Terrance Callan, «The Style of the Second Letter of Peter», Vol. 84 (2003) 202-224

Readers of the Second Letter of Peter have often commented on its style, usually in negative terms. This essay examines the style of 2 Pet more thoroughly than has been done heretofore, using Cicero’s discussion of style, and that of other ancient writers, as a framework. This examination shows that 2 Pet largely conforms to ancient canons of style and should be seen as an example of the grand Asian style. Recognition of this may help readers avoid unthinking assessment of 2 Pet’s style by standards not accepted by its author, and develop greater appreciation of its style in terms of its author’s own aims and standards.

onomatopoeia, periphrasis and epithet²¹. These are examples of Cicero’s third kind of verbal ornamentation.

        Although the author of 2 Pet has used at least ten rare words and four new coinages, he has used at least twenty-seven metaphors as well as a number of other tropes. Thus he is in accord with Cicero’s advice to use metaphor and other tropes more frequently than the other two kinds of verbal embellishment. However, he may use rare words more frequently than Cicero recommends. Watson thinks that the eleven metaphors in 2,13-21 constitute too frequent use of metaphors of the same kind, something condemned by Quintilian (Institutio Oratoria 8.6.14-16)²².

2. Syntax

        Cicero does not specify what constitutes a harsh clash of consonants or hiatus of vowels. Quintilian says that for successive words to end and begin with two long vowels, especially when they are the same, and most especially the vowels ‘o’ and ‘a’, constitutes the worst problem. But he also says that he is not sure whether too little or too much care to avoid hiatus is the worse (Institutio Oratoria 9.4.33-37). Quintilian says that for successive words to end and begin with ‘s’ or ‘x’ is jarring (Institutio Oratoria 9.4.37-38).

        There seems to be little indication that the author of 2 Pet has made any great effort to avoid these problems. In the first 5 verses of the letter, I count 17 instances of hiatus. However, none of these is an instance of successive words ending and beginning with the long vowels ‘o’ or ‘a.’ Likewise the first 5 verses of the letter include no instance of successive words ending and beginning with ‘s’ or ‘x’.

        a) Rhythm

        With regard to rhythm, Cicero approvingly quotes Aristotle as prohibiting frequent use of iamb (short - long) and tribrach (short - short - short) and recommending primary use of the heroic foot, i.e., the dactyl (long - short - short)²³. Aristotle also especially approves