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.

thoroughly by Joseph Waldis⁶⁹. His work is basic to the following discussion.

1. Vocabulary

        They are similar in vocabulary. The inscription does not seem to use as many rare words as does 2 Pet, but it contains more new coinages. Waldis lists six — a))neila/toj in sentences 14 and 25, e))nqro/nisma in sentence 5, e)pi///qusij in sentence 18, i(eroqe/sion in sentences 5 and 17, metadiata/ttw in sentence 23, and proskaqosio/w in sentence 11⁷⁰. To this can be added o))pisqobarh/j in sentence 15 and u((polh///nioj in sentence 19, for a total of eight new coinages. As we have seen above, 2 Pet contains four. The inscription uses somewhat more metaphors than 2 Pet. Waldis lists 33 metaphors in the inscription⁷¹; as we have seen above 2 Pet uses 27. Waldis also identifies the following tropes in the inscription: metonymy (in sentences 7 and 17), hyperbole (in sentence 5), periphrasis⁷² and synecdoche (in sentence 5). As is true of 2 Pet, the most common trope in the inscription, after metaphor, is periphrasis. Waldis notes that this is characteristic of Asian style⁷³.

2. Syntax

        The inscription makes efforts to avoid hiatus⁷⁴; as was noted above, 2 Pet does not seem to do so. In the opening lines of the inscription (i.e., sentences 1-3), hiatus occurs 5 times. In the opening lines of 2 Pet (i.e., 1,1-5) hiatus occurs 17 times.

        a) Rhythm

        The rhythm of the two texts is similar, though there are differences between them. As is true for 2 Pet, the most common foot at the end of