Bible Commentaries
2 Peter 3

Verse 1

1) “This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto

you." "This second (in order) epistle (agapetoi) “beloved ones" (ede) "at this moment" I write to you.

2) “In both which I stir up your pure minds."

(Greek en ais diegerio) "in (both) which I arouse" (eilikrine) the sincere (dianoian) mind of you.

3) "By way of remembrance." (Greek en hu pomnesei) "by way (of a) reminder". 2 Peter 1:13; 2 Timothy 1:5-6; 2 Timothy 2:14.

Verse 2

1) "That ye may be mindful of the words." (mnesthenai) "to remember" (Greek ton hrematon) the words," sayings, declarations

2) "Which were spoken before by the holy prophets." (Greek proeiremenon) "having been previously spoken," (hupo) "by or under" the holy prophets. Things aforewritten by Holy prophets, men inspired, Peter would have the brethren recall and consider for wisdom and instruction, 2 Peter 1:21.

3) "And of the commandment of us." (Kai tes entoles) “and of the commandment of you" (and us), (John 13:34-35); received from the Lord thru the apostles.

4) "The apostles of the Lord and Saviour." (Greek ton apostolon) "the ones sent from." Lord and (Greek soteros) Saviour or deliverer. Peter wanted the brethren obediently to adhere to the Word of God as written and spoken by prophets and apostles. Judges 1:14; Hebrews 10:36-37.

Verse 3

1) "Knowing this first." (Greek ginoskontes) "knowing or recognizing" (touto proton) "this first in order to rank."

2) "That there shall come." (hoti elusontai) "that will come".

3) "In the last days scoffers." (Greek epi eskaton ton hemeron) "during (the) last of the days" (gentile dispensation) (Greek empaikai) "mockers, deriders" (Greek empoigmone) "scoffing and deriding" 1 Timothy 4:13; 2 Timothy 3:1; Judges 1:18.

4) "Walking after their own lusts." (Poreuomenoi) going forth continually, of their own volition" (Greek kata tas idias) "according to their own" (Epithumias) "lusts" of the worldly nature, (auton) of them, 2 Peter 2:10; Judges 1:4; Judges 1:7-8; Judges 1:10; Judges 1:16.

Verse 4

CYNICS AND SCOFFERS AT THE LORD’S RETURN

1) "And saying, Where is the promise of hi coming." (Greek kai legontes) "and asking, deriding," (sarcastically) Greek pou estin he epangelia) "where is the promise." (Greek tes parousias autou); "of the body presence of Him?"

a) This type of sarcasm was mouthed by skeptical Jews who rejected His first coming, Isaiah 5:18-19; Jeremiah 17:15; Ezekiel 12:22; Ezekiel 12:27.

b) It will prevail again before His second visible appearance. Matthew 24:48-51; Luke 12:45-46.

2) "For since the fathers feel asleep " (Greek aph es gar) "For from which" (time or day) (hoi patres ekoimethesan) "the fathers fell asleep," all died in the flood, -- the forerunners of these skeptics.

3) "All things continue as they were." (Greek panta) “ all" (all things) (houtos diamenei) "thus," alike, "continues, remains, or goes on."

4) "From the beginning of creation." (ap arches ktiseos) Are all things now, as they were, prior to the flood, from creation? The answer is "no". False prophets and teachers will keep on lying, exaggerating, casting aspersions, cynical remarks, regarding the supernatural revelations about the personal return of the Lord, until He returns. The wise, children of light, will recognize such persons and their false blasphemies. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-9; But none of the wicked, religious or irreligious, shall understand. Daniel 12:10; John 7:17; John 8:47.

SCOFFERS

Voltaire spoke of the Bible as a short lived book. He said that within a hundred years it would pass from common use. Not many people read Voltaire today, but his house has been packed with Bibles as a depot of a Bible society.

--Bruce Barton

Verse 5

1) "For this they willingly are ignorant of." (Greek lanthanei gar) "For is concealed" (from) (autous) "them" (Greek touto thelontas) this kind of “willing, blinded claim" that no change has come in all things of the earth since creation, and

2) "That by the word of God the heavens were of old." (Greek hoti ouranoi kai ge esan ekpalai) "that heavens and earth were (existed) of old" (Greek to tou theou logo) "by means of the Word of God." Hebrews 11:3.

