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For more great commentaries on 1 Peter check:
Commentaries on the General Epistles, Commentaries on All the Epistles, Commentaries on the Whole New Testament & Whole Bible Commentaries
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Order of Contents 18+
Best 6
Commentaries 13
Early & Medieval 3
Chapters 3
Authenticity 2
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The Best Commentaries on 2 Peter
Reformer
Luther, Martin – A Commentary or Exposition upon 2 Peter in A Commentary or Exposition upon the Two Epistles General of Saint Peter & that of Saint Jude… (d. 1546; London, 1581), pp. 116-60
*** “In Luther’s racy style. One of his best productions. Copies are scarce as white elephants, and consequently expensive.” – Spurgeon
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1600’s
Adams, Thomas – An Exposition upon 2 Peter (d. 1652)
Adams was a puritan.
*** “Full of quaintnesses, holy wit, bright thought, and deep instruction. We like Adams better in commenting than in preaching. His great work is quite by itself, and in its own way remains unrivalled. We know no richer and racier reading.” – Spurgeon
Dickson, David – The Second Epistle General of Peter, Analytically Expounded in An Exposition of All St. Paul’s Epistles together with an Explanation of those Other Epistles of the Apostles St. James, Peter, John & Jude… (1659), pp. 298-304
Dickson was a prominent Scottish covenanter. Note that the Banner of Truth reprint contains Dickson’s commentary on less books than the original.
*** – ‘Dickson is a writer after our own heart. For preachers he is a great ally. There is nothing brilliant or profound; but everything is clear and well arranged, and the unction runs down like the oil from Aaron’s head. In this volume the observations are brief.’
Nisbet, Alexander – A Brief Exposition of the First & Second Epistles General of Peter Buy (1658)
*** – ‘A judicious and gracious Scotch commentary, after the style of Dickson and Hutcheson.’
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Intermediate
Lillie, John – Lectures on Second Peter (1869) 550 pp. Greek is kept to the footnotes
Lillie was a presbyterian minister in New York.
*** “Dr. Schaff says: ‘Though very different from the immortal work of Archbishop Leighton on the First Epistle of Peter, these lectures breathe the same reverential spirit and devotional fervor, while they are much more full and thorough as an exposition.” – Spurgeon
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Advanced
Mayor – The Epistle of St. Jude & the Second Epistle of St. Peter: Greek Text with Introduction, Notes & Comments (1907) 460 pp.
“A brilliant, technical treatment. Denies the Petrine authorship of II Peter, but is inclined to accept its canonicity and fully appreciates its intrinsic spiritual value and practical worth.” – Cyril J. Barber
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Commentaries on 2 Peter
1600’s
Ames, William – An Analytical Exposition of both the Epistles of the Apostle Peter (1641)
Ames was a New England puritan.
** “Too much divided and subdivided, chopped up and cut into dice pieces and laid in order; for after all, there is very little meat in it. It is an analysis, and little more.” – Spurgeon
Symson, Archibald – Exposition upon the Second Epistle General of St. Peter 1632
Simson (1564-1628) was a pastor in Dalkeith, Scotland.
** “Abundance of matter, pithily expressed. Symson is among the oldest and rarest of the English divines.” – Spurgeon
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Simple, Practical & Devotional
Jowett, John H. – The Epistles of St. Peter: a Practical and Devotional Commentary (1904) 350 pp.
