The Skeptics' Overrated Bible on Peter's letters

as analyzed by Sheila Rangslinger

For an excellent defense of the Petrine authorship of these epistles, see here.

1 Peter

1:2 We are all, according to Peter, predestined to be saved or damned. We have no say in the matter. See here.

1:5,7,20 Peter wrongly believed that he was living in the "last times." Peter rightly believed it. See here.

1:17 Peter says that God respects no one, but other Bible verses say otherwise (Gen.4:4, Ex.2:25, Lev.26:9, 2 Kg.13:23, Ps.138:6). See here.

1:17 Peter says that we will be judged by our works, but Paul disagrees (Rom.3:20, 28, 4:4-6; Gal.2:16; Eph.2:8-9). See here.

2:1 Avoid evil, malice, hypocrisy, and envy. Don't speak badly about others. He likes it.

2:13 In this verse Peter says we should obey "every ordinance of man," but in Acts 5:29 he says "We ought to obey God rather than men." See here.

2:17 According to Peter, kings reign by divine right and everyone, therefore, should "honor the king" and "fear God." Ditto.

2:18 Peter says that all slaves should "be subject to [their] masters with all fear," to the bad and cruel as well as the "good and gentle." but Jesus said we should have no masters except him (Mt.4:10, 23:10). See here and here.

3:1 Peter order all wives to be "in subjection" to their husbands. See this series, NT section.

3:2-6 Wives are to use "chaste conversation, coupled with fear." They are not to braid their hair, wear gold, or put on any "apparel." They are to do these things in imitation of the "holy" women of the Old testament who were "in subjection to their won husbands: even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord." See above -- good advice in this time when such practices were spitting contests.

3:7 In relation to her husband, the wife is "the weaker vessel." Ditto.

3:8-11 Be compassionate and courteous. Don't seek revenge when you are harmed by another. Speak kindly of others. Do good and avoid evil. He likes it.

3:13 Do bad things happen to good people? Yes, except there are no "good people". See also here.

3:15 Peter says that Christians should be ready to explain why they believe what they do. This is a good verse to remember when Christians refuse to debate you. Another good verse to remember is the one about casting pearls before swine.

3:18 Deuteronomy (24:16) says that "every man shall be put to death for his own sin." Yet this verse says that Jesus was killed for our sins. See here.

3:19, 4:6 JW issue, we pass.

3:20 God drowned drowned [sic] everyone on earth except for Noah and his family. Mere agrument by outrage.

3:21-22 Jesus is supposed to be sitting on "the right hand of God." But how can this be if Jesus is God? See here for a more sophisticated Trinitarianism.

4:7, 13 Peter mistakenly believes that "the end of all things is at hand." See above.

4:19 Be hospitable to one another without grudging. He likes it.

4:15 Don't murder, steal, do evil things, or interfere needlessly in the lives of others. I wish Christians would follow Peter's advice here, especially the "busybody" part, and stay out of the beliefs and sex lives of nonchristians. Also stay out of all those lives of those who practice bestiality, etc. None of your business. Busybodies in Peter's day were not concerned with real moral issues, but we can sure see where SAB's priorities lie.

4:17-18 Things may get rough for Christians, but it will really be hell for nonbelievers. Outrage.

4:19 God wants some people to suffer. I don't see the word "wants" anywhere.

5:4 Peter believes that Jesus will return soon. See above.

5:8 This verse says that the devil is free to roam about wherever he pleases. But 2 Pet.2:4 and Jude 6 say that the devil is chained down and cannot move. The latter two verses do not name Satan, they refer to angels who sinned.

2 Peter -- see link atop re authorship

1:1 Although this epistle claims to have been written by Peter, Peter was probably not the author. (See introduction.) See above.
2:1-3 The basic message of Christianity is "believe or be damned" and from this flows intolerance toward all non-Christians. But, as these verses show, Christian intolerance is often directed toward believers as well. Each group of Christians accuses the others of being "false teachers" of "damnable heresies" who will soon be damned to hell. Oh indeed. Truth is very intolerant. If SAB thinks not let him ignore the instructions the next time he assembles an electrical appliance. BZZT! "Why, those intolerant instructions..."
2:4 This verse says that the devil is chained down and cannot move, but 1 Pet.5:8 says he is free to roam about wherever he pleases. See above.
2:5 God drowned everyone on earth except for Noah [the first drunken "preacher of righteousness" (see Gen.9:20)] and his family. Still outrage. And Noah got drunk AFTER all of that. Eh?
2:8 This verse describes Lot, who in Gen.19:8 offers his two virgin daughters to a crowd of angel rapers and later (19:30-38) impregnates them, as a "righteous man." But according to many Bible verses, there never has been a righteous man. See here.
2:9 God knows how to punish those that "despise government." Yes, and what?
2:16 The author actually believes the story in Numbers (22:28-30) about the talking ass. SAB actually doesn't offer an argument.
2:20-21 Is it possible to fall from grace? See here.
2:22 Those who lose their faith are like dogs that eat their own vomit. Yes, and what? SAB still queasy about metaphors?
3:4 Peter is aware of the failed expectations of early believers. He knows that Jesus, who was to come soon, didn't come at all. many have begun to ask, "Where is the promise of his coming?" He tries to cover for Jesus by claiming that "one day with the Lord is as a thousand years." See above.
3:6 God drowned everyone on earth except for Noah and his family. Still outrage, not rational argument.
3:7 God will set the entire earth on fire so that he can burn non-believers to death. Outrage, but it does happen to be metaphorical.
3:9 This verse claims that God wants everyone to be saved, but other verses say otherwise. See here.
3:10 When Jesus finally does come, the heavens will "pass away with a great noise" and the earth will "be burnt up." But elsewhere the Bible says the earth will last forever. See here.
3:13 There will be "a new earth," but Ecclesiastes (1:4, 9) says that the "earth abideth forever," and "there is no new thing under the sun." Ditto.
3:16 Paul's epistles are hard to understand. And that those who try to understand them, as with the other scriptures, do so "unto their own destruction." Yes, and what's the problem?