As with his previous letter, Peter identifies himself as the author in the first verse of 2 Peter. However, there was some question over its authorship in the early church. Eusebius listed 2 Peter (along with 2 and 3 John and James) as “antilegomena” – books with disputed authorship. On the other hand, Jerome included it in his Latin translation of the Bible, though he did say that many questioned whether Peter wrote it because of its marked differences between it and 1 Peter. Origen accepted it. Other figures in the church ascribed it to Peter as well, including Methodius of Olympus and Firmilian of Cappadocian Caesarea. Moreover, later Fathers such as Athanasius and Augustine accepted it.

The difficulties with 2 Peter’s authorship continue to the present day, when many liberal scholars doubt Peter wrote the letter. Many argue that the letter’s mention of Paul’s writings, and the warnings of the false teachers show that someone wrote 2 Peter pseudonymously long after Peter’s time. They also say the style radically differs from 1 Peter. As for the style issue, as early as Jerome, many have argued that Peter used a different amanuensis to write the letter. Moreover, 1 and 2 Peter have more in common stylistically than either letter has with the rest of the New Testament, except for Peter’s sermons recorded in Acts, to which the two letters bear a striking similarity of vocabulary (including two words used only in Peter’s sermon and in 2 Peter). On this basis alone Petrine authorship is fairly certain. Concerning Peter’s reference to Paul’s writings, 2 Peter was written late enough that Paul’s early letters would have had plenty of time to circulate and be accepted as Scripture. Also, Paul mentioned false teachers often (2 Cor 11:13, 26; Gal 2:4) and even false writings (2 Thess 2:2), so Peter mentioning them is not proof that the letter was written after the Apostolic age.

Church tradition holds that Peter was martyred in Rome in 67 A.D. Most believe the letter was written shortly before that date from that city.

1:1-4 "To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."

2:17-21 "These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them."

3:9 "But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."

Greeting (1:1)

Call to Sanctification (1:2-11)

1. Promise of Sanctification (1:2-4)
2. Practice of Sanctification (1:5-8)
3. Warning Against Lack of Sanctification (1:9)
4. Confirm Your Election (1:10-11)

Peter's Testimony (1:12-15)
 

Christ's Divine Authority (1:16-21)

1. Seen by the Apostles (1:16-18)
2. Prophesy Confirmed (1:19-21)

Warning Against False Teaching (2:1-22)

1. Reminder and Warning of False Teachers (2:1-3)
2. Punishment of False Teachers (2:4-11)
3. Depravity of False Teachers (2:12-17)
4. Fraud of False Teachers (2:18-22)

The Return of Christ (3:1-18)

1. Scoffers Will Come (3:1-7)
2. Delay is to Bring Scoffers to Repentance (3:8-9)
3. Responsibilities in Light of His Immanent Return (3:10-18)