3) "And the earth standing out of the water and in the water." (Kai ge eks hudatos) "and earth jetting out of water", (Kai di hudatos sunestosa) having been through water (also) held together, into one place or piece -- the earth was not even divided or separated into continents until after, and as a consequence of, the judgment flood, Genesis 10:25.

Verse 6

1) "Whereby the world that then was." (di on ho tote kosmos) "through which things (flood judgments) "the then world order," that had corrupted all God’s ways, orders, or course of conduct, Genesis 6:10-13.

2) "Being overflowed with water, perished:" (Greek hudati kataklustheis apoleto) "by water being inundated perished" or was brought to great ruin, Genesis 7:11; Genesis 7:21; Genesis 7:23; 2 Peter 2:5.

Verse 7

1) "But the heavens and the earth which are now." (Greek oi de nun ouranoi kai he ge) undestroyed heavens and earth.

2) "By the same word." (to auto logo) "by means, power, or instrument of the same Word" that spoke the heavens and earth into existence, and later spoke flood judgment upon them. Genesis 1:6; Genesis 1:9; Hebrews 11:3; Hebrews 11:7.

3) "Are kept in store." (Greek tethesaurismenoi) “are being held, reserved or kept" with a view in purpose of the keeper, Ecclesiastes 8:11.

4) "Reserved unto fire against the day of judgment." (puri teroumenoi) "For fire they are being held together, reserved" (eis hameran kriseos) “with reference or relation to a day of judgment, or a crises day," Matthew 24:35; 1 John 4:17; Matthew 10:15.

5) "And perdition of ungodly men." (kai apoleias) and or even unloosing, undoing, or coming-unglued time" (Greek ton asebon anthropon) "of ungodly, or impious, out-of-touch with God, kind of men." This time seems to culminate at the great white throne judgment hour. Revelation 20:9-15.

Verse 8

1) "But, beloved," (Greek de agapetoi) "But beloved ones" -- the unnamed church to which this church letter was addressed.

2) "Be not ignorant of this one thing," (Greek hen touto) "in this one thing or matter" -- the matter of pending, awaiting, or held in abeyance judgment (Greek me lanthaneto humas) "let us not be deceived, or be concealed from it."

3) "That one day is with the Lord." (hoti mia hemera) "that one day" (para kurio "with (the) Lord" (is or exists).

4) "As a thousand years." (hos chilia) “as a thousand" (heta) "years."

5) "And a thousand years as one day." (kai chilia hete) “and a thousand years." (hos hemera mia) "as day one." Peter simply affirms that the Lord in His divinity, being infinite, unlimited, exists without being restricted by time measurements like, watches, calendars, clocks, or hour glasses, Psalms 90:2; Psalms 90:4.

Verse 9

1) "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise." (Green ou bradunei) "not is slow, or slouchy" (Kurios tes epangelias) "Lord of the promise."

2) "As some men count slackness." (hos tines) "as some (people) Greek braduteta egountai) "tend to deem, count, or calculate slowness or slouchiness," Habakkuk 2:2-3; Hebrews 10:27; Hebrews 10:38.

GOD’S ALL-- SUFFICIENCY

One of Spurgeon’s quaint sayings was: "if there were an ant at the door of your granary begging for help, it wouldn’t ruin you to give him a grain of your wheat. You are but a tiny insect at the door of God’s all-sufficiency."

If a great king should issue an order that your needs should be supplied as long as you might live, you would cease to worry, for here is one who has authority and resources in plenty. How much more should the promises of the King of kings stop our worrying.

His promises are so many bonds that may be cashed in the day of the believer’s need. Our only concern needs to be that our rights to the promises may be cleared up, for it is sad when one stands with the King’s promises in hand and fears to face the Cashier with them.

--Living Links

3) "But is longsuffering to us-ward," (Greek alla makrothumei lis humas) "But is longsuffering or forbearing toward you," the "plural you", persons of His address -- in a restricted sense, His children of church affinity fellowship in the unnamed church addressed, 1 Peter 2:5; 1 Peter 2:9; 1 Peter 2:17; 1 Peter 5:1; 1 Peter 5:3; 1 Peter 5:13. In contrast with pending judgment on the scoffing unbelievers, God’s goodness is here affirmed as certain for those who hold true to the promise of His coming, Psalms 86:15; Isaiah 30:18.

4) "Not willing that any should perish." (Greek me boulomenos) "not purposing of His own or personal volition or will" (times apolesthai) anyone to perish, Ezekiel 18:23; Ezekiel 18:32; Ezekiel 33:11.

