Why did Peter write his two letters we call 1 Peter and 2 Peter?

“Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.” – 2 Peter 3:1

It is clear to me that we live in a world where truth seems undefined or at least debatable. But surely there is a right way of thinking? We begin by reading 1 Peter 1:1-13 and we listen to Peter’s description. Naming a few issues that are divisive is easy. Gender identity, health directives, freedom vs responsibility, criminal penalties, pay equity for women, human trafficking, honesty in business, conflict of interest in political systems… I could go on.

Peter says he writes these two letters to help them with their thinking. And before you can know what you think about a particular matter you need to know how you think about yourself. Note I said think, not feel. And to that end how would you describe yourself?

Let me begin – I could describe myself as Canadian, man, husband, father, grandfather… what words would you use?

Seth Godin says that “people don’t believe what you tell them, they might believe what their friends tell them, but they always believe what they tell themselves.” That’s why people who believe the bad things said about them feel insecure because they agree in their minds with what is said. That’s why people with poor self image tell themselves things which are harmful to their own well-being.

But we are God’s children – we heirs to the Kingdom – we are forgiven – we are “carved into the palm of His hand”.

Peter writes these letters somewhere around 62-64 AD which is immediately before Nero began is tremendously cruel persecution of Christians throwing them to the lions, putting them before the gladiators and using them as human torches in the street. Peter warns his readers that in the midst of suffering they are proving their faitfulness and will find themselves in the care of the God who raised Jesus from the dead.

 “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.” – 2 Peter 3:10

Lastly, we should remind ourselves that the author, Peter, has a remarkable history and was front and center in the life and ministry of Jesus.

Listen to Mark 14:24-31

23 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 “This is my blood of the[c] covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. 25 “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” 26 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

27 “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written: “‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered.’ 28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 29 Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”

30 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice[e] you yourself will disown me three times.” 31 But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same.

This man, who most believe wrote the record that Mark used to write the first Gospel, and who failed Jesus and himself at the most important moment understood the grace of God.