2 Peter 3

2Pe 3:1-18.

SURENESS OF

CHRIST'S

COMING, AND

ITS

ACCOMPANIMENTS,

DECLARED IN

OPPOSITION TO

SCOFFERS ABOUT TO

ARISE.

GOD'S

LONG

SUFFERING A

MOTIVE TO

REPENTANCE, AS

PAUL'S

EPISTLES

SET

FORTH;

CONCLUDING

EXHORTATION TO

GROWTH IN THE

KNOWLEDGE OF

CHRIST.

1. now--"This now a second Epistle I write." Therefore he had

lately written the former Epistle. The seven Catholic Epistles were

written by James, John, and Jude, shortly before their deaths;

previously, while having the prospect of being still for some time

alive, they felt it less necessary to write [BENGEL].

unto you--The Second Epistle, though more general in its

address, yet included especially the same persons as the First

Epistle was particularly addressed to.

pure--literally, "pure when examined by sunlight"; "sincere."

Adulterated with no error. Opposite to "having the understanding

darkened." ALFORD explains, The mind, will,

and affection, in relation to the outer world, being turned to God [the

Sun of the soul], and not obscured by fleshly and selfish

regards.

remembrance"

(2Pe 1:12, 13).

Ye already know

(2Pe 3:3);

it is only needed that I remind you

(Jude 5).

2. prophets--of the Old Testament.

of us--The oldest manuscripts and Vulgate read, "And of

the commandment of the Lord and Saviour (declared) by

YOUR apostles" (so "apostle of the

Gentiles,"

Ro 11:13)

--the apostles who live among you in the present time, in

contrast to the Old Testament "prophets."

3. Knowing this first--from the word of the apostles.

shall come--Their very scoffing shall confirm the truth

of the prediction.

scoffers--The oldest manuscripts and Vulgate add,

"(scoffers) in (that is, 'with') scoffing." As

Re 14:2,

"harping with harps."

walking after their own lusts--

(2Pe 2:10;

Jude 16, 18).

Their own pleasure is their sole law, unrestrained by reverence for

God.

4. (Compare

Ps 10:11; 73:11.)

Presumptuous skepticism and lawless lust, setting nature and its

so-called laws above the God of nature and revelation, and arguing from

the past continuity of nature's phenomena that there can be no future

interruption to them, was the sin of the antediluvians, and shall be

that of the scoffers in the last days.

Where--implying that it ought to have taken place before this,

if ever it was to take place, but that it never will.

the promise--which you, believers, are so continually looking

for the fulfilment of

(2Pe 3:13).

What becomes of the promise which you talk so much of?

his--Christ's; the subject of prophecy from the earliest

days.

the fathers--to whom the promise was made, and who rested

all their hopes on it.

all things--in the natural world; skeptics look not

beyond this.

as they were--continue as they do; as we see them to

continue. From the time of the promise of Christ's coming as Saviour

and King being given to the fathers, down to the present time, all

things continue, and have continued, as they now are, from "the

beginning of creation." The "scoffers" here are not necessarily

atheists, nor do they maintain that the world existed from eternity.

They are willing to recognize a God, but not the God of

revelation. They reason from seeming delay against the fulfilment

of God's word at all.

5. Refutation of their scoffing from Scripture history.

willingly--wilfully; they do not wish to know. Their

ignorance is voluntary.

they . . . are ignorant of--in contrast to

2Pe 3:8,

"Be not ignorant of this." Literally, in both verses, "This escapes

THEIR notice (sagacious philosophers though they

think themselves)"; "let this not escape YOUR

notice." They obstinately shut their eyes to the Scripture record of

the creation and the deluge; the latter is the very parallel to the

coming judgment by fire, which Jesus mentions, as Peter doubtless

remembered.

[ALFORD].

of old--Greek, "from of old"; from the first beginning of

all things. A confutation of their objection, "all things continue as

they were FROM THE BEGINNING OF CREATION." Before

the flood, the same objection to the possibility of the flood might

have been urged with the same plausibility: The heavens (sky) and earth

have been FROM OF OLD, how unlikely then that they

should not continue so! But, replies Peter, the flood came in

spite of their reasonings; so will the conflagration of the earth come

in spite of the "scoffers" of the last days, changing the whole order

of things (the present "world," or as Greek means, "order"), and

introducing the new heavens and earth

(2Pe 3:13).

earth standing out of--Greek, "consisting of," that is,

"formed out of the water." The waters under the firmament were at

creation gathered together into one place, and the dry land emerged

out of and above, them.

in, &c.--rather, "by means of the water," as a great

instrument (along with fire) in the changes wrought on the

earth's surface to prepare it for man. Held together BY the water. The earth arose out of the water

6. Whereby--Greek, "By which" (plural). By means of

which heavens and earth (in respect to the WATERS which flowed together from both) the

then world perished (that is, in respect to its occupants,

men and animals, and its then existing order: not was

annihilated); for in the flood "the fountains of the great deep

were broken up" from the earth (1) below, and "the windows of

heaven" (2) above "were opened." The earth was deluged by that

water out of which it had originally risen.