5) "But that all should come to repentance." (Greek all pantes eis metanoian) "but all (men) unto repentance (I will) (Greek choresai) "to come" or "to be coming." God not only wills and purposes that men (all men) come to repentance, but also calls them thru the Word, church, and Spirit, Mark 1:14-15; Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30-31; Romans 2:4-5; 2 Corinthians 7:11; 1 Timothy 2:4.

TWO IMPORTANT WORDS

There are two very important words to notice --"any" and "all". These two words within the context of the whole verse show us God’s attitude towards men and women; they state His intense longing for the salvation of souls. He does not want anyone to perish. His patience and longsuffering prove that whereas He could have cut sinners off He has not done so. This does not mean that no-one will perish; indeed, some will refuse salvation – John 5:40; some will neglect salvation – Hebrews 2:3; some will lose their souls – Mark 8:36; and some will not obey the gospel – 1 Peter 4:17. There will be those who are not saved, but God does not desire this; He longs for the salvation of men and women Ezekiel 18:23; Ezekiel 33:11; Luke 19:41.

GOD WILL NEVER FAIL

."Can the sun forget its rising? Can the stars forget to shine? Can the moon forget its duty? Then can God His will resign.

Can the sea forget to roar? Can the waves cease and be still?

Can the waters stop giving? Then can God forget His will.

Can the skies above be measured? Can the foes of God prevail? Can a man earth’s structure fathom? Then God’s promise can fail."

--Dr. H. H. Savage

God declares in 2 Peter 3:9 that He is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

Verse 10

1) "But the day of the Lord will come." (heksei de) "But will come" (the) (Greek hemera kuriou) "day of (the) Lord," Jehovah, Judges 1:6; Isaiah 2:10-22; Revelation 19:11-21.

2) "As a thief in the night " (hos kleptes) "as a thief or kleptomaniac", (unexpectedly). The phrase “ in the night" is not in the original text, Matthew 24:42; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; Revelation 16:15.

3) "In the which the heavens shall pass away." (en he oi) "In the which (time)" (Greek auranoi pareleusontai) "heavens will pass away -- be dispensed." Psalms 102:25-26.

4) "With a great noise." (Greek hroizedon) "with a rushing sound as cascading floodwaters or a hurricane wind. Isaiah 51:6.

5) "And the elements shall melt." (stoicheia luthesetai) (the) "elements shall be dissolved, disintegrated."

6) "With fervent heat." (de kausoumena) moreover or indeed with consuming heat, burning or flames," Revelation 21:11.

7) "The earth also and the works that are therein." (Kai ge kia) "and even or also the earth" - in addition to the present, defiled heavens, where Satan has entered, now sinfully enters to accuse the brethren before the Advocate, Jesus Christ, Revelation 12:7-12; 1 John 2:1-2. (Greek to en aute erga) “ the in it works," Romans 8:19-22.

8) "Shall be burned." (Greek eurethesetai) "Will be discovered" or "will be with laser-beam-like heat consumed, Matthew 24:35. Because the whole (kosmos) ”world-order" of earth and heaven have been defiled, lie in darkness, they must and shall be purged by fire, 1 John 5:19.

Verse 11

1) "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolve.” (Greek touton houtos) “these things thus or even" (panton luomenon) "all being dissolved, disintegrated," (as above described, to end in laser-beam burning.)

2) "What manner of people ought ye to be" (potapous dei huparcheis) "What sort (of being) it behooves(humas) "you" to be.

3) "In all holy conversation and godliness." (en hagiais anastrophais) "in holy behavior, conduct, or turning from one activity to another" (Kai eusebeiais) and piety." Galatians 5:25.

FAREWELL, VAIN WORLD

David Brainerd, under the date of April 25, 1742, wrote in his journal:

"Farewell, vain world, my soul can bid adieu; Your Saviour taught me to abandon you. Your charms may gratify a sensual mind, But cannot please a soul for God designed.

Forbear to entice, cease then my soul to call; ’Tis fixed through grace -- my God shall be my all. While He thus lets me Heavenly glories view, Your beauties fade; my heart’s no room for you.

