A Sub-Christian Epistle? Appreciating 2 Peter as an Anti-Sophistic Polemic

Drawing from recent ancient historical, New Testament and Second-Sophistic scholarship, this article proposes that the enigmatic 2 Peter can be better understood with closer reference to anti-sophistic polemical writings. Increasing light has been shed on the sophists’ interest in wisdom, display and rhetoric in contexts such as Athens, Rome, Corinth and cities of Asia Minor in the first centuries CE. After introducing historical attempts to identify a worldview compatible with 2 Peter’s polemical response, this article (1) describes the nature of the Second Sophistic in the first century with reference to two contemporary anti-sophistic polemicists, Epictetus the Stoic and Philo the Jew, (2) highlights features of 2 Peter which resonate with contemporaneous anti-sophistic writings, beginning with 2 Pet. 1.16-21 and (3) observes the way in which the Ante-Nicene Fathers, when seeking to discredit later sophistic opposition, drew heavily from 2 Pet. 2–3. It may outrun the evidence to conclude that 2 Peter’s opponents were professional σοϕισταί‎ per se. It can be affirmed, however, that 2 Peter bears significant resemblance with first- and second-century anti-sophistic polemic and may be best understood with reference to it.

Intertextual Strategy of the Narrator of the Second Epistle of Peter in the Catalogue of Virtues (1:5-7)

The Second Epistle of Peter is one of the least studied texts of the New Testament. It is usually compared with 1 Peter and/or Jude and indeed shows some similarities and some differences with these texts. But little attention is paid to the originality of 2 Peter both in its interpretation of texts from the Jewish tradition and in the application of intertextual strategies to elements of Greek philosophy. 2 Pet 1:5-7 is undoubtedly one of the most Hellenized passages of the epistle. Not only did the narrator use a hierarchical catalog of virtues popular in Greek literature, but also terms that are commonly associated with ethics, especially the stoic ethics (faith – πίστις; virtue – ἀρετή; knowledge – γνῶσις). This article aims to present the manner in which the narrator in 2 Pet 1:5-7 enters into dialogue with Greek ethical texts and how he transforms, innovates, and reinterprets these texts. In other words, what intertextual strategy he uses.

‘Apostles’ in 2 Peter 3.2: Literal Predecessors in Faith or Literary Records of their Witness?

2 Peter typically does not receive much attention within the study of early canon development. This article, however, focuses on the term ἀπόστολοι in 2 Pet. 3.2 and examines whether it points beyond historical followers of Jesus so as to implicitly include the written legacy produced by them or by their close associates. My inquiry consists of three components: (a) a survey of Justin Martyr’s use of ἀπόστολοι in his stock phrase ‘memoirs of the apostles’ as a roughly contemporaneous analogue to 2 Peter, (b) a study of the juxtaposition ‘apostles’ and ‘prophets’ in 2 Pet. 3.2 and (c) an inquiry into 2 Peter’s literary dependence on the canonical gospels.

Be Who You Are Meant To Be

The relationship between the Christian and culture is the overarching theme in the Petrine epistles, making them relevant now as they were first penned. Both 1 and 2 Peter can be considered as “epistles of hope” with “the best commentaries on Matthew 5:10, ‘blessed are the persecuted because of righteousness…” This paper’s primary question is: “In calling his readers to be holy in all their conduct, what does Peter identify as help and hindrances?” The answers are discussions of identity: the “identity” of the One who elects, the present identity of the elected people, and the life that identifies them as elect in contrast to the identity of the non-elect. By admonishing his audience to consider these, Peter hopes that they will remain committed to their faith in the midst of persecution and challenges. Instead of despair and apostasy, Christians ought to remember their identity and calling as the chosen people of God.

Eksegese van 2 Petrus 3:1–2 en die hermeneuse daarvan met spesifieke verwysing na standpunte van die sogenaamde Nuwe Ateïste

Exegesis of 2 Peter 3:1–2 and its significance for contemporary Christians with specific reference to views of the so-called New Atheists. Die Bybel: 2020-vertaling, in Afrikaans translation of the Bible, has been introduced at a time when the Bible, the God of the Bible and believers who accept the Bible as the Word of God are seriously under suspicion. The question is how Christians are supposed to act and react in the light of these developments. The religious conviction of Peter’s first readers was under great pressure as a result of false teachers. This article exegetically indicates the guidance that Peter gives to his readers according to 2 Peter 3:1–2 and points out its significance for contemporary Christians. The exegesis in the article is concentrated on 2 Peter 3:1–2 within the context of the letter and is done according to the grammatical-historical model as practised in the Reformed tradition. The article cites examples of the New Atheists’ questioning of the Christian faith. Reference is then made to 2 Peter 3:1–2, regarding what believers must do when their faith is questioned. The article found that Christians today, like Peter’s first readers, are still under great pressure because of atheists’ hostile actions. Like Peter’s first readers, modern-day believers need guidance so that they do not succumb to the pressures on their steadfastness. Christians must think purely of the Old Testament prophets and the apostles of Jesus Christ and the revelation they received from God and Jesus Christ. When Christians think purely about prophets and apostles, they will understand the meaning of these people’s message in their present circumstances and will be able to act appropriately. 2 Peter 3:1–2 provides guidance to Christians whose faith is under pressure due to the hostile actions of unbelievers.Contribution: The article contributes to the understanding of the guidance that Peter gave to his first readers according to 2 Peter 3:1–2 and provides guidance to Christians whose faith, like Peter’s first readers, is being questioned.

