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.

following figures of speech in addition to transplacement: homoeoptoton, isocolon, polysyndeton, and reduplication⁴⁸.

        Another somewhat elaborate sentence is found in 2 Pet 1,19-20. The main clause is v. 19a. On this depends a relative clause (v. 19b). A temporal clause (v. 19c) depends on the relative clause, as does a participial phrase (v. 19d-20a). A noun clause (v. 20b) depends on the participial phrase. Like 1,3-7, 1,19-20 consists of four clauses, of which the last is the longest. Once again the sentence is not only grammatically complex, but also exhibits many tropes and figures. In addition to the antonomasia and paronomasia already noted, in this passage we find a striking similitude, likening the prophetic word to a lamp shining in a dark place. We also find a metaphor in which the parousi/a of Jesus is presented as the dawn of day and rising of the morning star. Use of the latter two terms for one reality constitutes hendiadys. This passage also exhibits antithesis⁴⁹.

        After 1,3-7 the most polished sentence in 2 Pet is 2,4-10a. This is another conditional sentence, of which vv. 4-8 form the protasis and vv. 9-10a the apodosis⁵⁰. VV. 4-7 consist of three parallel conditional clauses; the last is followed by a parenthetical explanatory clause in v. 8. The first two conditional clauses, in vv. 4 and 5, each have two main verbs coordinated by a)lla/. The third conditional clause, in vv. 6-7, also has two main verbs coordinated by kai/. The second and third conditional clauses are linked to the first with kai/. In vv. 9-10a two infinitives depend on the main verb; the object of the second infinitive is modified by two participial phrases. If the parenthetical clause in v. 8 is not counted, 2,4-10a consists of four clauses, of which the last is the longest. Each of the four clauses presents an antithesis, something especially appropriate for a period⁵¹. In addition to the tropes, transplacement and paronomasia already noted, this passage exhibits epiphora, homoeoptoton, regressio, polyptoton (4), antithesis (3), adjunction (2), and parenthesis⁵².

        Another elaborate sentence is found in 2,12-14. The subject is ou|toi; the verb is fqarh/sontai. The subject is modified by one participial phrase in v. 12, and by two more in v. 13a. A relative clause