“A practical and devotional exposition.” – Cyril J. Barber
Blair, J. Allen – Living Faithfully: a Devotional Study of the Second Epistle of Peter (Loizeaux Brothers, 1961) 255 pp. ToC
Lloyd-Jones, Martyn – Expository Sermons on 2 Peter Buy
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Intermediate
1800’s
Wilson, William – Second Epistle of Peter
** “‘Thoughtful and fresh in its matter, fine and polished in its style, laying hold of us at once, and tightening its grasp on our sympathies the longer we read.’ – British & Foreign Evangelical Review. (Too laudatory)” – Spurgeon
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1900’s
Lumby, Joseph Rawson – The Epistles of St. Peter (1908) in The Expositor’s Bible
“Like Lumby’s other writings, is worth consulting.” – Cyril J. Barber
Kelly, J.N.D. – The Epistles of Peter & of Jude in Black’s New Testament Commentary (Hendrickson, 1993) Reprinted by Baker in the Thornapple Commentary series
Kelly (1909–1997), the noted Early Church historian was an Oxford scholar. He has a few liberal tendencies.
“A scholarly, comprehensive treatment. Does not adhere to the Petrine authorship of the second epistle, and lacks the dynamic conviction so evident in Kelly’s treatment of the Pastoral Epistles.” – Cyril J. Barber
Green, Edward Michael B. – 2 Peter & Jude in Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (1968)
“Written by a leading conservative theologian in England, this work is a valuable companion volume to Stibbs’ fine treatment of First Peter. Green handles the matters of textual criticism and the problems of authorship with rare ability. His exposition of the text is based upon a detailed exegesis and he ably applies the teaching of these epistles to the needs of the present. Anglican.” – Cyril J. Barber
Clark, Gordon – New Heavens, New Earth (First & Second Peter) Buy (Trinity Foundation, 1993) 250 pp.
Mounce, Robert H. – Born Anew to a Living Hope: a Commentary on 1 & 2 Peter Buy (1982) 150 pp.
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Advanced
1700’s
Benson, George – A Paraphrase & Notes on the Second Epistle of St. Peter in A Paraphrase & Notes on the Seven Catholic Epistles, Attempted in Imitation of Mr. Locke’s Manner (London: 1742)
Benson (1699-1762) was initially a fervent presbyterian but came to adopt Socinian views.
** “The author was an Arian. ‘Benson possessed considerable learning, but no great portion of genius.’ This is a paraphrase with notes.” – Spurgeon
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1900’s
Bigg, Carl – A Critical & Exegetical Commentary on the Epistles of Peter & St. Jude (1901) in The International Critical Commentary
“The introductory material is helpful and informative. Second Peter is dated after the closing of the canon and, while looked upon as having practical value, is not regarded as authentic. The exposition of the Greek text has been well done.” – Cyril J. Barber
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Early Church
Compilations
ed. Bray, Gerald – Commentary on 2 Peter in Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: James, 1-2 Peter, 1-3 John, Jude Pre Buy (IVP, 2000), pp. 129-64
ed. Skaggs, Rebecca – 1, 2 Peter & Jude Through the Centuries Pre (2020) 312 pp. ToC
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Medieval Church
Bede – Commentary on the Seven Catholic Epistles Ref (Cistercian Publications, 1985) 284 pp.
Bede (672/3 – 735)
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2 Peter 1
1600’s
Denison, Stephen – An Exposition upon 2 Peter 1, with the Principal Doctrines Naturally Arising from every Verse of the Same Chapter (1622)
Denison (d. 1649) was a reformed minister in London.
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1800’s
Brown, John, of Edinburgh – Parting Counsels: An Exposition of 2 Pet. 1 with Four Additional Discourses (1856) 345 pp. This has been reprinted by Banner of Truth
*** “We always think of Brown as a Puritan born out of due time. Everything he has left us is massive gold. He is both rich and clear, profound and perspicuous.” – Spurgeon
“Has stood the test of time. Full and complete. Indispensable to the expositor.” – Cyril J. Barber
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2 Peter 3
1600’s
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The Authenticity of 2 Peter
Warfield, B.B.
‘The Canonicity of 2 Peter’ 32 pp. in Selected Shorter Writings of B.B. Warfield, vol. 2, pp. 48-79
Dr. Edwin A. Abbott on the Genuineness of 2 Peter in Southern Presbyterian Review (April, 1883), pp. 390 ff.
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