Theme - Peter wrote at a time when incipient agnosticism was creeping in among the Christians. Paul had dealt with this heresy in Colossians, but it had become even more active. Although the churches to whom both of Peter's Epistles were directed had been founded by the Apostle Paul, it appears that Peter had visited among them and perhaps laboured for them during Paul's imprisonment at Caesarea and at Rome (3:14-16).

This Epistle presents the sanest and most successful method of defeating error - that of growth in Christian character and faithful adherence to the truth. To this end, Peter urges a patient expectation of the Lord's return and warns against being carried away by false doctrines which he severely denounces.

Outline - These purposes of the Epistle will be observed in the following simple outline: I. Introduction (1:1-4) II. Exhortations to Develop the Christian Graces (1:5-11) III. Peter's Authority Grounded in the Scriptures (1:12-21) IV. Warnings against False Teachers (2) V. Admonitions in the Light of Christ's Second Coming (3)