|
| Chapter 3 |
| Bible Text | Notes and Thoughts |
|
1 ¶ This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you, in both of which I stir up your purity of mind by way of remembrance, 2 that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, 3 ¶ knowing this first: that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts 4 and 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." 5 For of this they are willfully ignorant: that by the Word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water, 6 whereby the world as it then was, being overflowed with water, perished. 7 But the heavens and the earth which now are, by the same Word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the Day of Judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 8 ¶ But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing: that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 ¶ The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in 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. 11 ¶ Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy manner of living and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening 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? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14 Therefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless. 15 And 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, 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things. Therein are some things hard to understand, which those who are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures, unto their own destruction. 17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing that ye know these things beforehand, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. 18 But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. |
v1-10 The Scoffers Talking about someone in a laughing, poking fun way. Peter has told us how to identify the false teachers, now he examines their false teaching. One of the doctrines was questioning the return of Jesus, His judgement of the world and the creation of the new glorious kingdom. We must remember that God always keeps His promises. v1-4 God’s Word. God’s Word will never fail, He may be delaying the return of Christ, according to our thinking, but it will happen, it is very close now. Though out the Bible God promised through His messengers, the prophets and then disciples that The Day of the Lord will happen. Isaiah 2:5-22; Isaiah 13:6-16; Dan 12:1. Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. Jeremiah 30:7. The disciples asked Jesus about it, Matt 24-25; Paul talks about it 1 thess 5:1ff; 2 Thess 1-2; and John in Rev 6-19. This false doctrine was also prophesied Acts 20:28-31; 1 Tim 4:1,2; 2 Tim 3:1ff. v4 What is the scoffers argument? "Nothing has happened like it before." "Nothing has changed since the beginning of time." They give a answer based on science, yet we do not know all the answers about the universe yet. v5-7 Peter’s answer to the scoffers. Peter just reminds the reader what has already happened, what God has done, evidence ignored by these scoffers. Peter points out two major events, creation, v5 and Noah’s flood, v6. By the Word of God, earth was created, "God said" Genesis 1:1ff. Noah’s flood was due to the judgement by God. It had never rained before, then there was an believable storm. God promised never to use water as a punishment, next time it would be fire Gen 9:8-17, "reserved unto fire against the Day of Judgment." v7 God is fully in control of the laws of Nature, He can send rain or fire when and how He wants. The Word that created the world and still keeps it operating is at the moment keeping it for a future destruction by fire at the Day of Judgement. v8-10 God has mercy. The scoffers are also looking at God like themselves, as if He has the same abilities as man. To start with time is very different, Peter suggests that as God has always existed and always will, a time of a day means very little to Him, just like "a thousand years as one day." God can carry out a task what can take a million years or one day, just as He chooses, He is not limited by time like we are. God works in time but is not controlled by it. Nether can the scoffers see that by the delay God is giving men and women more chance of turning to Him and accept salvation through Jesus. "God is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish," "Not willing that any should perish," shows that He is working to a plan, because He is God He knows who will seek and accept salvation through Jesus. The Love of God is so great that He wants "all should come to repentance." Consider Rom 11:30-36; 1 Tim 2:3-6. God even waited and made Noah preach as he built the ark before the flood, to give time for Man to turn to Him, 1 Peter 3:20. v10-13 Therefore, when will God carry out His plan? No one knows except God the Father, but it will come without any warning, like a thief breaking into a house. We do not know, but the Bible text tells us what will happen, The heavens, will be dissolved by fire, elements will melt with a great heat. Matt 24:35; Rev 21:1ff. v14 Are you ready? Make sure your at peace with God through the sacrifice of His Son. Decide today. v11-18 How we should be prepared. We know that one day Christ will return, could be today, or one hundred years from now. When ever it is we must be prepared and ready for the return. If we stop being prepared then we could become like the scoffers, "it never will happen," Titus 2:11-15 Luke 12:35-40. v11 Peter asks "what manner of persons ought you to be?" We have escaped the coming Judgement by God so we must live a life which is different to the world, we have a home in heaven, not here on earth. We should be preparing always for that new heaven and earth. v14 We must be always prepared, "found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless," 1 Peter 1:14-16. v15,16 Peter also reminds the readers that Paul and others have written "to be prepared," we should also take the advantage of the delay by God to spread the Gospel at every opportunity. Other writers who are waiting for the Lord’s return. Rom 13:11-14; 2 Cor 5:1-11; Phil 3:13-21; 1 Thess 5:1-11; Titus 2:11-15; 2 Tim 4:6-8; 1 John 2:28 to 3:3. v17 Peter finished with a final warning and blessing from our Lord. |
Easy English Translation
| Back to previous page | Return to Home Page |
| 2 Peter |
| Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 |
| Introduction Page |
