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2 Corinthians 13:2
I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:

1 Peter 1:1,2
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, …

I stir.

2 Peter 1:13-15
Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by puttingyou in remembrance; …

2 Timothy 1:6
Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

pure.

Psalm 24:4
He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

Psalm 73:1
A Psalm of Asaph. Truly Godis good to Israel,even to such as are of a clean heart.

Matthew 5:8
Blessedare the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

way.

2 Peter 1:12
Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye knowthem, and be established in the present truth.

this is now my second letter to you
Peter refers to his previous correspondence, which is traditionally understood to be 1 Peter. This indicates a continued relationship and ongoing pastoral care. The letters are part of the apostolic tradition, serving as authoritative guidance for the early church. The reference to a second letter underscores the importance of written communication in preserving apostolic teaching.

Both of them are reminders
The purpose of both letters is to remind the readers of the truths they have already been taught. This reflects the biblical principle of remembrance, as seen inDeuteronomy 6:12, where the Israelites are urged not to forget the Lord's commandments. Reminders are crucial for spiritual growth and perseverance, especially in the face of false teachings and persecution.

to stir you
The phrase "to stir you" suggests an active effort to awaken or arouse the readers from spiritual complacency. This is akin to Paul's exhortation inRomans 13:11 to "wake up from your slumber." The idea is to provoke a response that leads to renewed zeal and commitment to the faith.

to wholesome thinking
Wholesome thinking involves a sound and pure mindset, free from the corruption of false teachings. This aligns withPhilippians 4:8, where believers are encouraged to think about things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. Wholesome thinking is essential for discerning truth and living a life that honors God.

Peter begins with a tender word: “Beloved.” This is more than a warm greeting; it is a reminder of our identity.

• We are loved by God the Father (1 John 3:1), by the Son who “loved us and gave Himself up for us” (Ephesians 5:2), and by fellow believers (John 13:34).

• Being “beloved” anchors us in security as we receive correction or encouragement (Proverbs 27:6).

• The term echoes Peter’s earlier usage—“beloved, I urge you as foreigners and exiles…” (1 Peter 2:11)—showing his consistent pastoral heart.

Peter draws a straight line between 1 Peter and 2 Peter.

• Scripture speaks with unified authority; the same apostle, same Spirit, same audience (2 Peter 1:21;1 Peter 1:1).

• A second letter reinforces that growth is ongoing; no one outgrows the need for God’s Word (Colossians 1:28).

• We see precedent in Paul’s multiple letters to Corinth and Thessalonica—God often uses repetition to deepen truth (2 Corinthians 13:1).

Peter knows we forget. Repetition safeguards truth.

• Moses commanded Israel to “repeat them to your children” (Deuteronomy 6:7).

• Paul said, “To write the same things again is no trouble to me and it is a safeguard for you” (Philippians 3:1).

• Timothy was told, “Remind them of these things” (2 Timothy 2:14).

• God’s Word, therefore, is not merely new information; it is life-giving recall of what we already know but can drift from (Hebrews 2:1).

“Stir” pictures waking someone up or fanning a flame.

• Paul told Timothy, “Fan into flame the gift of God” (2 Timothy 1:6).

•Romans 13:11 urges, “It is already the hour for you to awake from sleep.”

•Hebrews 10:24 calls us to “spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”

Practical applications:

– Shake off spiritual sluggishness.

– Renew earnest expectation of Christ’s return (2 Peter 3:10-12).

– Engage in active obedience, not passive belief (James 1:22).

Peter’s aim is mental clarity grounded in truth.

• “Wholesome” points to purity and sincerity, the opposite of corrupted teaching (Titus 2:1).

•Philippians 4:8 maps the content of such thinking—whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable.

•Romans 12:2 reminds us that transformation begins with a renewed mind.

• Keeping doctrine sound guards against the scoffers Peter addresses later in the chapter (2 Peter 3:3-4).

Cultivating wholesome thinking involves:

– Daily intake of Scripture (Psalm 1:2).

– Filtering every idea through the revealed Word (Acts 17:11).

– Setting the mind on things above, not merely earthly concerns (Colossians 3:2).

Peter’s single verse is packed with pastoral warmth and purpose. He lovingly reminds believers, through a second letter, to wake up and guard their minds with pure, Scripture-shaped thoughts. Repetition is not redundancy; it is God’s gracious means of keeping us alert, anchored, and advancing in Christlikeness until He returns.

(1, 2) Just as the two halves of the first main portion of the Epistle are linked together by some personal remarks respecting his reason for writing this Epistle (2Peter 1:12-15), so the two predictions which formthe second main portion are connected by personal remarks respecting the purpose of both his Epistles.

(1)This second epistle, beloved, I now write.--Rather,This now second epistle I write, beloved; or,This epistle, already a second one--implying that no very long time has elapsed since his first letter, and that this one is addressed to pretty much the same circle of readers. There is no indication that the first two chapters are one letter, and that this is the beginning of another, as has been supposed. With this use of "now," or "already," comp.John 21:14.

Pure minds.--The word for "pure" means literally "separated"--according to one derivation, by being sifted; according to another, by being held up to the light. Hence it comes to mean "unsullied." Here it probably means untainted by sensuality or, possibly, deceit. InPhilippians 1:10, the only other place where it occurs in the New Testament, it is translated "sincere." (Comp.1Corinthians 5:8;2Corinthians 1:12;2Corinthians 2:17.) The word for "mind" means "the faculty of moral reflection and moral understanding," which St. Peter, in his First Epistle (2Peter 1:13), tells his readers to brace up and keep ready for constant use. These very two words are found together in a beautiful passage in Plato'sPhaedo,66A. . . .