Bible Commentaries
2 Peter

This second epistle was doubtless written at Rome, not very long after the first, and immediately preceding Peter’s martyrdom.

APOLOGUE

After Peter received the fiery baptism at Pentecost, with not the slightest evidence that the celestial flame ever abated, we have a right to receive his epistles as a facsimile of his daily ministration. You see he gives the trumpet no uncertain sound. He hits the nail on the head and makes the fire fly every stroke. No wonder he suffered martyrdom. His name means rock, which Jesus saw on the first interview, when He gave him this cognomen. Though the world never saw the “rock” till the fires of Pentecost burnt off the debris, they always saw it afterwards. What a wonderful contrast in his life before and after Pentecost. All his vacillations, oscillations and cowardice suddenly go into a total eclipse. His first sermon on Mt. Zion is a clap of thunder from beginning to end. Henceforth he lives a hero and dies a martyr. God give us the fire and heroism that flash and glow from Peter’s pen.