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2 Peter Chapter Three
© 2000 William R. Cunningham
November 12, 2000
Introduction
Now let’s move onto 2 Peter chapter 3, which will end our study of the Epistle of 2 Peter. Remember that the overall theme of this epistle pertains to false teachers. There were heresies within the church community regarding Jesus Christ and of living a godly life. We now turn our attention to a part of this heresy that dealt with the return of Jesus Christ.
A Reminder
2 Peter 3:1-2 (NKJV) Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you 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 Savior,
There are some that believe that Peter did not write this letter. However, the author seems to identify himself clearly as the Apostle Peter. Here he mentions that fact that he has written a previous letter. This may be referring to 1 Peter or another lost letter that he wrote to the same church or region. He says that the purpose of the letter is to stir them up by reminding them of the words of the prophets and the Apostles of Jesus Christ. We must consider that some people were being drawn away by the heresies that were going around in the church community. Therefore there was a need to remind them of the truth that they first heard.
This applies to us as well. We always need to be built up and reminded of the truth that we know. Christianity is not a faith whereby one can coast the rest of his or her life once a certain level of enlightenment has been reached. Christianity requires a life of sanctification, which is a life of continual growth in the things of the Lord Jesus Christ. We never reach a point where we can say that we have arrived. We are always growing.
The Mockers During the Last Days
2 Peter 3:3-4 (NKJV) knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 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 creation."
Scoffers refer to the false teachers that mock the prophecies pertaining to Jesus’ return. These scoffers will live according to their own lusts and they will mock the promise of Jesus’ coming. They are deceived because they assume that Jesus won’t come because nothing has changed over thousands of years.
The Last Days
I thought it would be appropriate to briefly discuss the doctrine of the "last days." A more formal term is eschatology, which deals with the end times. There are many beliefs pertaining to Jesus’ return and the days leading up to that. You will find that people have been looking for the last days since early Christianity. One could conclude that the apostles thought that Jesus Christ might return during their lifetime or soon thereafter. However, almost 2000 years later, Jesus still has not returned. Does this mean that he will not return? On the contrary. It only means that he hasn’t returned yet and that we shouldn’t become complacent since it has been so long (to us).
There are many teachings that try to predict the time of Jesus’ return. These ideas are especially evident in the study of the book of Revelation. However, there is one thing that we must keep in mind, which is shown in Matthew 24:42-44, 1 Thessalonians 5:2, and 2 Peter 3:10. We do not know when Jesus will return and that we therefore should always be prepared for his return. The panacea for this, as we will see, is to simply live a godly life now.
My philosophy about eschatology is that it doesn’t matter. Just be ready. It really doesn’t matter when Jesus Christ is returning. It really doesn’t matter when the last day is. If I’m ready now then it really doesn’t matter. If Jesus were to come right now then I would be ready. If Jesus would come 20 years from now and I’m still living then it doesn’t matter because I’m ready. If Jesus were to come 200 years from now then it really wouldn’t matter because I will most likely be with him already. Do you see my point?
I don’t spend much time in the study of eschatology because to me it doesn’t matter. Jesus even taught us in his parables to be ready. If you are always ready then you are confident that you are living a godly life. If you think that you can do whatever you want to do and then at the last minute repent and be saved, then you are taking a great risk because not only are you totally ignorant of the day Jesus will return, you are also ignorant of the day you will die and therefore lose your chance to repent and be saved. So the bottom line is simply to be ready.
It Happened Before
2 Peter 3:5 through 2 Peter 3:7 (NKJV) For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
The word "perdition" here means "ruin or loss." The false teachers that mock Jesus’ return refuse to remember what happened in the past. The word of God created the earth and sustained it. The same word of God later destroyed the earth with water. The word of God is sustaining the world today but this time for the Day of Judgment and the world will be destroyed by fire.