7. (Compare

Job 28:5,

end).

which are now--"the postdiluvian visible world." In contrast to

"that then was,"

2Pe 3:6.

the same--Other oldest manuscripts read, "His" (God's).

kept in store--Greek, "treasured up."

reserved--"kept." It is only God's constantly watchful

providence which holds together the present state of things till His

time for ending it.

8. be not ignorant--as those scoffers are

(2Pe 3:5).

Besides the refutation of them

(2Pe 3:5-7)

drawn from the history of the deluge, here he adds another (addressed

more to believers than to the mockers): God's delay in fulfilling His

promise is not, like men's delays, owing to inability or fickleness in

keeping His word, but through "long-suffering."

this one thing--as the consideration of chief importance

(Lu 10:42).

one day . . . thousand years--

(Ps 90:4):

Moses there says, Thy eternity, knowing no distinction between a

thousand years and a day, is the refuge of us creatures

of a day. Peter views God's eternity in relation to the last day: that

day seems to us, short-lived beings, long in coming, but with the

Lord the interval is irrespective of the idea of long or short. His

eternity exceeds all measures of time: to His divine knowledge all

future things are present: His power requires not long delays for the

performance of His work: His long-suffering excludes all impatient

expectation and eager haste, such as we men feel. He is equally blessed

in one day and in a thousand years. He can do the work of a thousand

years in one day: so in

2Pe 3:9

it is said, "He is not slack," that is, "slow": He has always the power

to fulfil His "promise."

thousand years as one day--No delay which occurs is long to God:

as to a man of countless riches, a thousand guineas are as a single

penny. God's œonologe (eternal-ages measurer) differs

wholly from man's horologe (hour-glass). His gnomon

(dial-pointer) shows all the hours at once in the greatest activity and

in perfect repose. To Him the hours pass away, neither more slowly, nor

more quickly, than befits His economy. There is nothing to make Him

need either to hasten or delay the end. The words, "with the Lord"

(Ps 90:4,

"In Thy sight"), silence all man's objections on the ground of his

incapability of understanding this [BENGEL].

9. slack--slow, tardy, late; exceeding the due time, as

though that time were already come.

Heb 10:37,

"will not tarry."

his promise--which the scoffers cavil at.

2Pe 3:4,

"Where is the promise?" It shall be surely fulfilled "according to His

promise"

(2Pe 3:13).

some--the "scoffers."

count--His promise to be the result of "slackness" (tardiness).

long-suffering--waiting until the full number of those appointed

to "salvation"

(2Pe 3:15)

shall be completed.

to us-ward--The oldest manuscripts, Vulgate, Syriac, &c.,

read, "towards YOU."

any--not desiring that any, yea, even that the scoffers, should

perish, which would be the result if He did not give space for

repentance.

come--go and be received to repentance: the Greek

implies there is room for their being received to

repentance (compare Greek,

Mr 2:2;

Joh 8:37).

10. The certainty, suddenness, and concomitant effects, of the

coming of the day of the Lord. FABER argues from

this that the millennium, &c., must precede Christ's literal

coming, not follow it. But "the day of the Lord" comprehends the

whole series of events, beginning with the pre-millennial advent, and

ending with the destruction of the wicked, and final conflagration, and

general judgment (which last intervenes between the conflagration and

the renovation of the earth).

will--emphatical. But (in spite of the mockers, and

notwithstanding the delay) come and be present the day of the

Lord SHALL.

as a thief--Peter remembers and repeats his Lord's image

(Lu 12:39, 41)

used in the conversation in which he took a part; so also Paul

(1Th 5:2)

and John

(Re 3:3; 16:15).

the heavens--which the scoffers say' shall "continue" as they

are

(2Pe 3:4;

Mt 24:35;

Re 21:1).

with a great noise--with a rushing noise, like that of a

whizzing arrow, or the crash of a devouring flame.

elements--the component materials of the world [WAHL]. However, as "the works" in the earth are mentioned

separately from "the earth," so it is likely by "elements," mentioned

after "the heavens," are meant "the works therein," namely, the sun,

moon, and stars (as THEOPHILUS OF ANTIOCH [p. 22, 148, 228]; and JUSTIN MARTYR [Apology,

2.44], use the word "elements"): these, as at creation, so in the

destruction of the world, are mentioned [BENGEL].

