2 Peter 3
The Day of The Lord Will Come
Peter turned from a negative warning against false teachers to make a positive declaration of the apostles’ message to help his readers understand why he wrote this letter. His language had been strong and confrontational, but now he spoke with love and encouragement in gentle and endearing terms. - Thomas Constable
False teachers were denying it, but the author wanted to reassure these Christians that a time was coming when God would again intervene in the course of world events. With this in mind, the letter ends with encouragement to continue in faith, obedience, and hope.
Scoffers Will Come
Reminder
Vs. 1 - I want to stir up your sincere understanding by way of reminder
Many of the apostles emphasized the importance of repetition in their epistles. Their aim was not to introduce new doctrine but rather to remind Christians of tested truth.
Prophets and Apostles
Vs. 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.
By placing the messengers of the new covenant on the same level as the messengers of the old covenant, Peter understood the authority of the New Testament, even as it was being formed. - David Guzik
The author expressed concern that these false teachers were denying the teaching of both the prophets and the apostles. Their
Scoffers
Vs. 3-4 - Above all, be aware of this: Scoffers will come in the last days scoffing and following their own evil desires, saying, “Where is his ‘coming’ that he promised?
The author revealed here that one of the concerning messages of these false teachers, whose motives were described in the previous chapter, was that the “day of the Lord” would never happen as promised. In this way, they “scoffed” or mocked the prophecies of scripture.
Last Days
The "last days" Peter referred to here are the days before Jesus Christ’s return. This is the same way other writers of Scripture used the phrase "last days.” - Thomas Constable
2 Timothy 3:1 - But know this: Hard times will come in the last days.
1 John 2:18 - Children, it is the last hour.
Hebrews 1:2 - In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son.
The Lord Does Not Delay
Vs. 9 - The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay
The argument of Peter's opponents was twofold. Their first argument was that the promise had been so long delayed that it was safe to take it that it would never be fulfilled. Their second assertion…was that this was characteristically a stable universe and convulsive upheavals like the Second Coming did not happen in such a universe. - William Barclay
Whatever we might make of Peter’s attempt to read the mind of God on this issue, his main point is that God will not let evil go on forever. There will be an end. - L. Ann Jervis, Professor of New Testament, Wycliffe College
False Teachers’ Arguments
Disturbance - The stable universe will not be disturbed in this way.
Vs. 4 - all things continue as they have been since the beginning of creation
Delay - Jesus’ return had been so delayed that it would likely never happen.
Vs. 4 - Where is his ‘coming’ that he promised?
Author’s Answers
Prototype - The accounts of creation and the flood demonstrate that God has already intervened in the course of history and that He will surely do it again at His promised return.
Vs. 6 - the world of that time perished when it was flooded
Peter’s point is that things on this earth have not always continued the way they are now. The earth was different when God first created it and then it was different again after the flood. Therefore no one should scoff at God’s promise that He will make it different once again, judging it not with water but with fire. - David Guzik
Perspective - God does not experience or interpret time like humans.
Vs. 8 - With the Lord one day is like a thousand years
The author quoted a psalm of Moses to illustrate the vast difference in the divine conception of time.
Psalm 90:4 - For in your sight a thousand years are like yesterday that passes by, like a few hours of the night.
Some people may wonder why there is such a delay before Christ’s return. The answer is that from God’s point of view there is no delay, since he does not view time according to human standards. - Don Fleming
The point is not that time has no meaning for God but rather that His use of time is such that we cannot confine Him to our time schedules. His use of time is extensive, so that He may use a thousand years to do what we might feel should be done in a day, as well as intensive, doing in a day what we might feel could only be done in a thousand years. - Hiebert
Patience - The author believed God’s delay to be merciful, granting more opportunity for repentance.
Vs. 9 - The Lord…is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.
