1. The Author of the Epistle is Saint Peter.
The author of the Epistle is Πέτρος, Ἀπόστολος Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, Peter, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, 1 Peter 1:1. Jerome describes him in this way in his de Viris Illustribus: Peter, son of Jonas,[1] brother of the Apostle Andrew,[2] born in the village of Bethsaida[3] in the province of Galilee, which is near the lake of Gennesaret, who was at first called Bar-Jona.[4] Simon Bar-Jona, first called son of the dove, after the confession put forth with resolute courage,[5] obtained anew the name of Peter, or כיפא/Cephas,[6] on account of his constancy and fortitude. That is, he was Πέτρος/Peter, a living stone built upon a living stone, or Christ the petra/rock, and vivified by Him. For, Christ is the Πέτρα/Petra, 1 Corinthians 10:4,[7]the stone laid, the precious corner stone of an altogether sure foundation, Isaiah 28:16. He was an Apostle of Jesus Christ, his rock, foundation, stone, which he confessed.
[1] See John 21:15, 17. [2] See Matthew 4:18; 10:2; Luke 6:14. [3] See John 1:44. [4] See Matthew 16:17. [5] Matthew 16:15-19: “He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter (σὺ εἶ Πέτρος), and upon this rock (καὶ ἐπὶ ταύτῃ τῇ πέτρᾳ; note the change in gender) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” [6] See John 1:42; 1 Corinthians 1:12; 3:22; Galatians 2:9. [7] 1 Corinthians 10:4: “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock (πνευματικῆς—πέτρας) that followed them: and that Rock was Christ (ἡ δὲ πέτρα ἦν ὁ Χριστός).”
Dr. Dilday's Lecture: "2 Peter through Jude"