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World English Bible: 2 Peter

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This is the Second Epistle of Peter, a New Testament letter in the early Christian epistolary tradition, attributed to the apostle Peter writing to fellow believers. The letter's central argument is that authentic Christian faith must be actively cultivated through a progression of virtues — from faith to moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, and love — because such growth confirms one's calling and guards against spiritual stagnation. A substantial portion is devoted to a sharp polemic against false teachers within the community, whom Peter characterizes as exploitative, morally corrupt, and destined for destruction, drawing on Old Testament examples (the fallen angels, Noah's flood, Sodom and Gomorrah) to demonstrate that God reliably punishes the ungodly. The letter's third chapter addresses skepticism about Christ's promised return, arguing that God's apparent delay reflects patience and a desire for universal repentance rather than broken promise, and that the eventual cosmic judgment — a dissolution of the present world by fire — should motivate holy living. A distinctive claim is Peter's assertion of eyewitness authority, invoking his presence at the Transfiguration as proof that the apostolic message rests on direct experience rather than myth. The letter also notably references Paul's letters as authoritative Scripture while acknowledging they contain difficult passages prone to misinterpretation.

World English Bible: 2 Peter

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