Peter wrote his second epistle shortly before his death. In fact, he told the brethren that “the laying aside of [his] earthly dwelling [was] imminent” (2 Peter 1:14). Though not recorded in the Bible, historical accounts suggest that Peter was crucified in Rome.* Over the next several years, all the apostles would depart from this life, with most of their deaths resulting from persecution. Eventually, these brethren would be without Peter and any of the other apostles.
Today, we also have no living apostles.** Like the brethren at the end of the first century, we live in the world without personal direction from the ones chosen to be the “ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20). We work to teach others without the ones commissioned by the Lord to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15). We carefully study the words they wrote as they revealed “the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:10-16) without the ability to hear them teach or to ask questions to help our understanding.
It might seem as though we are at a disadvantage. For the Christians living in the last part of the first century, the prospect of losing access to the living apostles may have felt the same. However, in this letter written near the end of his life, Peter assured them (and this applies to us as well) that they had everything they needed to serve God and obtain His promises.
Let us notice what Peter said about this just in the verses leading up to his statement about his death being “imminent” (2 Peter 1:14). What would they still have after the time of the apostles? What do we still have?
- Like precious faith – “Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours [like precious faith, KJV], by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:1). The apostles were “eyewitnesses of His majesty” (2 Peter 1:16) and, through help from the Holy Spirit, would testify about Christ (John 15:26-27), even though it meant suffering and dying for their faith because they would not deny the truth they affirmed. And we can believe their testimony as it has been recorded in the Scriptures. This is the foundation for our faith (Romans 10:17). As Jesus said to Thomas when He appeared to him following His resurrection, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed” (John 20:29). The apostles may have seen Jesus, but we can believe in Him just the same.
- Everything pertaining to life and godliness – “Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence” (2 Peter 1:3). We are not lacking anything we need to conduct our lives in a godly manner before the Lord. Peter explained that this was “through the true knowledge of Him who called us,” or, by the revelation of His will. Through the “Scripture” which has been “inspired by God,” we are “adequate [perfect, KJV], equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). While the apostles would be guided by the Holy Spirit “into all the truth” (John 16:13), we can learn, understand, and practice “all the truth” today by following the teachings that were written down by the apostles.
- Fellowship with God – “For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust” (2 Peter 1:4). The word “partakers” denotes one who shares in fellowship. We can enjoy the same fellowship with the Lord as the apostles did. John made this point in his first letter: “What we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3). We continue to enjoy fellowship with Him as we “walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light” (1 John 1:7). This means that we maintain our fellowship with God through obedience to Him, and His word has been revealed so we can know His will and follow it.
- Entrance into the eternal kingdom – “For in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you” (2 Peter 1:11). After describing various characteristics we are to add to our faith (2 Peter 1:5-8), Peter told these brethren to “practice these things” so that they would “never stumble” (2 Peter 1:10). He then said that this was the way to receive their “entrance into the eternal kingdom.” In his first letter, he spoke of the “living hope” we have “through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3). God has promised “an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for [us]” (1 Peter 1:4). If we continue to live by faith, the final “outcome” will be “the salvation of [our] souls” (1 Peter 1:9). Those words are just as true now as they were when Peter first wrote them.
The apostles played a crucial role in the early church. However, Christians living at the end of the first century could still obey God and remain faithful after the apostles were gone. We can do the same today.
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* Quote from Fox’s Book of Martyrs: “Among many other saints, the blessed apostle Peter was condemned to death, and crucified, as some do write, at Rome; albeit some others, and not without cause, do doubt thereof. Hegesippus saith that Nero sought matter against Peter to put him to death; which, when the people perceived, they entreated Peter with much ado that he would fly the city. Peter, through their importunity at length persuaded, prepared himself to avoid. But, coming to the gate, he saw the Lord Christ come to meet him, to whom he, worshipping, said, ‘Lord, whither dost Thou go?’ To whom He answered and said, ‘I am come again to be crucified.’ By this, Peter, perceiving his suffering to be understood, returned into the city. Jerome saith that he was crucified, his head being down and his feet upward, himself so requiring, because he was (he said) unworthy to be crucified after the same form and manner as the Lord was.”
** For more information on this point, see the article “Is Divine Revelation Ongoing Today?”, particularly the section on the apostles.
