2 Peter 1:1
1 Simona Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
Did the Apostle Peter really write this book?
PROBLEM: The style of writing in 1 Peter is different than 2 Peter. Also the tone used in the first epistle is different than that of the second epistle. How can evangelicals claim that Peter wrote this epistle?
SOLUTION: First, in his earlier epistle, Peter had Silas as a secretary (5:12, NIV), but in the second epistle Peter seems to have written it himself. This could account for the lack of smoothness and style between the two epistles.
Third, there is good internal evidence that the letter is from Peter. Verse 1 claims it is from the Apostle Peter. Peter remembers the words of Jesus concerning His death, as recorded in John 21:18-19 (cf. 2 Peter 1:14). The author of this letter was an eyewitness to the Mount of Transfiguration, which is recorded in Matthew 17:1-8 (cf. 1:16–18). Peter even calls this his “second letter” (3:1, NIV) which presupposes a first. And he is aware of the writings of the Apostle Paul and calls him “our beloved brother Paul” (3:15–16).
Fourth, there are not only some differences between epistles, but also some likenesses. Both place emphasis on Christ, 1 Peter on His suffering and 2 Peter on His glory. And in both epistles Peter refers to Noah and the flood (1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 2:5; 2 Peter 3:5).