The Good Guy in the Sky
I think it is appropriate at this time to briefly discuss the wrath of God. We know God to be good, loving, patient, kind, etc. However, we must realize that God is sovereign. He is not a "goodie two shoes." He is the creator of the universe and the giver of all life. He does whatever he wills or purposes to do. It is dangerous to think that that ole great guy in the sky would never harm me or will always see to it that I am safe and sound. Yes he does look out after us but this doesn’t mean that we can do whatever we want and claim the protection of God. We are required to obey him and if we don’t we will have to endure the consequences of our actions.
No Limit in Time
2 Peter 3:8 through 2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV) But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
One day is a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. This is not to be taken as a literal formula. It merely highlights the fact that God is not limited by time. What appears to be a long time to us is an insignificant amount of time to God. Our perception of time is limited whereas God has no limit in time. Time is of no consequence to God because he is eternal. So we may think that it is taking a long time for Jesus to return when in fact to God it is no time at all. Compare the millions of years of the universe’ existence and 2000 years since Christ. Even then the amount of time is insignificant. Now compare 2000 years with eternity! We therefore, can’t objectively comment on God taking so long or not.
Besides, God wants all to be saved and he is giving people time to repent and come to Christ. God looks at things from a completely different perspective then we do. We may be thinking about how bad the world is and how we want all of the pain to end. God is looking at the lost people and giving them an opportunity to be saved.
The fact that God is longsuffering or patient with us demonstrates that he is concerned about our daily lives. He is aware that a day means a lot to us, thanks be to Jesus Christ who walked on the earth. Therefore, God knows our perception of time and is patient with us among other things.
The Day of the Lord
2 Peter 3:10 (NKJV) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
Again we see here that the Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. This means that we really do not know when Jesus will return. Peter says that this day will be accompanied by a great noise at the passing away of the heavens and that the elements will melt from the great heat. Everything will be burned up including the works that are in the earth. This latter statement seems to imply that the fire is more than a physical phenomenon.
Now here again we can try to get bogged down with details as to what is going to happen at the last days and even with the concepts of the tribulation (pre-tribulationists, post-tribulationists, etc.). The fact remains that if you are ready (living a godly life), then it really doesn’t matter. Even in an overall concept it doesn’t matter because we have no control over what God will do and therefore will have to deal with it anyway, if indeed we have to (for those that are with him already during this time). However, the Day of the Lord will be a terrible event to the unsaved.
Signs of the Times
There are many people that try to correlate current events in the world with scripture. For example, this particular verse seems to imply something like a super hydrogen bomb or even greater. However, we would only be speculating needlessly in these efforts. It is unlikely, however, that the coming of the Lord is associated with the devastation that people inflict on themselves. Again, the bottom line is simply to be ready when he does come—whenever that is.
Reason to Live Godly
2 Peter 3:11 through 2 Peter 3:12 (NKJV) Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
These verses are someone complex in their presentation and punctuation. For one thing it is a very long sentence with various tenses of punctuation that can be confusing. However, after reviewing several versions of the Bible and several commentaries, I believe that I understand what Peter is saying here. Let me quote the New Living Translation of the Bible since I think its use of punctuation helps to clarify the text.
2 Peter 3:11 through 2 Peter 3:12 (NLT) Since everything around us is going to melt away, what holy, godly lives you should be living! You should look forward to that day and hurry it along—the day when God will set the heavens on fire and the elements will melt away in the flames.
Some versions use a question mark (?) at the end of verse eleven but didn’t seem to provide a corresponding answer. However, if we look at verse eleven as not being a question but a statement, then I believe the text is more clear and consistent among all of the versions that I reviewed.
Peter says that since everything is going to be destroyed then we should live holy and godly lives. He then goes on to say that we should look forward to that day and hurry it along. This last statement seems to imply that we can control God’s timing in some way. The Greek word used here is also consistent with that thought. This seems to agree with the fact that God is patient with us so we could reasonably say that we have an influence on how long God would wait. As an example, suppose God is waiting for a certain number of people to be saved (not that he is and I don’t believe that he is). Well if through increased evangelistic activity that certain number of people is saved sooner then later then God will move sooner then later.