--Gospel Herald

LIVINGSTONE’S DEDICATION

When Henry M. Stanley found Livingstone, the great missionary who spent thirty years in darkest Africa, and who had been lost to the world for over two years, he wanted him to come back home to England with him, but Livingstone refused to go. Two days later he wrote in his diary, "March 19th, my birthday. My Jesus, my King, my life my, All, I again dedicate my whole self to Thee. Accept me, and grant, 0 gracious Father, that ere the year is gone I may finish my work. In Jesus’ name, I ask it, Amen". A year later his servants found him on his knees dead. It was said of him:

He needs no epitaph to guard a name

Which men shall prize while worthy work is known: He lived and died for good -- be this his fame;

Let marble crumble: this is Living Stone.

--Hugh T. Kerr, DD

Verse 12

1 ) " Looking for and hasting." (Greek prosdokontas kai speudontas) "awaiting anxiously and hastening on."

2) "Unto the coming of the day of God." (Greek ten parousian) toward "the bodily presence." (tes hameras) "the day" (tou theou) "of the God."

3) "Wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved." (di en) “on account of which" (ouranoi puroumenoi) "the heavens being on fire, burning, set" (Greek luthesontai) "shall be dissolved, disintegrated."

4) "And the elements shall melt." (kai stoicheia) “even the elements," (teketai) “melt"

5) "With fervent heat." (Kausoumena) "with burning fury? In verses 10, 11 Peter both certifies 1) that the total physical destruction of -heaven and earth are to occur at the coming judgment of the day of the Lord and 2) that, believing this, the manner of conduct of every child of God, members of. The church especially, should be devout, conscientious.

Verse 13

1) "Nevertheless we, according to his promise." (de Kata to epangelma) "indeed according to the promise (of Him), John 14:3; Matthew 24:35.

2) "Look for new heavens and a new earth." (Greek prosdokomen) "we await." (Kainous ouranous Kai gen kainen) "new heavens and earth anew." Revelation 21:1.

3) "Wherein dwelleth righteousness." (Greek en ois dikaiosune katoikei) In which righteousness dwells, Revelation 21:27; 1 John 3:7.

Verse 14

1 ) "Wherefore beloved," (dio agapetoi) “wherefore beloved ones.” This affectionate greeting of direct address to a plurality of brethren appears to be to an unnamed church, perhaps intended as a circulatory letter to other fellowships of church brethren.

2) "Seeing that ye look for such things." (Greek tauta prosdokontes) "Watching or looking for these things," the coming judgments of God on earth.

3) "Be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace." (Greek spoudasate) "be ye diligent" (auto eurethenai) "by Him to be found, or confronted" (en erene) "in peace."

4) "Without spot and blameless." (aspiloi) unspotted" (kai amometoi) "and unblemished," 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 1 Corinthians 1:8; 2 Peter 1:10-11.

ASHAMED AT HIS APPEARING

In 1 John 2:28 we read: "And now, little children, abide in Him; that when He shall appear, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming." The original of "not be ashamed" is "not stand disgraced". Many Christians, who are now regarded as fine believers, are going to stand disgraced before the Lord when the secret will be revealed and it will be seen that secretly they indulged in things and practices displeasing to the Saviour who brought them with His own blood.

--The Brethren Missionary Herald

NOT READY FOR THE PRINCE

While the last Prince of Wales was on a visit to the Midlands, he went into a certain workingman’s home. Next day, the workingman told his mates sadly: "I never expected him, nor did my wife. The house was untidy, and I hadn’t washed. We shall never forgive ourselves. If we had known he was coming, we should have been ready for him." The Prince of Peace is coming again, in power, to this earth of ours, and we know not the day or the hour. The one question for all is, "Are we ready to meet Him?"

--Intermediate Young People

Verse 15

1) "And account that the longsuffering of our Lord." (kai egeiothe) "and deem or consider" (Gr. ten makrothumion) "the longsuffering or forbearance" (tou kuriou hemon) "of our Lord".

2) "Is salvation" (soterian) "is salvation or deliverance is." Romans 1:16.

3) "Even as our beloved brother Paul." (Kathos Kai) "Just as indeed" (ho agapetos hemon adelphos) the beloved brother of us," Paul.

4) "Also according to the wisdom given unto him." (sophian) "wisdom" (Greek dotheison) "having been imparted to him," 1 Corinthians 2:6-13.

5) "Wrote to you ." (egrapsen humin) the phrase wrote to you" certifies that Paul had previously written some letter or letters of wisdom to the same beloved brethren, whom Peter addressed in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 1 Peter 1:1. Perhaps at least the books of Galatia and Colosse were among these.

