¹This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, ²that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles.

Verses such as these are like gold nuggets to New Testament historians, helping establish the historicity of the letter. These verses help us date the time of Peter’s writing this letter, the existence of a previous letter, and the purpose of his writing. This is his “second letter;” the first one, historians tell us, is what we refer to as “1 Peter,” penned around A.D. 62–64. This second letter would then have been written afterward, at a time when the first would still have been fresh in his readers’ hearing. Although we don’t know the exact date Peter died, most scholars place his martyrdom in the mid-60s A.D., possibly A.D. 67 or earlier. Thus, the letter was written sometime prior to that.

Peter felt it important at this juncture in his life and ministry to remind his readers of what has been taught already. He must have become increasingly aware that his death was coming, remembering Jesus’ prediction:

“Truly, truly, I say to you [Peter], when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.” Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God.” (John 21:18–19a)

Early Christian tradition tells us Peter was crucified upside down, during the time of Emperor Nero’s persecution. The remark “you will stretch out your hands” would support that idea. He knew that his freedom of movement would be curtailed in his final days before his death. So the urgency of reminding his readers was probably foremost in his mind, as he already said (2 Peter 1:12-13).

Of all the things Christians should remember, at the top of the list should be the Word of God. We so easily forget, do we not? Jesus said, “Remember me” in the breaking of bread (Luke 22:19, 1 Cor. 11:24–25). He commanded His disciples to teach others everything He had taught them (Matt. 28:18–20). We know what Jesus taught by the testimony of the apostles (Acts 1:8). Peter tells us to remember not just the authoritative words of the prophets, but also the commandments of Jesus. These have been preserved for us in the written Word of God, the Bible. Thus, disciples of Jesus Christ through the ages have all emphasized reading, studying, and memorizing the Word of God as high priority.

Lord, I praise You preserving through the apostles Your teaching for us today!