2Pe 3:1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
2Pe 3:2 That ye 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 Saviour:
The Old Testament prophets and the apostles spoke of the times they were living in, not the time we are living in.
2Pe 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
2Pe 3:4 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.
Many were saying that they were not living in the last days, many today also say they were not living in the last days. Just as they were wrong in saying so, the people of today are also wrong to say they were not living in the last days.
2Pe 3:5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
2Pe 3:6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
People in Noah’s day also believed they were not living in the last days of their world, but it ended just as God had told Noah it would.
2Pe 3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
‘Heavens and earth which are now’ (to them) is the covenant God made with Abraham and his, the Jews. It came to be represented by the holy temple in Jerusalem, where God and man would meet. That would be the place reserved unto fire on the day of judgment.
2Pe 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
Many take ‘thousand’ to mean a thousand, actually in Greek it means any or an undetermined amount. He was saying it was certain to come, regardless of the fact they did not know the day or hour of his coming.
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the 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.
Again, the holy place where God and man did meet, will be destroyed by fire, putting an end to the world they were living in, the old covenant.
2Pe 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
2Pe 3:12 Looking for and hasting 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?
He repeats again, to reinforce the fact that they should be looking for his coming.
2Pe 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
A new heavens and a new earth, (a new covenant and a new temple) where God will dwell. We are the temple of God living in the new covenant today, or Jesus did not return.
2Pe 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
2Pe 3:15 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;
2Pe 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
Paul had written to them about the same things being spoken by Peter. Yet some, who are unlearned, wrest with scripture. They wrestle because they can not take the scripture for what is says. God, is not the author of confusion.
2Pe 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
If we are to grow in knowledge, we need to understand that scripture is given for all to be able to understand, not just those that are Greek scholars. Study to show thyself approved unto God.
Anyone can understand scripture if they are sincerely interested in learning hermeneutics in reading the bible.
Here are the basics;
1. The Old Testament was written to the Jews.
2. The New Testament was written to the early churches and/or early Christians.
3. It was written for us to understand what was going on in their days, not ours. This seems to be the hardest to see, but it is a fact.
4. Knowing God is more than just knowing he exists. We need to be close enough to have a relationship, the same as it is with any marriage.
2Pe 3:2 That ye 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 Saviour:
The Old Testament prophets and the apostles spoke of the times they were living in, not the time we are living in.
2Pe 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
2Pe 3:4 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.
Many were saying that they were not living in the last days, many today also say they were not living in the last days. Just as they were wrong in saying so, the people of today are also wrong to say they were not living in the last days.
2Pe 3:5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
2Pe 3:6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
People in Noah’s day also believed they were not living in the last days of their world, but it ended just as God had told Noah it would.
2Pe 3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
‘Heavens and earth which are now’ (to them) is the covenant God made with Abraham and his, the Jews. It came to be represented by the holy temple in Jerusalem, where God and man would meet. That would be the place reserved unto fire on the day of judgment.
2Pe 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
Many take ‘thousand’ to mean a thousand, actually in Greek it means any or an undetermined amount. He was saying it was certain to come, regardless of the fact they did not know the day or hour of his coming.
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the 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.
Again, the holy place where God and man did meet, will be destroyed by fire, putting an end to the world they were living in, the old covenant.
2Pe 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
2Pe 3:12 Looking for and hasting 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?
He repeats again, to reinforce the fact that they should be looking for his coming.
2Pe 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
A new heavens and a new earth, (a new covenant and a new temple) where God will dwell. We are the temple of God living in the new covenant today, or Jesus did not return.
2Pe 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
2Pe 3:15 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;
2Pe 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
Paul had written to them about the same things being spoken by Peter. Yet some, who are unlearned, wrest with scripture. They wrestle because they can not take the scripture for what is says. God, is not the author of confusion.
2Pe 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
If we are to grow in knowledge, we need to understand that scripture is given for all to be able to understand, not just those that are Greek scholars. Study to show thyself approved unto God.
Anyone can understand scripture if they are sincerely interested in learning hermeneutics in reading the bible.
Here are the basics;
1. The Old Testament was written to the Jews.
2. The New Testament was written to the early churches and/or early Christians.
3. It was written for us to understand what was going on in their days, not ours. This seems to be the hardest to see, but it is a fact.
4. Knowing God is more than just knowing he exists. We need to be close enough to have a relationship, the same as it is with any marriage.