Verse 16

1) "As also in all his epistles." (Greek hos kai) "as even" (en pasais epistolais) "in all his epistles (formal letters).

2) "Speaking in them of these things." (Greek peri touton) “concerning those things" -- scoffings and cynicisms of false prophets and concerning the coming day of the Lord.

3) "In which are some things hard to be understood." (en ais) "In which" (epistles) (Greek tina) "some things" (estin) "is" (are) (Greek dusnoeta) "hard to understand," Romans 8:19-23; 1 Corinthians 15:24; 2 Thessalonians 1:4-10.

4) "Which they are unlearned and unstable wrest," (ha oi amatheis) "that which the unlearned ones" (kai asteriktoi) "and unsteady ones" (Greek streblousin) twist, distort, or turn about."

5) "As they do also the other scriptures." The brethren of the Asia churches Peter addressed twisted the meaning of all Paul’s writings as they did even the other Scriptures (the Old Testament writings), (hos kai tas loipas graphas) "as also the remaining Scriptures." These brethren had failed to "rightly divide" both Paul’s writings and the other holy writings, 2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Peter 1:19-21.

6) "Unto their own destruction." (pros) "to or toward" (Greek tan idian auton apoleian) "Their own (self made) or chosen destruction or ruin." False, lying teachers and prophets, cynics and scoffers at divine truths and moral and ethical values, always twist, distort, or pervert the Holy Scriptures, to their own damnation, because they are unregenerate and have not the Spirit, 1 Corinthians 2:14; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15.

Verse 17

1) "Ye therefore beloved." (humeis oun agapetoi) you therefore beloved ones." Persons of direct address, in the plural, seem unquestionably to be, not the sum total of redeemed in general, but local congregations of believers, unnamed churches in Asia minor, to whom both Paul and Peter had written former letters of instruction.

2) "Seeing that ye know these things before (proginoskontes) "knowing (these things) before" that unsteady Scripture perverters scoffed, derided, and lived ungodly. They knew it before because both Paul and Peter had written to them about such matters, See? 1 Peter 5:8-9; 1 Corinthians 15:9-24.

3) "Beware lest ye also." (Greek phulassesthe hina) "Be ye guarded in order that" or "except that," "be on guard" "so that"

4) "Being led away with the error of the wicked" (sunapachthentes) "being in a captured state or condition" (te plane) "by the error, or delusion" (ton athesmon) of the lawless one".

5) "Fall from your own steadfastness." (ekpesete) “ye should fall from" (tou idiou sterigmou) “your own stability,” or firm stand." God’s beloved ones, addressed by Peter, were yet in and objects of Satan and false teacher’s attacks. Thus they were cautioned, even as our Lord and Paul had cautioned the church, Matthew 7:13-16; Acts 20:28-30.

Verse 18

1) "But grow in grace." (de auksanete) "But (in contrast with falling) grow ye" (Greek en chariti) "in grace," the unmerited favor of God given, Romans 11:6.

2) "And in the knowledge." (kai gnosei) "and knowledge, understanding, or comprehension." John 5:39; Acts 17:11.

3) "Of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." (tou kuriou hemon) "of the Lord or Master of us." Peter made claim to Jesus Christ as his Lord and his (Greek soteros) "savior or deliverer." He thus identified himself in a joint, intimate, spiritual affinity with the beloved Asia minor brethren of his addressed letter, the unnamed churches in Asia.

4) "To him be glory." (auto he dokai) "to Him (is or exists) glory," (self existent) Luke 2:9; Luke 2:14; Luke 2:30-32.

5) "Both now and forever. Amen." (kai nun kai eis) "even now and continuing hereafter into" (hemeran aionos) "a forever day of age," or lasting without cessation -- What glory! Revelation 5:9-13; Ephesians 3:21.

GLORY TO HIS NAME

Down at the cross where my Saviour died, Down where for cleansing from sin I cried, There to my heart was the blood applied; Glory to His name.

I am so wondrously saved from sin, Jesus so sweetly abides within, There at the cross where He took me in; Glory to His name.

Oh, precious fountain that saves from sin, I am so glad I have entered in; There Jesus saves me and keeps me clean; Glory to His name.

Come to this fountain so rich and sweet; Cast thy poor soul at the Savior’s feet; Plunge in today and be made complete; Glory to His name.

Glory to His name, Glory to His name; There to my heart was the blood applied; Glory to His name.