But as "elements" is not so used in Scripture Greek, perhaps it

refers to the component materials of "the heavens," including

the heavenly bodies; it clearly belongs to the former clause,

"the heavens," not to the following, "the earth," &c.

melt--be dissolved, as in

2Pe 3:11.

the works . . . therein--of nature and of art.

11. Your duty, seeing that this is so, is to be ever eagerly

expecting the day of God.

then--Some oldest manuscripts substitute "thus" for "then": a

happy refutation of the "thus" of the scoffers,

2Pe 3:4

(English Version, "As they were," Greek, "thus").

shall be--Greek, "are being (in God's appointment,

soon to be fulfilled) dissolved"; the present tense implying the

certainty as though it were actually present.

what manner of men--exclamatory. How watchful, prayerful,

zealous!

to be--not the mere Greek substantive verb of existence

(einai), but (huparchein) denoting a state or

condition in which one is supposed to be [TITTMANN]. What holy men ye ought to be found to be, when

the event comes! This is "the holy commandment" mentioned in

2Pe 3:2.

conversation . . . godliness--Greek, plural:

behaviors (towards men), godlinesses (or pieties

towards God) in their manifold modes of manifestation.

12. hasting unto--with the utmost eagerness desiring

[WAHL], praying for, and contemplating, the coming

Saviour as at hand. The Greek may mean "hastening (that is,

urging onward [ALFORD]) the day of God";

not that God's eternal appointment of the time is changeable, but God

appoints us as instruments of accomplishing those events which

must be first before the day of God can come. By praying for His

coming, furthering the preaching of the Gospel for a witness to all

nations, and bringing in those whom "the long-suffering of God" waits

to save, we hasten the coming of the day of God. The

Greek verb is always in New Testament used as neuter (as

English Version here), not active; but the Septuagint

uses it actively. Christ says, "Surely I come quickly. Amen."

Our part is to speed forward this consummation by

praying, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus"

(Re 22:20).

the coming--Greek, "presence" of a person:

usually, of the Saviour.

the day of God--God has given many myriads of days to

men: one shall be the great "day of God" Himself.

wherein--rather as Greek, "on account of (or owing

to) which" day.

heavens--the upper and lower regions of the sky.

melt--Our igneous rocks show that they were once in a liquid

state.

13. Nevertheless--"But": in contrast to the destructive effects

of the day of God stand its constructive effects. As the flood was the

baptism of the earth, eventuating in a renovated earth, partially

delivered from "the curse," so the baptism with fire shall purify the

earth so as to be the renovated abode of regenerated man, wholly freed

from the curse.

his promise--

(Isa 65:17; 66:22).

The "we" is not emphatical as in English Version.

new heavens--new atmospheric heavens surrounding the renovated

earth.

righteousness--dwelleth in that coming world as its

essential feature, all pollutions having been removed.

14. that ye . . . be found of him--"in His sight"

[ALFORD], at His coming; plainly implying a

personal coming.

without spot--at the coming marriage feast of the Lamb, in

contrast to

2Pe 2:13,

"Spots they are and blemishes while they feast," not having on the

King's pure wedding garment.

blameless--

(1Co 1:8;

Php 1:10;

1Th 3:13; 5:23).

in peace--in all its aspects, towards God, your own consciences,

and your fellow men, and as its consequence eternal blessedness:

"the God of peace" will effect this for you.

15. account . . . the long-suffering . . . is

salvation--is designed for the salvation of those yet to be

gathered into the Church: whereas those scoffers "count it (to be the

result of) slackness" on the Lord's part

(2Pe 3:9).

our beloved brother Paul--a beautiful instance of love and

humility. Peter praises the very Epistles which contain his

condemnation.

according to the wisdom given unto him--adopting Paul's own

language,

1Co 3:10,

"According to the grace of God which is given unto me as

a wise master-builder." Supernatural and inspired wisdom "GIVEN" him, not acquired in human schools of learning.

hath written--Greek aorist, "wrote," as a thing wholly

past: Paul was by this time either dead, or had ceased to

minister to them.

to you--Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians, the same

region as Peter addresses. Compare "in peace,"

2Pe 3:14,

a practical exhibition of which Peter now gives in showing how

perfectly agreeing Paul (who wrote the Epistle to the Galatians)

and he are, notwithstanding the event recorded

(Ga 2:11-14).

