2 Peter
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2 Peter 3
2 Peter 3
1This is now, beloved, the second epistle that I write unto you; and in both of them I stir up your sincere mind by putting you in remembrance;
1This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
Commentary · verse 1
2that ye should remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and the commandment of the Lord and Saviour through your apostles:
2That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
Commentary · verse 2
Peter wanted them to remember the words of the holy prophets and the commandments of the Apostles.
3knowing this first, that in the last days mockers shall come with mockery, walking after their own lusts, 4and 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.
3Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
Commentary · verses 3-4
Peter stated prophecy: In the last days there will be scoffers of the promises of God, literally saying that since Jesus had not come back yet, He would not come back.
5For this they wilfully forget, that there were heavens from of old, and an earth compacted out of water and amidst water, by the word of God; 6by which means the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7but 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.
5For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
6Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
Commentary · verses 5-7
The heavens and earth we have now are being "kept in store" and reserved unto judgment. Revelation 21:1 stated the heaven and the earth will pass away, the heaven and earth will dissolve. Peter stated the first judgment (Noah's Flood in Genesis 7) came by water, while this final judgment would come with fire. Throughout the Bible, we have seen that the final judgment was a refiner's fire: everything that was dross would be burned up, while everything that was a precious metal would be purified.
8But forget not this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
8But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
Commentary · verse 8
A day to the Lord is as a thousand years are to us. A thousand years are 365,000 days, so the ratio was not 1000:1, but 365,000:1. One way to look at this was the amount we go through in a thousand years was about the same amount the Lord goes through in one day. The point was that we ought to be patient because God's view was much bigger than ours, He has much more to account for than any one man!
9The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to you-ward, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
9The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Commentary · verse 9
Doctrine: God does not equal out Justice immediately because He is giving everyone enough time to repent because His Will is that none perish and that all would come to repentance.
Doctrines on this passage
10But the day of the Lord will come as a thief; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
10But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Commentary · verse 10
Peter blatantly described the details of Revelation 21:1, the earth and heavens will dissolve with fervent heat. Peter linked these events with the coming of the Lord.
11Seeing that these things are thus all to be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy living and godliness,
11Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
Commentary · verse 11
Peter used a rhetorical question to encourage us to be ready for that day in holy living and godliness.
12looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, by reason of which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
12Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
Commentary · verse 12
Peter stated believers ought to desire that day...
13But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
13Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Commentary · verse 13
Righteousness will dwell in the new heavens and new earth. The Kingdom of God/Jesus only consists of good. Evil will be in the lake of fire.
14Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for these things, give diligence that ye may be found in peace, without spot and blameless in his sight.
14Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
Commentary · verse 14
Paul stated in Ephesians 5:27 the church ought to present itself as a Bride without spot or blemish. Peter stated the same thing for believers.
15And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote unto you; 16as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; wherein are some things hard to be understood, which the ignorant and unstedfast wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
15And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
16As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
Commentary · verses 15-16
Peter was aware that Paul wrote epistles to the people whom Peter was writing: Jews. This may have been what we know as the Book of Hebrews. Peter was aware of other epistles and even said that some of Paul's writings were hard to understand. This was not a reason to not try to understand because the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth.
17Ye therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, beware lest, being carried away with the error of the wicked, ye fall from your own stedfastness.
18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and for ever. Amen.
17Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
18But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Commentary · verses 17-18
If grace meant "unmerited favor," how would I "grow in grace"? I would need to increase the amount of areas in my life where I could be considered "unmerited"! This means I would have to get worse and progressively live unjustly, in order for me to grow in grace!
"Grace" is "the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life." Growing in grace does mean that I increase in my ability to hear God's Voice and allow that Voice to come through in my words/actions.
Commentary · verse 18
Theme of Chapter 3: Peter warned the day of judgment would come with the earth and heavens being dissolved with fire.
This second epistle from Peter was written to the same readers as his first epistle, and for the same purpose: present Doctrine from an emotional perspective in order to exhort believers to suffer well. While it was assumed that Peter wrote this letter also from Babylon, this was not known for sure. Also, the date of this letter could be anywhere between 61 to 65 AD, from one to five years after Peter's first letter. One theme that was different from Peter's first letter was the foretelling of a great apostasy in the last days, which made this letter similar to 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Jude, and Revelation.
Doctrines on this passage
In this verse, the Greek word for "mind" was dianoia. It was composed of two Greek words that meant "the channel through which the Mind/Soul operates"...which is the conscious brain! The word "brain" is a relatively new word and was created more than a thousand years after the New Testament was written. Peter's objective was to stir up their pure conscious brains by helping them remember what to focus on to stay godly, which was the same objective in Peter's first epistle. Peter used this same word very early in his first letter (I Peter 1:13) when he wanted believers to prepare our conscious brain, be sober, and hope (faith) to the end for the grace that will be brought to us at the revelation of Christ in our conscious brain. Peter stated this was the second epistle he wrote to these people, so there was not an epistle in between that we are missing.