Dr. Lawrence Butler

The Bridge Church, Pembroke

I. The Author - The author of this epistle is the Apostle Peter, one of the original twelve disciples chosen by the Lord. Although he was the same man, still he was much different at this point in his life than he was when he first was called into the ministry. The Peter at the time of his calling was impulsive, weak and self-willed. He constantly misunderstood and resisted the will of God in the ministry of Christ and in his own life (Matt. 16:23, Luke 22:61-62, John 21:3). However, he eventually became what Christ foretold of him when the Lord called him Peter, a “rock.” A mighty rock he became for the Lord and the furtherance of the gospel. This epistle is simply an expression of what Christ had done in his life.

There has been much discussion and disagreement concerning the authorship of this letter. Peter was a common fisherman, and most likely unable to use the excellent Greek that is manifested here.

Some have even claimed that the name Peter in this instance was a pseudonym for another person. However, I feel that Peter was actually the author and may have used another to write for him.

Paul often did this, perhaps because of difficulty with his vision. In chapter 5, verse 12, we are told, “By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying…” It seems quite reasonable to me that Silvanus wrote what he was directed to say from the mouth of Peter, probably improving the presentation because of his scholarship ability.

II. Date and Place of the Writing-There seems to be no way to determine exactly when and where the writing of this epistle took place. The date has been placed early because of the overpowering sense of the Lord’s immediate return that was so prevalent in the early days following the Lord’s departure.

There is some thought that it may have been written around A.D. 67, shortly after the first persecution by Nero.

The only place given as to the location of the writing of the letter is found in 5:13, as if he was with the church at Babylon. There has been much disagreement as to whether this refers to a Babylon in Egypt, Babylon in Assyria, or if it refers to Rome in a spiritual sense.