2 Peter 1:16–21 is part of the apostolic testimony and false teachers
section of the letter. This section can be further subdivided as follows:1
- Body middle: the apostolic testimony and the false teachers (2 Peter 1:12 – 2:22)
1. A call to remember (2 Peter 1:12–21)
a. The occasion of remembrance: Peter’s farewell (2 Peter 1:12–15)
b. The content of remembrance (2 Peter 1:16–21)
Where 2 Peter 1:12–15 focused on the need to remember what has been taught, the next verses focus on the content to be remembered: the return of Jesus Christ. In particular the apostle Peter wants to make it clear that Jesus' return is certain and based on two facts: Old Testament prophecy and New Testament experience. Peter needs to emphasize the certainty of Christ’s return because this was the one doctrine which the false teachers were denying. They claimed that the teaching about future judgment was a made-up story meant to scare people into obedience.
16 Ce n'est pas, en effet, en suivant des fables habilement conçues, que nous vous avons fait connaître la puissance et l'avènement de notre Seigneur Jésus-Christ, mais c'est comme ayant vu sa majesté de nos propres yeux.