Friday's Orality/Rhetoric Lesson
Picirilli, Robert E. "Allusions to 2 Peter in the Apostolic Fathers." Journal for the Study of the New Testament 33 (1988), 57-83.
Picirilli's study is motivated by the disagreement about the extent to which 2 Peter may have been used in the Fathers. While many scholars considered it unknown, not finding direct quotations, others suggest the presence of allusions. To further the study, Picirilli reviewed the Greek text of the Loeb editions of Church Fathers (Picirilli 1988, 57). He then reviewed a number of articles from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as well as Richard Bauckham's volume from the Word Biblical Commentary series (Picirilli 1988, 58).
Picirilli finds several references to 2 Peter in 1 and 2 Clement, specifically 1 Cl. 7:5-8:5 (Picirilli 1988, 58), 1 Cl. 23:3 and 2 Cl. 11:2 (Picirilli 1988, 59). He also suggests there are some distinctive phrases which coincide: 1 Cl. 9:2, 1 Cl. 35:5, and 2 Cl. 11:2 (Picirilli 1988, 60). 1 Cl. 11:1 uses Lot as an example in a way similar to 2 Peter (Picirilli 1988, 61). 1 Cl. 27:4 may be an allusion to 2 Pe. 3:5-7 (Picirilli 1988, 62). 2 Cl. 16:3 may also reference 2 Pe. 3:10-13 62). 2 Cl. 16:3 makes a clear reference to burning on the last day, possibly a reference to 2 Pe. 3:7 (Picirilli 1988, 63).
Picirilli finds Ignatius Smyrn. 7:2 to suggest 2 Pe. 1:19, Smyrn. 9:1 to suggest 2 Pe. 3:9, Eph. 14:1 to suggest 2 Pe. 1:5-7 (Picirilli 1988, 65-66). Significant is the fact that lists of Christian character begin with πίστις and end with ἀγάπη.
Polycarp does not seem to have a close relation to 2 Peter, though in the Martyrdom 6:2 there is a possible reference to 2 Pe. 1:4 (Picirilli 1988, 67). Other references do not seem to be as strong, though Picirilli finds them at 11:1 and 20:2. The similarity of the brief phrases is not conclusive.
Picirilli considers the Didache, Barnabas, and the Epistle to Diognetus together, but he fids no references to 2 Peter in the Didache or the Epistle to Diognetus (Picirilli 1988, 68). He does tind some possible allusions in the Epistle to Barnabas 5:7 (Picirilli 1988, 68) and 5:4 (Picirilli 1988, 69). The six day creation is referenced in Barn. 15:4, which Picirilli thinks may also refer to 2 Pe. 3:8 (Picirilli 1988, 69).
Picirilli next surveys the Shepherd of Hermas, finding allusions in Vis. 4:3:4 and 3:6:2 (Picirilli 1988, 71). He also finds suggestions in Sim. 9:17:5 and Mand. 4:1:8 and 4:3:1. The description of false prophets in Mand. 11:12 may recall 2 Pe. 2:10 ff (Picirilli 1988, 72).
Picirilli also finds Sim. 8:11:1 to resemble 2 Pe. 3:9 and Vis. 1:3:4 to allude to 2 Pe. 3:5 (Picirilli 1988, 73).
Picirilli concludes that 2 Peter may well be reflected in allusions of the Fathers (Picirilli 1988, 74). He also says it is inappropriate to state dogmatically that there are no allusions. Finally, Picirilli concludes that the authenticity of 2 Peter cannot be debated on the grounds of the Fathers' knowing of it or not (Picirilli 1988, 76).