2nd Peter Chapter 3

From The Open Bible Project

3:1 This is now, beloved, the second letter that I have written to you; and in both of them I stir up your sincere mind by reminding you;

• (1) The remedy against those wicked enemies, both of true doctrine and holiness, is to be sought for by the continual meditation of the writings of the prophets and apostles.

3:2 that you should remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and the commandments of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior:

3:3 knowing this first, that in the last days mockers will come, walking after their own lusts,

• (2) He vouches the second coming of Christ against the Epicureans by name.
• (a) Monstrous men, who will seem wise by their contempt of God, and wicked boldness.

3:4 and saying, "Where is the promise of his coming? For, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation."

• (3) The reason that these mockers pretend that the course of nature is as it was from the beginning, therefore the world was from everlasting, and shall be forever.

3:5 For this they willfully forget, that there were heavens from of old, and an earth formed out of water and amid water, by the word of God;

• (4) He sets against them the creation of heaven and earth by the word of God, which these men are willingly ignorant of.
• (b) Which appeared, when the waters were gathered together into one place.

3:6 by which means the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished.

• (5) Secondly he sets against them the universal flood, which was the destruction of the whole world.
• (c) For the waters returning into their former place, this world, that is to say, this beauty of the earth which we see, and all living creatures which live upon the earth, perished.

3:7 But the heavens that now are, and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

• (6) Thirdly, he pronounces that it will not be harder for God to burn heaven and earth with fire, in that day which is appointed for the destruction of the wicked (which he will also do) than it was for him in times past to create them only with his word, and afterward to overwhelm them with water.

3:8 But don't forget this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

• (7) The taking away of an objection: in that he seems to desire this judgment for a long time, in respect of us it is true, but not before God, which whom there is no time either long or short.

3:9 The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but is patient with us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

• (8) The Lord will surely come, because he has promised: and neither sooner nor later than he has promised. * (9) A reason why the last day does not come too soon, because God patiently waits until all the elect are brought to repentance, that none of them may perish.

3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.

• (10) A very short description of the last destruction of the world, but in such sort as nothing could be spoken more gravely.
• (d) With the violence of a storm.

3:11 Therefore since all these things will be destroyed like this, what kind of people ought you to be in holy living and godliness,

• (11) An exhortation to purity of life, setting before us that horrible judgment of God, both to bridle our wantonness, and also to comfort us, so that we are found watching and ready to meet him at his coming.

3:12 looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, which will cause the burning heavens to be dissolved, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?

• (e) He requires patience from us, yet such patience as is not slothful.

3:13 But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

• (f) In which heavens.

3:14 Therefore, beloved, seeing that you look for these things, be diligent to be found in peace, without blemish and blameless in his sight.

• (g) that you may try to your benefit, how gently and profitable he is.

3:15 Regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you;

• (12) Paul’s epistles are allowed by the express testimony of Peter.

3:16 as also in all of his letters, speaking in them of these things. In those, there are some things that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unsettled twist, as they also do to the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.

• (13) There are some things that are obscure and dark which the ignorant use to overthrow men who are not established, wrestling the testimony of the scripture for their own destruction. But this is the remedy against such deceit, to labour that we may daily more and more grow up and increase in the knowledge of Christ.

3:17 You therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, beware, lest being carried away with the error of the wicked, you fall from your own steadfastness.

3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.