Bible Commentaries
2 Peter 3

Introduction

ANALYSIS.

The object I had in writing this letter is to stir you up, that you may keep in mind the words of the prophets about the reign of Christ, and the commandment we apostles of Jesus Christ have given you.

One thing I desire you to know in the outset is that scoffers will come in the last days, who will object to our gospel and teachings. They will say, among other things, that we claim the second coming of Christ is near at hand, and they claim there is no sign of his coming. They will say that all things are just as they were from the beginning. In this they are mistaken, for the world as it was at the first was destroyed by water. Besides, their claim of delay is without foundation. They make a mistake in this. God does not measure time as man measures it Days and years are alike to him in the accomplishment of his purposes. He is not slack, but is long-suffering, that men may have opportunities for repentance, and is not willing that any should perish. Be assured, however, the day of judgment will come, and just as unexpectedly as comes a thief to steal. At that time the heavens will disappear, making a great noise. Everything will melt with a great heat, and the earth and everything in it will be burned up. Knowing that these things are certain, you should be holy and pure in all your acts toward God and man. We, however, have the promise of a new heaven and a new earth; not wicked like the present, but one in which right-doing only will exist. Looking for this new heaven and new earth, I urge you, beloved brethren, to be earnest and careful, that when the Lord comes he will find you in peace and blameless. Paul also spoke of these things, and while he wrote some sentences hard to comprehend, the unlearned and those who are not sound in the faith only will wrest them to their hurt. I urge you to beware, and not to be led away by the bad acts of the false teachers or wicked persons, and you fall from your stability in the faith, but, contrariwise, grow in Christian character and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him we both ascribe the honor of this salvation, and forever.

Verse 1

The expression contained in this verse not only shows that Peter is the author of the present letter and of one formerly written, but also that both letters were written to the same individuals.

In both of which I stir up.

The subject the apostle had in writing both of his letters was that he might therein exhort them to live a holy life. Their minds being pure, that is, honest and sincere, having these things called to their remembrance by apostolic earnestness and anxiety for their good, could have nothing but a salutary effect.

Verse 2

One object in writing to them was that they might ever keep before their minds the words of the holy prophets and the imperative injunctions given by those that were chosen by the Lord and Savior as his apostles, who were by that selection made his witnesses and ambassadors to the world of mankind. Keeping these words and teachings in memory, the apostle feared not their holy living.

Verse 3

Among other things, remember that both prophets and apostles have told you that in the last days of Judaism scoffers will appear. These, walking after their own passions, deride, ridicule and attempt to make sport of the doctrine of the cross, and the teaching therewith connected.

Verse 4

Among other things, you Christians proclaim the coming of the Lord, and they scoffingly ask where is the fulfillment of that promise ; for, say these scoffers, since the fathers died everything remains just as it was from the very first beginning of time. Your Lord promised to come again and reward you, his followers. So you have taught, and so you still insist. Now, we ask confidently, where is the promise of the coming of your Lord ?

Verse 5

In thus speaking they exhibit a willing ignorance of God's word, and of his dealing with the world in the past. They claim for the earth stability and permanence, and deride the idea of its destruction, whereas, if they were properly informed, they would know that the heavens, or aerial atmosphere, existed anciently, and that at that time the earth was standing out of and in water.

Verse 6

By the water that surrounded the earth, the earth as it was of old was overflowed and destroyed. The apostle here refers to the destruction of the world by a flood of water in the days of Noah. This destruction is a refutation of the claim of stability beng attached to the earth, so confidently assumed by these scoffers. The weakness of their argument at once becomes apparent.

Verse 7

The world as it has existed since the flood by the word of the living God the same Word which destroyed the old world is now kept reserved for destruction, not by water, however, for God said he would not so again destroy it, but by fire. This destruction by fire will occur at the day of judgment, at which time perdition will overwhelm ungodly men.

Verse 8

The scoffers urge the stability of the earth because of God's delay in destroying it. When you reflect that God has eternity in which to execute his purposes, you will at once perceive that with him duration is nothing. Day and year are the same with him.

Verse 9

What God has said, or what he has promised to do as to the time in which he will accomplish, the same must not be measured as men measure time. His delay simply evinces his long-suffering extended to men, giving thereby time for repentance. His delay shows his love for man, and his unwillingness that any should perish.

Verse 10

The day of the Lord's coming is certain, and when it comes it will be as unexpected as the coming of one to steal.

In the which the heavens shall pass away.

At that day the heavens, being set on fire, are taken away with a great noise, and the elements of which they are composed are melted into liquid by fire, and thereby the earth and all the works, both of God and man, therein shall be consumed. This is a fearful statement. We take it as a fact to be however, and refrain from any reasoning thereon. God has spoken.

Verse 11

This is an interrogatory propounded to the brethren. All these things being sure to occur, what kind of persons ought we to be? The answer is plain. Pure and holy in all conduct toward men, and a walking before God blameless.

Verse 12

We should act here as if we were expecting and earnestly desiring the coming of that day appointed of God for the burning up of the heavens and the earth, when the end of all things shall come as God has ordained.

Verse 13

God has promised us a new heaven and a new earth after this has been burned up. Unlike those destroyed by fire, in them was evil. In the ones promised only righteous-ness shall exist. This new heaven and new earth we look for.

Verse 14

Since we look for this new heaven and new earth at the coming of Christ, brethren, earnestly endeavor make great exertions to be found by the Master when he comes spot-less and without cause for reproach. Being thus spotless, you will be found of him in peace.

Verse 15

Consider that the delay in the coming of the Lord is his long-suffering with the impenitent, giving them an extension of time in which to secure their salvation.

As our beloved brother Paul.

Here Peter informs us of his knowledge, of some at least, of Paul's epistles. The churches of Galatia, Colosse and Ephesus were in Asia Minor. To these churches Paul had written. Peter evidently had seen these letters, and herein he gives them his apostolic commendation.

Verse 16

The apostle says that Paul spoke in all of his epistles the things in this his epistle announced. From this expression we gather the idea that he had seen other writings of Paul than those addressed to the Christians in Asia Minor.

Some things hard to be understood.

Even at the present day there is not unanimity among writers concerning many things from Paul's pen.

Which they that are unlearned and unstable.

Those that are ignorant and those that are not fixed, but are vacillating in disposition, base false doctrine upon some of Paul's sayings, as they do upon other portions of Scripture, and thus bring upon themselves destruction.

Verse 17

Being forewarned, be on your guard, lest ye be seduced from your steadfastness in the gospel by the errors of these teachers, and are induced to give up the hope you have of eternal life through Christ.

Verse 18

In place of apostatizing, or becoming unstable, grow in stature as Christians, and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and his doctrine, daily. The growth in grace and in knowledge must keep pace with each other. The writer then solemnly ascribes to Christ all the glory, to which every honest and sincere disciple responds. Amen.