Col 3:4

refers to Christ's second coming. The Epistle to the Hebrews,

too (addressed not only to the Palestinian, but also secondarily to the

Hebrew Christians everywhere), may be referred to, as Peter primarily

(though not exclusively) addresses in both Epistles the Hebrew

Christians of the dispersion (see on

1Pe 1:1).

Heb 9:27, 28; 10:25, 37,

"speak of these things"

(2Pe 3:16)

which Peter has been handling, namely, the coming of the day of the

Lord, delayed through His "long-suffering," yet near and sudden.

16. also in all his epistles--

Ro 2:4

is very similar to

2Pe 3:15,

beginning. The Pauline Epistles were by this time become the

common property of all the churches. The "all" seems to imply

they were now completed. The subject of the Lord's coming is handled in

1Th 4:13; 5:11;

compare

2Pe 3:10

with 1Th 5:2.

Still Peter distinguishes Paul's Epistle, or Epistles,

"TO YOU," from "all his (other)

Epistles," showing that certain definite churches, or particular

classes of believers, are meant by "you."

in which--Epistles. The oldest manuscripts read the

feminine relative (hais); not as Received Text (hois),

"in which things."

some things hard to be understood--namely, in reference to

Christ's coming, for example, the statements as to the man of sin and

the apostasy, before Christ's coming. "Paul seemed thereby to delay

Christ's coming to a longer period than the other apostles, whence some

doubted altogether His coming" [BENGEL]. Though

there be some things hard to be understood, there are enough besides,

plain, easy, and sufficient for perfecting the man of God. "There is

scarce anything drawn from the obscure places, but the same in other

places may be found most plain" [AUGUSTINE]. It is

our own prejudice, foolish expectations, and carnal fancies, that make

Scripture difficult [JEREMY TAYLOR].

unlearned--Not those wanting human learning are meant,

but those lacking the learning imparted by the Spirit. The

humanly learned have been often most deficient in spiritual

learning, and have originated many heresies. Compare

2Ti 2:23,

a different Greek word, "unlearned," literally, "untutored."

When religion is studied as a science, nothing is more abstruse; when

studied in order to know our duty and practice it, nothing is easier.

unstable--not yet established in what they have learned; shaken

waiting until God by His Spirit makes them plain in comparing them with

other Scriptures, hastily adopt distorted views.

wrest--strain and twist (properly with a hand screw) what

is straight in itself (for example,

2Ti 2:18).

other scriptures--Paul's Epistles were, therefore, by this time,

recognized in the Church, as "Scripture": a term never applied in any

of the fifty places where it occurs, save to the Old and New Testament

sacred writings. Men in each Church having miraculous discernment of

spirits would have prevented any uninspired writing from being put

on a par with the Old Testament word of God; the apostles' lives also

were providentially prolonged, Paul's and Peter's at least to

thirty-four years after Christ's resurrection, John's to thirty years

later, so that fraud in the canon is out of question. The three first

Gospels and Acts are included in "the other Scriptures," and perhaps

all the New Testament books, save John and Revelation, written later.

unto their own destruction--not through Paul's fault

(2Pe 2:1).

17. Ye--warned by the case of those "unlearned and unstable"

persons

(2Pe 3:16).

knowing . . . before--the event.

led away with--the very term, as Peter remembers, used by Paul

of Barnabas' being "carried," Greek, "led away with" Peter and

the other Jews in their hypocrisy.

wicked--"lawless," as in

2Pe 2:7.

fall from--(grace,

Ga 5:4:

the true source of) "steadfastness" or stability in contrast

with the "unstable"

(2Pe 3:16):

"established"

(2Pe 1:12):

all kindred Greek terms. Compare

Jude 20, 21.

18. grow--Not only do not "fall from"

(2Pe 3:17),

but grow onward: the true secret of not going backward.

Eph 4:15,

"Grow up into Him, the Head, Christ."

grace and . . . knowledge of . . .

Christ--"the grace and knowledge of Christ"

[ALFORD rightly]: the grace of which

Christ is the author, and the knowledge of which

Christ is the object.

for ever--Greek, "to the day of eternity": the day that

has no end: "the day of the Lord," beginning with the Lord's

coming.

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