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With the death of Claudius, Nero was two months from turning 17 (born December 15, A.D. 37) when he became the fifth emperor of Rome on October 13, A.D. 54. He was considered to be the first major player in state-sponsored persecution of Christians. At the age of 26, he blamed the Christians for the Great Fire of Rome in July of A.D. 64, avoiding any culpability for the fire and promoting his distaste for Christians. It had been said that he clothed Christians in animal skins to be ravaged by dogs, to be crucified, or to be burned at the stake to illumine his garden in the evening. He was a powerful tool of the evil one, young and considered to be a Roman god.
Traditionally, Peter was reported to have been crucified upside down during the Neronian persecutions. Since Nero killed himself on June 9, A.D. 68 at the age of 30, Peter probably penned his second epistle in late A.D. 67 or early A.D. 68 (cf. 2 Pet 1:14; cf. Jn 21:18-19) as a prisoner of Rome to mostly Gentile believers (“to those,” 2 Pet 1:1; cf. 2 Pet 3:1; 1 Pet 1:1) who lived in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey).
Much discussion has taken place over Peter’s reference to himself as “Simon Peter.” Simon (Gk, Symeōn, G4826, x7 in NT) is probably “Simeon" [variant spelling]. The same Greek word used in our passage today is found in Acts 15:14, KJV in reference to Peter and is Hebraic, in origin, meaning “a hearing" (Gen 29:33). The other Greek word for Simon is Simōn (G4613, x76 in NT).
Jesus never referred to Peter by Simeon (cf. Mt 10:2); so why did Peter refer to himself as Symeōn (G4826) and not Simōn (G4613) in Second Peter? According to Michael-ology, since it was his last words to Gentile believers desiring for them to know that they were as much a part of Christ as any Jewish Christian suffering for the faith due to the expanding Roman persecution of Christians in the Empire and the invasion of false teachers.
Jesus never referred to Peter by Simeon (cf. Mt 10:2); so why did Peter refer to himself as Symeōn (G4826) and not Simōn (G4613) in Second Peter? According to Michael-ology, since it was his last words to Gentile believers desiring for them to know that they were as much a part of Christ as any Jewish Christian suffering for the faith due to the expanding Roman persecution of Christians in the Empire and the invasion of false teachers.
He reminds them that they [Gentiles] are suffering for the exact faith he is suffering as a believing Jew [Symeon], a slave of Jesus Christ, and an apostle of Jesus Christ. In fact Peter’s use of the phrase “like precious faith” (2 Pet 1:1) goes along with this same idea. The word translated “precious” (Gk, isotimos, G2472) means of equal value or equal honor.
The Gentiles suffering for the faith in Asia Minor shared in the same quality of faith as Peter, Paul, and all the apostles! There was no ethnic superiority, no inner circle, and no spiritual hierarchy. Christians everywhere, whether formally Jew or Gentile, shared in the same faith (cf. Gal 3:28). Given the tensions between Jew and Gentile believers in the first century, this is an amazing statement of the power of Christ breaking down ethnic barriers.
The Gentiles suffering for the faith in Asia Minor shared in the same quality of faith as Peter, Paul, and all the apostles! There was no ethnic superiority, no inner circle, and no spiritual hierarchy. Christians everywhere, whether formally Jew or Gentile, shared in the same faith (cf. Gal 3:28). Given the tensions between Jew and Gentile believers in the first century, this is an amazing statement of the power of Christ breaking down ethnic barriers.
The Greek word for “Peter” (Gk, Petros, meaning stone or rock, Mt 16:18; cf. Jn 1:42, “Cephas,” Aramaic) was the name given to him by our Lord (who also chose him as an apostle, Mt 4:19; Lk 6:13).
In his first epistle Peter's appositive (a noun clause describing a word) is abbreviated; there he states, “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet 1:1). His second epistle, unlike his first, adds the proper noun “Simon” and his status as “a bondservant” to his description of himself. Why did Peter refer to himself differently in both epistles written to the same people? Unfortunately, there’s no closure to this question. A suggested answer may lie in the climate and objective of each epistle. His emphasis in his introduction to the readers in 1 Peter quickly reveals his authoritative position as indicated by the phrase “an apostle of Jesus Christ” and one of humility and authority in 2 Peter by his reference to himself as a “bondservant” [Gk, doulos, slave] and an “apostle” [Gk, apostolos, one sent] “of Jesus Christ.”
