Is it a Miracle™ that Simon Peter wrote 2nd Peter a century after he died?

Answer 1

Among modern scholars there is wide agreement that 2 Peter is a pseudonymous work, i.e., one written by a later author who attributed it to Peter according to a literary convention popular at the time. It gives the impression of being more remote in time from the apostolic period than 1 Peter; indeed, many think it is the latest work in the New Testament and assign it to the first or even the second quarter of the second century.

The principal reasons for this view are the following. The author refers to the apostles and "our ancestors" as belonging to a previous generation, now dead (2 Peter 3:2-4). A collection of Paul's letters exists and appears to be well known, but disputes have arisen about the interpretation of them (2 Peter 3:14-16). The passage about false teachers (2 Peter 2:1-18) contains a number of literary contacts with Jude 1:4-16, and it is generally agreed that 2 Peter depends upon Jude, not vice versa. Finally, the principal problem exercising the author is the false teaching of "scoffers" who have concluded from the delay of the parousia that the Lord is not going to return. This could scarcely have been an issue during the lifetime of Simon Peter.

Answer 2

There's some debate over the authorship of various epistles, so the issue is not unique to 2nd Peter. There are some Pauline Epistles sometimes thought to have been written in another's name.

Writing from the viewpoint of a long-dead person isn't unusual, though, and it wasn't necessarily done with the intent to deceive, either. It's much like a guy who dresses up as Thomas Jefferson and comments on current events from what he thinks Jefferson's point of view would be.

We have no way of knowing for sure, but it's likely that the intent was simply to present what the author felt Peter would say if he were alive at the time, as there would be little benefit in deceiving people. The letter could then have been copied and passed on to the point that no-one knew the original context.

Answer 3

Yes, particularly since 'Simon Peter' is actually an amalgum of 'Simon Magus' and 'Peter' by conflicting early sects.

Most scholars do not hold to a first century dating for 2nd Peter. There are no legitimate scholars who give it a date earlier than 100 CE, and most date it toward the mid 2nd century.

Answer 4

Actually, the recent discovery of the third-century Papyrus 72, including both Epistles of Peter and Jude, sheds light on the use of this Epistle in Egypt, indicating an earlier authorship.

The Coptic mother tongue of the scribes concerned, together with the variant text types embodied in the MS [manuscripts] indicate a considerable history of the use of these letters in Egypt before the third-century papyrus in which they are embodied.

There is no book in all of Holy Scripture (including Revelation, which is still not read aloud in Eastern Orthodox liturgies!) than 2 Peter.

Answer 5

Best evidence is that St. Mark acted as the "scribe" for St. Peter and 2nd Peter was written some time prior to the year 67 AD.

Where did you get your information? The history Channel?

Answer 6

I have yet to see a scholar other than fundamentalists date 2 Peter earlier than 110 most closer to mid century. The site below is by far the most honest and informative site I have come across in cyber space.

Answer 7

Most scholars still hold to the date of before 67 ad which is before his death. Just because someone proposed a theory of a later date in order to get published doesn't make the theory true. Almost every theological and scholarly individuals will entertain the thought at best, but it would be quickly disproven. It's amazing that atheists yell at Christians for their lack of scholarly research.

Answer 8

And this was revealed to you by your handwriting analyst?
The only thing in the text that can be used for dating is support for the work of Paul. Perhaps the desire to destroy is prompted by the subject matter.

Answer 9

the miracle is that God gave you life so you could ask this dumb question and waste our time. why don't you ask questions about how we can keep kids from doing drugs or haveing premarital sex? how can we stop people from taking God's name in vain? how can we help mankind come to realize that Jesus is the Christ and that we need to be better people?

Answer 10

Hmm, sorry, most scholars still hold the view that 2nd Peter was written before the fall of Jerusalem.

Would you humor me, and cite some sources, please?