2 PETER - CHAPTER 3; The Day of the Lord
Verses 1-2
Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. 2 I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.
Commentary
Verses 1-2
Peter is on good terms with his audience. He quickly addresses them as "Dear friends." He reminds them that this is his second letter to them. He explains that he wrote both letters as reminders to stimulate them to wholesome thinking as well as recalling the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets, and the commands given by Jesus through their apostles.
Verses 3-7
3 Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
Commentary
Verses 3-7
With the introduction out of the way in Verses 1-2, Peter jumps right in and says, "Above all..." He reminds his readers and listeners what will happen in the last days. He brings back to their memories about what happened concerning the great flood after Noah built the ark. He says the world will not be destroyed by water again but by fire.
Verses 8-13
8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
Commentary
Verses 8-13
Peter reminds uses that direct address "dear friends" again. He says the "one thing" they are not to forget. Then he says what we have heard so often: "a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day." Peter uses a simile to say the day of the Lord will come "like a thief." He explains what will happen as we look forward to the day of the Lord.
Verses 14-16
14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15 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. 16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
Commentary
Verses 14-16
There is that friendly direct address again. Peter gives instructions for the last days. He even mentions Paul and some of the things Paul wrote in his 13 books of the New Testament.
Verses 17-18
17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
Commentary
Verses 17-18
Peter ends this chapter and this second letter with his final "Therefore" and his final direct address: "dear friends." He reminds his audience that they have been forewarned. He restates some instructions he has given them previously. These last two verses are really a prayer. We know that because it ends with a doxology and the word "Amen."
|
|
