Commentary
Text: 2 Peter 3
Context of the book / letter / Gospel: Peter encourages his readers with the promise of Christ’s Second Coming in the midst of their dealing with false teachers.
Main Idea of The Text: The issues that believers face in their present circumstance should not be their focus as they look forward to the hope of the return of Christ.
Exegetical Outline of The Text
I. Jesus Followers Consider the Timing of Christ’s Second Coming -- vv. 1-10. II. Jesus Followers Live Righteously Because of Christ’s Second Coming -- vv. 11-18.
Verse by verse commentary:
1 Dear friends, this is now the second letter I have written to you; in both letters, I want to stir up your sincere understanding by way of reminder.
Peter’s reference to a second letter is not a reference to 1 Peter, but rather to a different letter. The audience of 2 Peter is different than the audience of 1 Peter, so the letters are obviously different (Walls and Anders, 140).
2 so that you recall the words previously spoken by the holy prophets and the command of our Lord and Savior given through your apostles.
Peter encourages his readers to not neglect the words of the Old Testament. Evidently, the false teachers were encouraging his readers to ignore the words of the prophets. Peter continues to encourage them to remember the words of the apostles as well and not allow the false teachers to trick them into thinking the Second Coming would not occur (Walls and Anders, 140).
1 3 Above all, be aware of this: Scoffers will come in the last days scoffing and following their own evil desires, 4 saying, “Where is his ‘coming’ that he promised? Ever since our ancestors fell asleep, all things continue as they have been since the beginning of creation.”
Some things never change. The people of Peter’s day and those living in the current generation make fun of the idea of the Second Coming of Christ. “Scoffer” means, ‘one who makes fun of something.’ People were making fun of the idea of the Second Coming. They still do so today. They are focused on fulfilling their own evil desires. Two characteristics define them: (1) Cynicism; (2) selfishness. These are the people believers must love the most, and point them to Jesus Christ (Walls and Anders, 141).
5 They deliberately overlook this: By the word of God the heavens came into being long ago and the earth was brought about from water and through water. 6 Through these the world of that time perished when it was flooded. 7 By the same word, the present heavens and earth are stored up for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
The false teachers were ignoring the Genesis flood and the story of Noah. With the denial of the Genesis flood, the false teachers refused to acknowledge God’s sovereign hand in human history. The same judgment that fell upon the cynics in the days of Noah would befall them at the Second Coming of Christ (Walls and Anders, 141).
8 Dear friends, don’t overlook this one fact: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.
Peter is saying here that time is not an object with God. He desires that all will come to faith, but He gives everyone a choice, knowing that not all will come to faith. Some will leave God out of their lives. But, He extends His grace as far as He can for as long as possible (Walls and Anders, 141).
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed.
The Bible does not tell us when it will happen, but it will happen when it is least expected. The world will seem to be at peace, and then the Lord will come (cf. 1 Thess. 5:3). People in the Old Testament were warned about “the day of the Lord” and they did not listen. The same will be true here as well. People will not be ready when Christ returns (Walls and Anders, 142; Wiersbe, 465).
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The description of what happens is believed to be some form of atomic energy. The noise which Peter describes here means “a hissing and crackling sound,” as it is rendered in the KJV: “a great noise. The Greek word used here refers to “the whirring of a bird’s wings or the hissing of a snake” (Wiersbe, 465).
Commentators believe the old heaven and old earth are completely destroyed by fire. God does the cleansing, not human warfare. When this happens, the habitation of God will be untouched by the activity. God will make way for a new heavens and a new earth (cf. Rev. 21:1) (Wiersbe, 466).
11 Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness 12 as you wait for the day of God and hasten its coming.[d] Because of that day, the heavens will be dissolved with fire and the elements will melt with heat. 13 But based on his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth,where righteousness dwells.
God’s people should reflect the character of Jesus Christ as they wait for His return. As we live holy lives following after Christ, our character helps to bring it about all the more quickly. Interesting observation from Walls and Anders:
Our life on earth as followers of Christ is not intended to be a passive waiting for the final events of prophecy. It is intended to be a time of active cooperation with God in the salvation of the world. In some mysterious way, not entirely explained by Scripture, as the character of Christians’ lives shines in the culture, it impacts the day of the Lord (Walls and Anders, 143).
Heaven will be “where righteousness dwells.” It is the eternal dwelling place of the believer (Walls and Anders, 143).
14 Therefore, dear friends, while you wait for these things, make every effort to be found without spot or blemish in his sight, at peace.
Peter is not expecting perfection from every believer. However, he is expecting everyone to act like Christ in their conduct of living (Walls and Anders, 143).
