2 Peter 1:12-15

Peter's Personal Concern

Because Peter wanted his readers to receive the blessing of heaven, he wrote to remind them of some truths they already knew. It is the job of those proclaiming the truth to encourage their listeners in good works and urge them to constantly test themselves through examining the truth (2 Timothy 4:1-5; Judges 1:3-4). Truth can slowly fade from one's memory if he is not reminded so that it might be kept fresh. The children of Israel proved this repeatedly in the Old Testament (2 Peter 1:12).

Peter felt obliged to constantly remind them of the truth, even until his death. He calls his fleshly body a tent, much as Paul does (2 Corinthians 5:1-4), evidently to call attention to the temporary nature of that body. To Peter, death was as simple as taking off ones clothes at the end of the day, or taking down a tent, as the words "put off" indicate. Notice that he wanted to stir them up. The word actually suggests waking someone up from sleep (Mark 4:38). Peter knew his death would come "swiftly" (A.S.V.) because of Jesus' prophecy (John 21:18-19). Knowing this may have made Peter feel more strongly the urgency of reminding his readers (2 Peter 1:13-14).

He had urged them to "give all diligence" in their service and now says he will "be careful to ensure, or give diligence, endeavor, to give them this inspired message to keep them in memory of the truth. The word "tent" (from verse 13) and "decease" are both found in Luke's record of the transfiguration (Luke 9:28-36, esp. 31 and 33). Woods says, "Peter was present and powerfully impressed with the events there occurring, and in the use of these terms he gives an undesigned guarantee of the genuineness of the record and authenticity of the matters recorded" (2 Peter 1:15).