In some sense 1 Peter is a handbook for ambassadors (Christians) living in a hostile foreign land to endure and exemplify Christ-like behavior in spite of the state sponsored persecution of Christians throughout the Roman Empire. Though he is an apostle, he can identify and empathize with their situation for he himself was a prisoner of Rome awaiting execution by crucifixion (Peter was not a citizen of Rome; Paul, on the other hand was a Roman citizen and was beheaded rather than crucified.). With the infiltration of false teachers among the churches of Asia Minor, 2 Peter is reminder for all Christians to live godly though they are in serious conflict with the culture.
Approximately two years after writing 1 Peter, Peter's death is imminent (2 Pet 1:14); there is no call in 2 Peter to take up arms against the Roman political and military machinery, only to grow in Christ-likeness (2 Pet 3:18).... [keep growing in the faith that was causing their persecution]. We are to bend like wheat in the wind [of persecution] as lambs counted for the slaughter (passive), yet aggressively grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in combating the evil spawned by apostasy.
This was critical for historically apostasy posed a greater threat to Christianity than persecution, and the same is true even now and for the future. Under persecution the church was purified and strengthened in the faith; false teaching defiled the church and weakened it. Dodging bullets and fighting against corruption in the church were what the churches in Asia Minor were experiencing, a spiritual warfare on two fronts!
This was critical for historically apostasy posed a greater threat to Christianity than persecution, and the same is true even now and for the future. Under persecution the church was purified and strengthened in the faith; false teaching defiled the church and weakened it. Dodging bullets and fighting against corruption in the church were what the churches in Asia Minor were experiencing, a spiritual warfare on two fronts!
The favorite haunt of false teachers is twisting, contorting, and stretching the Scripture to fit their own brand of theology (2 Pet 3:16), questioning the exceedingly great and precious promises of God. Their real agenda is getting gullible believers, pressured by persecution in this case, to doubt God's Word, resulting in non-conformity to Christ or non-Christ-like belief and behavior. The ultimate authority in all matters of faith and practice will always be the "Scripture" [Genesis - Malachi, Matthew - Revelation], the handbook for all ambassadors of Christ (2 Pet 1:20-21; cf. 2 Tim 3:16-17) where “all things pertaining to life and godliness” (2 Pet 1:3) are found. This is where our authority is documented [inscripturated revelation] and the source of our marching orders as soldiers of Jesus Christ.
The humility is in the bending to God’s will (a slave mentality) to that authority, even unto death if need be (2 Pet 1:14; cf. Job 13:15). The authority is in the Word, and the humility is in the walk based on Scripture which is not determined by the circumstances of life. This is not a Bible-thumping worship of the Bible (bibliolatry) but the worship of the God of the Bible, Yahweh, and walking according to His Word as the only way of life pleasing to Him.
The humility is in the bending to God’s will (a slave mentality) to that authority, even unto death if need be (2 Pet 1:14; cf. Job 13:15). The authority is in the Word, and the humility is in the walk based on Scripture which is not determined by the circumstances of life. This is not a Bible-thumping worship of the Bible (bibliolatry) but the worship of the God of the Bible, Yahweh, and walking according to His Word as the only way of life pleasing to Him.
We may never know exactly why the Holy Spirit superintended Peter to insert Simon (probably better translated Simeon) in his introduction to Second Peter. But it is not too farfetched to see one of the possibilities of referring to himself as Simeon; he is communicating to the Gentiles that they both are sharing in the same faith and in the suffering for the same faith (cf. 2 Pet 1:14). By the way, one of the clearest statements of Jesus’ Deity is found in verse two as to the object of the faith, “by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Remember, as Christ's return draws ever so near, all that desire to live godly will suffer persecution (2 Tim 3:12, in some form or another). It will only get increasingly worst as the time of His second coming approaches (2 Tim 3:13, realistic, not fatalistic). All believers are one in Christ being alienated by a pagan and hostile world. Notwithstanding, [brethren] keep growing in the grace (what people see) and knowledge (what people don't see) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ regardless of what the Neroes of this world think, say, or do; spiritual growth (the eternal perspective, Christ-mindedness) is the best way to cope with crisis and the best defense against false teaching for a believer! Jesus Christ is God, not some Nero! <><
Remember, as Christ's return draws ever so near, all that desire to live godly will suffer persecution (2 Tim 3:12, in some form or another). It will only get increasingly worst as the time of His second coming approaches (2 Tim 3:13, realistic, not fatalistic). All believers are one in Christ being alienated by a pagan and hostile world. Notwithstanding, [brethren] keep growing in the grace (what people see) and knowledge (what people don't see) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ regardless of what the Neroes of this world think, say, or do; spiritual growth (the eternal perspective, Christ-mindedness) is the best way to cope with crisis and the best defense against false teaching for a believer! Jesus Christ is God, not some Nero! <><
