
Quotes in 2 Peter
2 Peter quotes from the Gospel of Matthew once, and the Old Testament 3 times.
2 Peter 1:17 quoting Matthew 17:5
2 Peter 1:17
‘This is My Son whom I love and of whom I have approved.’
Matthew 17:5
‘This is my beloved Son whom I have approved […]‘
✅ Match
Our comments:
Matthew 17:5 matches, and it probably is quoting Matthew. However, for all we know, it’s possible that 2 Peter wasn’t quoting Matthew itself, but the same source that was used to create Matthew.
2 Peter 2:22 quoting Proverbs 26:11
2 Peter 2:22
‘returned to its vomit’
Proverbs 26:11
Greek Septuagint (our translation):
‘As a dog returns to its vomit; […]‘
✅ Match as a paraphrase
Hebrew Masoretic Text (JPS):
‘As a dog that returneth to his vomit, […]‘
✅ Match as a paraphrase
Dead Sea Scrolls (WEB):
(None of the surviving Dead Sea Scrolls contain this verse.)
Our comments:
Both sources match.
2 Peter 3:8 quoting Psalm 90:4
2 Peter 3:8
‘Don’t overlook the fact that one day to [Jehovah] is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like one day’
Psalm 90:4
Greek Septuagint (our translation):
‘Why, a thousand years in Your eyes, O [Jehovah], Are like yesterday, after they’ve passed… They’re like a watch in the night.’
✅ Matches as a paraphrase
Hebrew Masoretic Text (JPS):
‘For a thousand years in Thy sight, Are but as yesterday when it is past, And as a watch in the night.’
✅ Matches as a paraphrase
Dead Sea Scrolls (WEB):
(None of the surviving Dead Sea Scrolls contain this verse.)
Our comments:
Both the Septuagint and Masoretic Text convey the idea of ‘a thousand years’ being like a short period in God’s sight, which 2 Peter paraphrases and expands into a reciprocal statement.
2 Peter 3:12 quoting Isaiah 34:4
2 Peter 3:12
‘…the skies, burning, will be dissolved, and [their] basic parts will melt.’
Isaiah 34:4
Greek Septuagint (our translation):
‘Then the powers of the heavens will melt; […]‘
✅ Matches the concept, not really a quote
Hebrew Masoretic Text (JPS):
‘And all the host of heaven shall moulder away, […]‘
✅ Matches the concept, not really a quote
Dead Sea Scrolls (WEB):
‘And all of the army of the sky will be dissolved fade away.’ — Scroll 1Q Isaiah A
✅ Matches the concept, not really a quote
Our comments:
All sources differ significantly from the wording in 2 Peter. It’s probably because it’s not really a quote or even a paraphrase, more of a reference to the same ideas found in Isaiah. So yes, the central idea matches, but it’s not really a quote.
Quotes Index
- Matthew (27)
- Mark (13)
- Luke (16)
- John (11)
- Acts (34)
- Romans (62)
- 1 Corinthians (17)
- 2 Corinthians (11)
- Galatians (11)
- Ephesians (3)
- Philippians (1)
- Colossians (0)
- 1 Thessalonians (0)
- 2 Thessalonians (0)
- 1 Timothy (1)
- 2 Timothy (2)
- Titus (1)
- Philemon (0)
- Hebrews (30)
- James (4)
- 1 Peter (10)
- 2 Peter (4)
- 1 John (0)
- 2 John (0)
- 3 John (0)
- Jude (1)
- Revelation (7)