3 15 Also, regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our dear brother Paul has written to you according to the wisdom given to him. 16 He speaks about these things in all his letters. There are some matters that are hard to understand. The untaught and unstable will twist them to their own destruction, as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures.
Peter makes reference here to the writings of Paul and assures his readers that his writings carry the same weight as Peter’s. The false teachers are ignoring or twisting Paul’s words to satisfy their sinful desires, and they will do the same thing with the rest of Scripture (Walls and Anders, 143).
17 Therefore, dear friends, since you know this in advance, be on your guard, so that you are not led away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own stable position.
Peter has given his readers fair warning. They must be on their guard so that false teachers will not cause them to stumble. They are to remain grounded in the Word so they are able to stay the course and not be led astray by false teachers (Walls and Anders, 144).
18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.
Peter concludes his letter the way he began by encouraging his audience to grow in their faith. No Christian has ever “arrived” in their walk with the Lord. All believers must press on to the goal of Christlikeness, confident the Lord will finish what He began in their lives (cf. Phil. 1:6) (Walls and Anders, 144).
4 Theological Application:
Teaching Aim and Objectives
In 2 Peter 3, believers are warned about the danger of false teachers and given hope for the future as Peter explores the promise of the Second Coming and the judgment of sin. Believers are encouraged to live righteous lives in light of Christ’s return. Let’s apply the text to our lives as we consider the following objectives:
1. Jesus followers guard themselves against false teachers as they look forward to the Second Coming of Christ. 2. Jesus followers share Christ’s love with the world knowing God is above time as they anticipate the Second Coming of Christ. 3. Jesus followers recognize the coming judgment of the world as they serve until the Second Coming of Christ. 4. Jesus followers strive to grow in their faith as they anticipate the Second Coming of Christ.
Walking Points
1. Jesus followers guard themselves against false teachers as they look forward to the Second Coming of Christ.
Read vv. 1-7. Refer to Matt. 24:4-14.
Many people doubt Jesus will return. But He promised us in His Word that He would do just that. Though we don’t know the exact time, He does give us signs in Scripture of when things will take place. As the time draws closer, we see this more and more.
Think About It: As you look through the verses in Matthew 24, what are the signs of Christ’s coming that you see today? In light of current events, what should your response to be to the hope and promise of Christ’s return?
5 2. Jesus followers share Christ’s love with the world knowing God is above time as they anticipate the Second Coming of Christ.
Read vv. 8-9. Refer to Rom. 10:13-17; Matt. 28:19-20.
The Lord is above time. He is not willing that any should perish, but all should come to a knowledge of Him. But He did not make His creation to be robots. They must make a choice to have Him be Lord of their lives. He knows who will choose His love, but He expects us to share His love with all, for He died for all men. We must share the Good News through the preaching of the Word of God. As believers, we are commanded to share the Gospel with the whole world. We share. God saves.
Think About It: As Jesus followers, we have a responsibility to share Christ with the world. What steps have you taken to share Jesus with lost people this week?
3. Jesus followers recognize the coming judgment of the world as they serve until the Second Coming of Christ.
Read vv. 10-13. See also Rev. 21:1-4.
The Bible promises a new heaven and a new earth. God will make all things new. He will judge the world for its sin and then begin anew. Time is running out for the world as we know it. Christ is coming soon to make all things new.
Think About It: What are you excited the most about heaven and the new Jerusalem? In light of the reality of the day of the Lord, what should your response be to the coming judgment? How will you live in response to Peter’s admonition to “desire the coming of the day of God?”
4. Jesus followers strive to grow in their faith as they anticipate the Second Coming of Christ.
Read vv. 14-18. Refer back to 2 Peter 1:3-11.
Believers must grow in their faith and become more assured of their position in Christ as temptation and trial attack them while they anticipate the coming of Christ. He warns that false teachers might cause them to “trip up” in their faith. They are grounded in the Word. They need to stay there.
6 Think About It: False teachers have been known to entice professing Christians and lead them astray. Peter has already warned his readers once that if they don’t grow in their faith, they could forget they had it. How are you growing in your knowledge of Christ? Are the characteristics of a growing faith evident in your life?
Resources / Articles / Sources:
Anders, Max and David Walls. Holman New Testament Commentary: I and II Peter; I, II, and III John, Jude. Nashville: Broadman and Holman Publishers, 1999.
Wiersbe, Warren W. The Bible Exposition Commentary: Ephesians-Revelation. Colorado Springs: David C. Cook Publishing Company, 2008.
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