Phillip A. Ross

Peter's Vision of the End: in Second Peter Phillip A. Ross

First Peter provides Christians with hope for the future of humanity as Christianity left its Jerusalem ?nest? with Christ?s mission for the world. It provides a message of hope in the face of struggle and suffering as Christianity first undermines the paganism of Roman culture in order to provide the foundation for Christian culture. The transition, said Peter, will be difficult?but rewarding. Second Peter continues this same theme, but acknowledges that the tran-sition process may be more difficult than first expected because there were false teachers who had successfully entered the ranks of the church, and were actively working to destroy God?s plan of salvation in Christ. Indeed, the unfolding of God?s plan for the salvation of humanity has taken much longer than any of the biblical writers first thought, though it has not surprised God in the least. Nonetheless, said Peter, stay true to Christ because the process of His progressive revelation in history will continue to provide true guidance. "...full of remarkable insight, practical application, and rich content. Prepare to have your faith strengthened and your life transformed through Biblical truth." ?Thomas E. Hendershot