The Text:
1 Peter 5:12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.
[Peter made use of a secretary named Silvanus, emphasized in the Greek text by the preceding article “the” before the name, someone well known in the Christian community at that time. Silvanus was skilled in writing Greek, which explains why 1 Peter differs in its style of Greek, compared to 2 Peter.]
Romans 16:22 I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord.
[Paul had the assistance of Tertius, who served as a secretary, when Paul wrote the book of Romans]
2 Thessalonians 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
[“nor by letter as from us” indicates there was a counterfeit letter claiming to be from Paul circulating that was not from Paul]
To certify that Paul actually wrote subsequent letters Paul wrote his signature at the conclusion:
1Co 16:21 The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand.
Gal 6:11 Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.
Col 4:18 The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen. Written from Rome to Colossians by Tychicus and Onesimus.
Phm 1:19 I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.
2Pe 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
2Pe 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
[The opening statement of the book of 2 Peter states it was written by Peter. The spelling of Simon in the Greek text, given in the margin of the King James Version, is given as the translators’ rendering: or, Symeon. This spelling occurs only once elsewhere in the New Testament record at Acts 15:14. It is highly unlikely that a forger at a later time would come up with or use such a spelling for Peter’s name. This is an undesigned coincidence which provides further authentication that 2 Peter was indeed written by the Apostle Peter.]
The Challenge:
As for 2 Peters, i dont know why you accept it as reliable when scholars rejected the notion that Peter wrote it… let me quote an exerpt
“ There has been much debate over the authorship of 2 Peter. Most conservative evangelicals hold to the traditional view that Peter was the author, but historical and literary critics have almost unanimously concluded that to be impossible. For example: Ksemann states that 2 Peter is “perhaps the most dubious writing” in the New Testament.1 Harris says, “virtually none believe that 2 Peter was written by Jesus’ chief disciple.”2 And Brevard S. Childs, an excellent rhetorical critic, shows his assumption when he says, “even among scholars who recognize the non-Petrine authorship there remains the sharpest possible disagreement on a theological assessment.”3
If your own scholars REJECTED 2 Peter why should I accept it?
My Answer:
As to the so-called “scholarship” that you marshal to assert the non-Petrine authorship of 2 Peter, I reject their conclusions because they are ill-founded.
You state:
“If your own scholars REJECTED 2 Peter why should I accept it?”
My answer:
I have been studying these issues for more years than any of the individual scholars you have named (yes, I am getting old, I’m considerably older than former President Trump or the current American President Biden, but thank the Lord, I am still in very good health, take no medications, and am surely more knowledgeable about these things than many others you may encounter).
I have studied the reception history of 2 Peter. I own the resources required to learn even more.
Some scholars argue that 1 Peter was not written by the same author as 2 Peter.
They base this judgment on the difference in the Greek employed in each book.
But it was common practice in the first century for authors to employ amanuenses, what we commonly call secretaries, to take by dictation or otherwise assist the author in writing a letter or document.
The difference in the Greek style can very legitimately be attributed to the skill of the secretary employed as a far better option than to suppose that 2 Peter was written by an unknown author pretending to be Peter.
The original recipients of the letter would know for certain from whom it came and therefore would receive it as from Peter himself. Otherwise it would not have been received.
The early Christian movement was very careful, very meticulous in making sure of the validity of the documents they accepted as Scripture were written by the author the document claimed.
That is why none of the so-called Gnostic gospels and other such writings were ever acknowledged by the Christians of the first century as divinely inspired Scripture.
You can read in depth about this process and what it involved in a very interesting book by Harry A. Gamble titled Books and Readers in the Early Church: A History of Early Christian Texts. Yale University Press (1995. 337 pages), the handiest book on my bookshelves in my personal library of printed books here by my computer that I have carefully studied and recommend to you on this subject.
Response to my comment:
i am fully aware of those evidence why your scholars held such opinion. I respect them and found some merit on their evidence.
Nevertheless, IMO Peter would in no way could give commendation to Paul. Because we knew that Peter and Paul dosnt have a good relationship.
The animosity and hatred between Paul and Peter is reflected in Paul narrative on Galatian 2…
it dosnt make sense to me that Peter would promote Paul dogma after Paul accused him of being hypocrite and impious.
My Response:
You have not been reading the New Testament records carefully enough. I hope what I have written below will help you to more accurately understand these issues.
Paul himself tells us that he and Barnabas were given the right hands of fellowship and therefore were certainly officially received and endorsed by James, Cephas [Peter], and John:
Galatians 2:9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. (KJV)
The Book of Galatians is thought by many scholars to be the oldest, that is, first to be written, book in the New Testament. Other scholars think 1 Thessalonians might have been written first.
There is irrefutable internal evidence that proves the historicity of Paul’s letters and the Book of Acts as seen by the undesigned coincidences found between them. These are discussed in a very important book by William Paley titled Horae Paulinae (1879, 240 pages).
Galatians 2:9 contains an example of such an undesigned coincidence:
James. An undesigned coincidence is apparent here in the order of mention of James and Peter. Where missionary work is in view, Peter alone is mentioned; but where the church action is described, James takes precedence. This corresponds with Acts 15:7 where Peter first speaks, but James is the leader of the assembly, Acts 15:13.
You state:
“it dosnt make sense to me that Peter would promote Paul dogma after Paul accused him of being hypocrite and impious.”
It is very clear in the record of the first church council recorded in Acts 15 that Paul and Barnabas were on very cordial terms with Peter and James and the whole Jerusalem church:
The Jerusalem Council
Act 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
Act 15:2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
Act 15:3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
Act 15:4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
There was a false party who are otherwise known as Judaizers–Pharisees, apparently new believers who were untaught regarding the doctrines of grace, who were still stuck on their legalistic commitment to the ritual requirements of the Mosaic Law, requirements rendered unnecessary because Jesus fully met those requirements on our behalf:
Act 15:5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
Notice carefully how both Peter and James took the side of Paul and Barnabas in this matter:
Act 15:6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
Act 15:7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
Act 15:8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
Act 15:9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
Act 15:10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
Peter declared:
Act 15:11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
Notice what happened next:
Act 15:12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
Act 15:13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
Act 15:14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
Notice Acts 15:14. Peter WAS NOT an Apostle to the Gentiles. Peter WAS used of God to bring the Gospel message of salvation to the first Gentile convert and his family and friends gathered in his home, a man by the name of Cornelius, as recorded in Acts 10, the whole chapter. Note the critically important words in Acts 15:14, “at the first.” Peter’s ministry to Cornelius and his family and friends was a one-time singular event of ministry to Gentiles by Peter.
The Judaizers who had stirred up controversy regarding the ministry of Paul and Barnabas were not approved of or sent by the church in Jerusalem as clearly evident by this statement contained in a letter sent to the churches:
Act 15:24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
Act 15:25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
Act 15:26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Act 15:27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.
Notice the expression contained in the letter:
Act 15:25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
Act 15:26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
There is no evidence of any continuing discord between Paul and Barnabas with the leadership of the Jerusalem church–including Peter–here or anywhere else in the primary source first century documents of the New Testament.