Commentary—2 Peter, Chapter 3 Series

Tom Lowe

5/6/2021

COMMENTARY—2 Peter, Chapter 3

Note: All Scripture has been copied from the

King James Bible unless noted otherwise.

Commentary

TEXT, 2 PETER, CHAPTER 3 (KJV)

Christ’s Coming Judgment

1This way of remembrance: second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by 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: knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

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. 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.

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. 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.

The Day of the Lord

(Zephaniah 1:7-18; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11)

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.

11Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 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? 13Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Final Exhortations

14Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 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. 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.

INTRODUCTION

THE DAY OF THE LORD IS COMING.

The previous chapter dealt with denouncing false teachers. This chapter returns to the faithful believers, offering them love and encouragement to remember God’s words to them (3:1-2), to remember God’s timing is different from their expectation so that they could counter the scoffers (3:8), to be faithful (3:14), and to stay away from false teaching (3:17).

COMMENTARY

1. This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:

Peter’s purpose was to remind the believers that their lives should be characterized by wholesome thinking (meaning sincerity and purity of understanding). Plato had used these verses to refer to pure reason uncontaminated by the senses. The thinking and intentions of God’s people must be able to stand up under scrutiny and not be led astray by immoral desires. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you” (Phil. 4:8-9).

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:

Peter tells the “FALSE TEACHERS” “that ye may be MINDFUL of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets,” especially those false teachers, who were causing him trouble, with their lies and false doctrine. Paul assures us that in this, we are guaranteed the valuable help of the Holy Spirit of God (1 Cor. 2:10-16). He indicates that we should get to work on what we store in our minds. He was constantly ENCOURAGING the younger folks to fill their minds with Holy Scripture—to read it, memorize it, and reflect on it; these were the habits they commanded.