The Writer’s Purpose Restated

3:1  After his lengthy tirade against the false teachers and their perverted life-style so dangerous to the well being of his readers, Peter turns—one senses, with warm relief—to address his dear friends directly. He now reverts to his opening exhortation to them to foster their spiritual life (1:5–8).

This is now my second letter to you, he declares, although whether he means 1 Peter or some other letter, now lost, is uncertain. Since Peter is evidently not able to visit his friends in person, his pastoral concern impels him to do the next best thing and commit his message to writing. That in any case has the advantage of greater permanence, and the reminders it contains (1:12, 13, 15) will continue to be on hand to do their work. Moreover, a letter can be copi…