AUTHOR: The church has traditionally held that the apostle Peter was the author of this letter [2Pe 1:1]. Some scholars question Peter's authorship because of the difference in style between the two epistles.

THEME: The Second Epistle of Peter deals with false teachers. While the First Epistle of Peter deals with external danger (persecutions), the second warns of internal danger (false doctrine). Earlier, Peter had written for the purpose of comforting and encouraging believers in the midst of suffering and persecution. Now, three years later, in this letter, which contained his last words, the apostle wrote for the purpose of warning Christians against an attack from within: heresies. Peter knew his time was at hand [2Pe 1:13-14], for this reason, he wrote about what was to come, warning Christians about what would happen after his departure, especially about the presence of false teachers. He himself declares his purpose, explaining [ 2Pe 3:1-18 ] that he wrote it to remind them of the words of the prophets and apostles who foretold the coming of false teachers, to give a reason for the delay in the return of Christ [ 2Pe 3:1 -13 ], and encourage them to beware of heresies and grow in genuine faith [ 2Pe 3:14-18 ]

COMPILATION: There is uncertainty as to the date and recipient of the second epistle of Peter, the most likely being that it was possibly written in Rome, approximately AD 67, three years after the first letter of Peter have been written. It consists of 3 chapters and 61 verses.