2 Peter 1:14 Meaning: Putting Off the Tent
knowing that the putting off of my tent comes swiftly, even as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.
Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.
knowing that the putting off of my tabernacle cometh swiftly, even as our Lord Jesus Christ signified unto me.
having known that soon is the laying aside of my tabernacle, even as also our Lord Jesus Christ did shew to me,
knowing that the putting off of my tabernacle is speedily [to take place], as also our Lord Jesus Christ has manifested to me;
Meaning in one sentence
What did Peter mean by 'putting off my tent'? Discover the metaphor for death and what Jesus revealed to him about his end.
Context
Peter is writing this second letter near the end of his life. In verse 13 he described his body as a tent he still occupies. Now in verse 14 he looks ahead to when that tent will be taken down.
The phrase 'even as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me' points to a specific moment. In John 21, Jesus told Peter that when he grew old, someone else would lead him where he did not want to go. That was a prophecy of crucifixion. Peter has known for decades how he would die.
Now age has caught up with the prophecy. He feels the time drawing close. His response is not panic but purpose: he writes, he reminds, he makes sure his readers will remember these truths after he is gone.
Key Words
Three Greek words carry the weight here.
First, apothesis means 'putting off', the same word used for taking off a garment. Death does not undo who you are. It sheds something you once wore.
Second, skēnōma means 'tent.' A tent is temporary by design. You do not live in it forever; you camp. Peter calls his body a tent to remind himself and his readers that this life is a journey, not a final destination. Paul uses the same image in 2 Corinthians 5 when he writes about our earthly house being dismantled.
Third, tachinē means 'swift' or 'imminent.' Some commentators take it as nearness in time, Peter is old and death is close. Others read it as suddenness, a violent death arriving quickly. Either way, Peter feels urgency, not dread.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have found different emphases in this verse. Reformed readers, following Calvin, focus on the tent itself: death is a move from a fading shelter to a permanent home, just as Paul describes. Wesleyan and Methodist commentators, such as Adam Clarke, highlight Peter's direct link to Jesus' prophecy in John 21. The calm confidence comes from holding onto Christ's word for decades. Anglican scholars note that the Greek verb behind 'made clear' is in the past tense, pointing to that definite moment on the shore of Galilee.
What all traditions share is the recognition that Peter's knowledge of his coming death did not paralyze him. It freed him to write, teach, and prepare others for the journey ahead.
A common misunderstanding
Living This Out
Peter's calm comes from knowing three things: his life was a temporary tent, his death had been spoken of by Jesus, and he had work to do before he left.
This week, the question is not whether you will die, but how you will live knowing that you will. Peter does not become grim or fatalistic. He becomes purposeful. He writes letters. He reminds people of what matters. He makes sure the truth will outlast him.
What do you need to leave behind? A conversation you keep putting off? A truth someone needs to hear from you? A story of what God has done? Peter used his last days to give away what he had received. You can do that too, whether you have decades or days.
Main takeaway: Death is the swift putting off of a tent, and knowing this from Jesus frees us to spend our days on what will last.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Peter said his body is like a tent. A tent is not a house, you don't live in it forever. One day God will take the tent down and bring you home to be with Jesus. That is not scary because Jesus promised it.
For ages 9, 12
Peter knew he was going to die soon, and he was not afraid. He called his body a 'tent' because just like you do not stay in a tent forever, we do not stay in these bodies forever. Jesus had told Peter years before what kind of death he would face, and Peter trusted Jesus with that. Instead of worrying, Peter used his last days to write down truths that would help people long after he was gone. That is what it looks like to know your tent will be put off: you spend your time on what lasts.
Questions People Ask
What did Jesus make clear to Peter about his death?
In John 21:18-19, Jesus told Peter that when he was old, he would stretch out his hands and be led where he did not want to go. The Gospel writer explains that Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Peter understood this as a prophecy of crucifixion.
Why does Peter call his body a 'tent'?
The Greek word skēnōma means a tent or temporary dwelling. By using this word, Peter emphasizes that the body is not a permanent home. Just as a traveler camps in a tent and moves on, Christians live in their bodies temporarily before entering their eternal home with God.
Does 'swiftly' mean Peter's death was soon or sudden?
The Greek word tachinē can mean either. Some commentators think Peter means death is near because he is old. Others think it refers to the sudden, violent death Jesus predicted. Both readings highlight Peter's urgency and his desire to write before time runs out.
Did Peter receive a new revelation while writing this letter?
Most commentators think not. Peter is referring back to the conversation with Jesus in John 21, which happened decades earlier. He is not getting new information. He is recognizing that his age has brought the prophecy to the point of fulfillment. Jesus said he would die when old, and now he is old.
What does this verse teach Christians about facing death?
Peter models calm acceptance, not fear. He calls death a 'putting off', like removing a garment. The body is temporary, not the person. Knowing this frees Christians to use their remaining time purposefully, passing on truth and love to others, just as Peter wrote this letter while waiting for his own end.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study