In any case, we should live godly lives now because we don’t know when the Day of the Lord will come. This day will come suddenly and therefore we should be ready, which we will if we are living a holy and godly life all of the time.
New Heaven and Earth
2 Peter 3:13 (NKJV) Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
Eagerly awaiting the Day of the Lord is not the main concern of Christians pertaining to the last days. Of primary importance is the promise of God of a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness will dwell. The word "heaven" in this context means the sky and by implication it means happiness, power, or eternity. There will come a day when we will dwell in total righteousness with God in the new heaven and the new earth.
This is also consistent with the purpose of the book of Revelation. The book of Revelation was written to give the persecuted Christians hope. We have a hope in that one day, righteousness will reign. We don’t fear the Day of the Lord because God will not judge us. We have hope in the face of all of the evil that exists in the world today.
Be Found in Peace
2 Peter 3:14-15 (NKJV) Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,
Knowing that all of these things will happen and that we have a promise from God of a new heaven and a new earth, we should therefore be diligent to be ready by living a godly life. Be found pure and with a good reputation. Peter also states that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation. What does that mean?
Consider verse fifteen from the NIV, which I believe renders the verse in a way that is easier to grasp.
2 Peter 3:15 (NIV) Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.
In other words, the fact that God is slow to judge the wrong that we do, i.e., our sins, means that we have salvation. If God weren’t slow or patient with us then we would have been judged already. Therefore, the statement that God’s patience means salvation makes more sense. Peter also says that Paul wrote about the same thing in his letters (epistles).
Slandering Paul
2 Peter 3:16 (NKJV) as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.
Paul wrote about the salvation and patience of the Lord in his epistles as well. However, Peter says that some of the things that Paul says are hard to understand. Untaught or unstable people twist the words of Paul, which would result in their own destruction. They also twist the rest of the Scriptures.
This is indeed a profound statement and it shows how important it is to gain understanding. We must consider that Paul was very educated in the Law and he was taught for three years in the things of Christ. Paul was in short an educated man. Some of the things that he wrote were hard to understand by some. However, that may be true of any writer. In any case, there were some that twisted what Paul said to suit their own desires. False teachers would use Paul to confirm their own crooked teachings.
I should also say that the same thing happens today. There are those that misuse the word of God. Teachers take the scriptures out of context to use them to verify something that they want to teach. In particular, many teachers are caught up with the prosperity message so much that they pervert the word of God. There are many scriptures that I am aware of that are taken out of context to support the prosperity message and to get your money. Many slander the entire Bible just as Paul was slandered during the time of 2 Peter and today.
Know the Truth
2 Peter 3:17 through 2 Peter 3:18 (NKJV) You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
Again Peter admonishes the people to beware of these false teachers since they already know the truth. If they don’t stay alert then they risk falling into error just as the false teachers have fallen. Instead, grow in grace and knowledge of Christ, which implies an intimate relationship as opposed to mere accumulation of information about Christ.
Conclusion
The main theme of this epistle is a warning to Christians of the false teachings that exist within the Christian community. Stay on guard. The false teachers will try to pull you away from God, the truth that you know, to follow their ungodly ways. They will teach things that will appeal to your own lusts so that they can satisfy their own lusts. The entire motive of these false prophets is to satisfy their covetousness at your expense.
The false teachers will be judged at the Day of the Lord. They will not get away with the deceit that they perpetuated. So don’t be swayed by them to follow them. Stay with God by staying alert and bound to the truth. The power of God that is within you has given you all that you need to live a godly life. Therefore, since we know that the heaven and the earth will pass away, we should therefore consistently live a godly life. We don’t know when Jesus will come again. Therefore, we should always be ready by living a righteous life.
Know the truth and protect yourself from the false teachers. They exist today as they did during the writing of 2 Peter and during the Old Testament times. They want your money and resources so that they can get all the things that they lust after. They want sex, prestige, power, and wealth all at your expense. So stay true to the truth and guard yourself from the doctrines of the false teachers. Amen.