Willpower and the Cultivation of Virtues

This chapter explores some roles willpower might play in a Christian’s grace-empowered attempt to “make every effort to supplement [his or her] faith with virtue” (2 Peter 1:5, ESV). Working from a distinction Robert Adams makes between “motivational” and “structural” virtues, West argues that virtues of the latter sort—of which self-control, perseverance, and patience are paradigm examples—are partially constituted by willpower. He then draws on recent empirical studies of self-regulation to explain how the wise exertion of willpower can help one not only resist temptation, but also leverage temptation in the interest of cultivating virtues in both of Adams’s categories.

Die betroubaarheid van die apostels en hulle getuienis volgens 2 Petrus 1:3-4 en die betekenis daarvan vir die geskrifte van die Nuwe Testament: ‘n Eksegetiese studie

The reliability of the apostles and their testimony according to 2 Peter 1:3–4 and its significance for the writings of the New Testament: An exegetical study. In this exegetical article, it is shown that, in 2 Peter 1:3–4, Peter indicates that the apostles were reliable witnesses of Jesus Christ. As the New Testament writings are bearers of the apostolic testimony, 2 Peter 1:3–4 also provides important testimony regarding the Bible and, in particular, regarding the New Testament. The aim of this article is to show that, according to 2 Peter 1:3–4, the apostles and their testimony are reliable and that these testimonies are significant for the writings of the New Testament. This study follows an exegetical method and follows the grammatical-historical model. From 2 Peter 1:3–4, it is clear that the reliability of the apostles is the result of divine power. Jesus Christ worked through his Spirit with divine power in the apostles. Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ provides the apostles with everything that leads to true life, as well as to godliness. To the apostles, this was all given within their intimate and personal relationship with the glorified Christ. According to 2 Peter 1:3–4, Jesus Christ himself called his apostles to proclaim the message of God’s grace. As eye- and earwitnesses of Jesus Christ’s divine power, they could reliably reveal the meaning of what they witnessed of him. In 2 Peter 1:3–4, Peter testifies that the apostles received promises from Jesus Christ. These are great promises that have profound significance for anyone who accepts them in faith.Contribution: The contribution of this article is to show that 2 Peter 1:3–4 gives important information about the reliability of the apostles and their testimony.

Confirming Scripture through Eyewitness Testimony (2 Peter 1.19a): Resolving a Crux Interpretum

Responding to objections raised against the parousia, the author of 2 Peter seeks to defend the validity of Jesus’ return by pointing to the experience of the apostles at the Transfiguration (1.16-18) and to prophetic scripture (1.19-21). But how these two proofs relate to one another has been a matter of dispute since the earliest days of critical scholarship. Standing behind this disagreement is a difficult grammatical construction involving the comparative adjective βεβαιότερον (2 Pet. 1.19a). This article seeks to bring resolution to the debate through a comprehensive assessment of the force and function of this key term.

Breed se bybelse pastorale model Skriftuurlik begrond in 2 Petrus 1:3–11: ’n Eksegetiese toeligting

Breed’s biblical pastoral model Scripturally grounded in 2 Peter 1:3–11: An exegetical elucidation: In his recent research, Gert Breed has formulated a biblical pastoral model. From his own publications as well as from publications of other researchers, it is clear that Breed’s model is of great value to pastoral counsellors. Although elements of the model are included in other people’s research publications, Breed has not yet published a complete description of his model. The purpose of this article is to provide Breed’s pastoral model with a biblical foundation from 2 Peter 1:3–11 within the context of the entire letter. The method used in this study was to do exegesis of 2 Peter 1:3–11 according to the grammatical-historical model, and to use the results of the exegesis to biblically ground the different elements of Breed’s pastoral model. The article found that seven important elements of Breed’s model can be Scripturally grounded in 2 Peter 1:3–11, namely: (1) the meta-theoretical starting point regarding the Bible as the Word of God; (2) the need for someone receiving counselling to be born again; (3) the importance of a counselee’s relationship with God; (4) change in the life of a counselee through insight; (5) external and internal motivation of a counselee; (6) perseverance in a new life; and (7) the counselee as diakonos of Jesus Christ. Breed’s pastoral model is already useful for pastoral counsellors. The exegetical grounding presented in this study increases the usefulness of the model.