Vs. 15 - Also, regard the patience of our Lord as salvation
If there seems to be a delay from the human point of view, it is because God is waiting as long as possible, so that people might realize the seriousness of their sins and turn from them. - Don Fleming
The Day of the Lord
False teachers were denying it, but the author wanted to reassure these Christians that a time was coming when God would again intervene in the course of world events. The “day of the Lord” was a pervasive theme in prophetic scripture, a future time of deliverance for the repentant and destruction for the rebellious.
Prophecies
Zephaniah 1:14,18 - The great day of the Lord is near, near and rapidly approaching. The whole earth will be consumed by the fire of his jealousy, for he will make a complete, yes, a horrifying end of all the inhabitants of the earth.
The author’s explanation of the total devastation of God’s future global judgment was likely shaped by his understanding of prophecies like Zephaniah’s.
As employed by the prophets, the Day of the Lord is that time when, for His glory and in accordance with His purposes, God intervenes in human affairs in judgment against sin or for the deliverance of His own. - Patterson
What Peter and many of the New Testament writers did was to identify the Old Testament pictures of the Day of the Lord with the New Testament conception of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Peter's picture here of the Second Coming of Jesus is drawn in terms of the Old Testament picture of the Day of the Lord. - William Barclay
Like A Thief
vs. 10 - But the day of the Lord will come like a thief
Jesus had taught His disciples that He would come again at an undisclosed time, that many would not be looking for Him, and that His second advent would initiate this “day” of deliverance and disaster.
Luke 12:40 - the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
1 Thessalonians 5:2 - the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.
Heavens Dissolved
Vs. 7 - By the same word, the present heavens and earth are stored up for fire
Vs. 10 - the heavens will pass away
Vs. 12 - the heavens will be dissolved with fire and the elements will melt with heat.
We do not have a clear description from biblical authors on the exact manner and methods of God’s future global judgment or exactly how the present world will transition to the future one described by Isaiah. Peter, or the author of this letter, seemed to believe that the earth that had once been flooded with water would one day be purified by fire.
This is the only place in the New Testament where the day of the Lord is described in this manner. Peter is clearly of the opinion that what now exists is so badly tainted and stained that God will burn it with such an intensity that nothing will be left. In Peter’s view, all that is will be dissolved. The slate of creation will be wiped completely clean.
This thought is not unique to Peter, although it is unique to the New Testament scriptures. Other Jewish and Greek thinkers of Peter’s day believed there would be a cosmic fire that would destroy all things (e.g., from Qumran, 1 QH iii.29-35; Stoic writers expected a cosmic conflagration).
Peter’s view on the means of getting to the good future does not need to be ours. It was certainly not the view of other early Christians who comprise our canon. Whatever we might make of Peter’s attempt to read the mind of God on this issue, his main point is that God will not let evil go on forever. There will be an end. - L. Ann Jervis, Professor of New Testament, Wycliffe College
New Heaven and Earth
vs. 13 - But based on his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
This “new” creation language comes from the prophet Isaiah. Chapter 65, especially, vividly describes a new earth where God the King will rule the world in righteousness and peace.
Isaiah 65:17 - For I will create new heavens and a new earth; the past events will not be remembered or come to mind.
Isaiah 66:22 - the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, will remain before me”— this is the Lord’s declaration
Be on Your Guard
To the author, the most appropriate response to an understanding of the imminent return of Jesus was vigilance and perseverance in grace and truth. Paul wrote a similar call to engagement in his letter to the Thessalonian church (1 Thessalonians 5), reminding them to watch and wait, to “stay awake” and look for signs.
Growth
Vs. 14 - make every effort to be found without spot or blemish in his sight
Vs. 18 - grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
Faith - Vs. 15 - regard the patience of our Lord as salvation
Guard - Vs. 17 - be on your guard, so that you are not led away by the error of lawless people
The author’s conclusion is a summary of the entire letter. He wrote to remind these believers to continue living in light of the imminent return of Jesus, trusting that, in God’s perfect time, He would surely move again to complete His work in His world.
