2 Peter 3 Study
God’s Promise Is Not Slack – Where is His Coming???
3 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2 that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of [a]us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, 3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and [b]perdition of ungodly men.
8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward [c]us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
The Day of the Lord – Purified by Waiting
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 melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be [d]burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
Be Steadfast – The Truth about Apostolic Teaching
14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.
17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 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.
Notes 2 Peter 3 Study – (v. 4, v. 9, vv. 10-12, v. 13, v. 16, vv. 17-18)
3:4: “It is clear to all who love His coming that the mind must be controlled rather moderately in this conjecture … We must surmise neither that the aforesaid day of the Lord is near and will come quiet quickly, nor again that is coming too slowly … But we should be diligent in seeing to this alone: that whether it comes sooner or later, it may find us ready when it does come” … - (Bede) – St. Bede – The venerable Bede …
3:9: These words are not just for false teachers, but for us all … We are granted more time primarily to grant us fuller repentance … (see – v. 15; and 2 Corinthians 7:9-10) …
2 Corinthians 7:9-10
Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
3:10-12: Because this world will pass away, we ought to be holy – (v. 11) and godly, living as citizens of the new heaven and earth … Christians can hasten the coming of that day … How??? Through evangelism – (Matthew 24:14; Mark 13:10), prayer – (especially the Lord’s Prayer, “Thy Kingdom come”), holy living – (1Peter 2:12), and repentance and obedience – (Acts 3:19-21) …
Matthew 24:14
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
Mark 13:10
And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations.
1Peter 2:12
having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Acts 3:19-21
19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that He may send [a]Jesus Christ, who was [b]preached to you before, 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since [c]the world began.
3:13: Not other heavens and earth, but the same ones transfigured for the better … For a beautiful prophetic description of the new heaven and earth, see – Revelation 21-22 and Isaiah 65:17-25 …
Isaiah 65:17-25
The Glorious New Creation
17 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or [a]come to mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, And her people a joy. 19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem, And joy in My people; The voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, Nor the voice of crying.
20 “No more shall an infant from there live but a few days, Nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days; For the child shall die one hundred years old, But the sinner being one hundred years old shall be accursed. 21 They shall build houses and inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 They shall not build and another inhabit; They shall not plant and another eat; For as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of My people, And My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They shall not labor in vain, Nor bring forth children for trouble; For they shall be the descendants of the blessed of the Lord, And their offspring with them.
24 “It shall come to pass That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, The lion shall eat straw like the ox, And dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain,” Says the Lord.
3:15: Longsuffering can be salvation only if our salvation in Christ includes a lifelong process of maturing …
3:16: The author knows of a collection of Paul’s letters and regards it as equal in authority to Scripture, that is, to the OT … This is the first indication of the collection of an NT canon …
3:17-18: The danger of deception is high for everyone … The defense against deception is to stay connected to the true apostles – (v .17) and to their doctrines, which encourage our growth in the KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD … JESUS CHRIST – (v. 18) …
2 Timothy 2:3
You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ …
Faithful ministry requires discipline along with obedience, self- denial, and struggle – There is no victory without sacrifice and afflictions …
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