The Writings of Peter
New Testament Books: 1 & 2 Peter
Simon Peter (a.k.a. Cephas) was one of the first disciples of Jesus (Jn 1.40-42) & was among what some call Jesus’s “inner circle” along with James & John (sons of Zebedee – Mt 4.18-22). It was these 3 whom Jesus specifically selected to witness a girl’s resurrection from the dead (Mk 5.35-42), observe Jesus’s transfiguration to a glorified state (Mt 17.1-2) and to watch & pray as He agonized in the Garden of Gethsemane before His crucifixion (Mk 14.32-34).
Additionally, Peter witnessed Jesus heal his mother-in-law (Mk 1.29-34), walked on water with Jesus (Mt 14.22-33), correctly identified Jesus as the Messiah (Mt 16.13-18), experienced Jesus’s provision of a coin in a fish’s mouth (Mt 17.24-27), cut off the ear of one of the men sent to arrest Jesus (Jn 18.10-11), denied Jesus when He was on trial (Lk 22.54-62), was the first Apostle to see the risen Lord (Lk 24.34, 1 Cor 15.5) & understood Jesus’s forgiveness after the resurrection (Jn 21.15-19). And it was Peter to whom the resurrected Jesus charged: “feed My sheep” (Jn 21.17) – a reference to ensuring Jesus’s followers were spiritually nurtured with proper teaching. The man was certainly impacted by Jesus’s glory, power, suffering, death, resurrection, holy life & teaching about Christ’s return which all permeate his writings.
The Apostle Peter wrote 2 New Testament epistles referred to as First Peter & Second Peter. These were written to Christians in the noted regions & were apparently intended to be passed around & shared. Here is Peter’s introduction to his 1st letter to Christians in the areas now known collectively as the country of Turkey (an area larger than the state of Texas):
Additionally, Peter witnessed Jesus heal his mother-in-law (Mk 1.29-34), walked on water with Jesus (Mt 14.22-33), correctly identified Jesus as the Messiah (Mt 16.13-18), experienced Jesus’s provision of a coin in a fish’s mouth (Mt 17.24-27), cut off the ear of one of the men sent to arrest Jesus (Jn 18.10-11), denied Jesus when He was on trial (Lk 22.54-62), was the first Apostle to see the risen Lord (Lk 24.34, 1 Cor 15.5) & understood Jesus’s forgiveness after the resurrection (Jn 21.15-19). And it was Peter to whom the resurrected Jesus charged: “feed My sheep” (Jn 21.17) – a reference to ensuring Jesus’s followers were spiritually nurtured with proper teaching. The man was certainly impacted by Jesus’s glory, power, suffering, death, resurrection, holy life & teaching about Christ’s return which all permeate his writings.
The Apostle Peter wrote 2 New Testament epistles referred to as First Peter & Second Peter. These were written to Christians in the noted regions & were apparently intended to be passed around & shared. Here is Peter’s introduction to his 1st letter to Christians in the areas now known collectively as the country of Turkey (an area larger than the state of Texas):
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. – 1 Peter 1.1-2
In his 2nd letter, it’s noteworthy that Peter starts out using “I” & then referring to an event called the transfiguration (Jesus’s amazing revelation of His divine glory) he shifts to “we” – meaning the Apostles Peter & John (James had been killed by the time of his writing – Acts 12.1-2) who were eyewitnesses of Jesus’s glory. Peter states “for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention” (2 Pet 1.18-19). Thus, Peter & John were both actively teaching & witnessing about Jesus fulfilling the “prophetic word” of the Old Testament prophesies regarding the Messiah.
Then Peter insists that whenever Scripture (God’s revealed word to us) was penned, it wasn’t someone promoting “cleverly devised myths” (2 Pet 1.16) of man’s invention or interpretation. Peter explains that the words of Scripture were superintended by God Himself – God is technically the author; Old Testament Prophets & New Testament Apostles were merely the divinely appointed tools to communicate spiritual truth (Eph 2.19-21).
Then Peter insists that whenever Scripture (God’s revealed word to us) was penned, it wasn’t someone promoting “cleverly devised myths” (2 Pet 1.16) of man’s invention or interpretation. Peter explains that the words of Scripture were superintended by God Himself – God is technically the author; Old Testament Prophets & New Testament Apostles were merely the divinely appointed tools to communicate spiritual truth (Eph 2.19-21).
…knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. – 2 Peter 1.20-21
Just after that, Peter writes an entire chapter (2 Pet 2.1-22) giving stern warnings against false prophets & teachers. And interestingly enough, Peter then follows this with a wholesome commendation of the Apostle Paul’s writings, affirming them as Scripture & warning about people distorting Paul’s teachings.
And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him (from God), as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. - 2 Peter 3.15-18
- Inter-Author Reference: The Apostle Peter uses the endearing term “my son” to refer to the Gospel author Mark (1 Pet 5.13). In addition to his own teaching, Peter refers to the teachings of John & Paul as divinely inspired scripture (2 Pet 1.18-19, 3.15-16). He also entreats readers to remember the “commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles” (2 Pet 3.1-2).