their salvation is secured through the finished work of Christ and is accessed by faith, second to point out how that salvation is lived out in everyday life. Peter continues to set before his Christian audience the proper response to God in enduring suffering and holding fast to their faith, conducting themselves in their relations with unbelievers in a way that will lead them to glorify God, submissive to the rulers of the state, respectful of any lawful authority, maintaining the right home relationships (husbands loving and respecting their wives, and wives being submissive to their husbands and adorning themselves with godliness), living in a loving relationship with Christian brothers, being ready to give an answer for what they believe, being faithful if called to be a church leader, and learning how to resist Satan.

His conclusion is beautiful: "And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen (1 Pet. 5:10).

The second letter seems to have a particular focus in helping Christians identify and resist false teachers. He encouraged them to "make your calling and election sure" (2 Pet. 1:10) by developing the Christian virtues of goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. He reminds them how they have assurance and confirmation of all they believe from the sure witness of the apostles and the prophets of Scripture.

And, armed with assurance and Christian character, they should be ready for the false teachers, who apparently were an early form of Gnostics who believed that salvation was a matter of knowledge rather than faith. In arrogance over their insights that they alone had, they thought they were beyond having to live holy lives. Peter says they were not true Christians, but people who never quit sinning, whose condemnation had been hanging over them, just sows who were washed going back to their filth and dogs returning to their own vomit (chapter 2).

He ends the letter by directing their attention to the sure second coming of Christ, the end of this order of things, the punishment of wicked and all such hypocrites, and the promise of new heavens and a new earth. Until then, they must learn to live in patience and holiness, comforted by the Scriptures, understanding that God is not willing that any of them should perish, but He, not their own knowledge as the Gnostics taught, will in love bring them to repentance and thus fulfill his promise to them of eternal life.