Should the meaning of Greek words affect the interpretation of the passages they are found in?

[Christian Gedge]

Bad argument to make when you don't follow it up with the scriptures you believe describe a complete destruction of "the planet" rather than a complete destruction of the people Peter was saying would be destroyed.

PS. Good to see you brother. Hope you are doing well?

Nice to see you too my pre-mill friend.

Okay, lets go to the man himself! When Jesus was here, he explicitly said the world would come to an end. He was not speaking in hyperbole. Here is his straight forward statement:

“Heaven and earth will pass away” (Matthew 24:35)​

Furthermore, the final end of the world will be more than a surface destruction. It is the complete disintegration of the planet and its solar system! Here is how I believe it will happen in order of events:-

1. Earth shaken out of orbit

“For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be dark at its rising, and the moon will not shed its light … I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken out of its place, at the wrath of the LORD of hosts in the day of his fierce anger.” (Isaiah 13:10,13)​

2. Heavens dissolve and collapse

“Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment.” (Isaiah 51:6)​

3. Stars fall to the earth

“The stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.” (Rev. 6:13,14)​

4. Earth (and solar system) destroyed with fire

“The day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it. (2 Peter 3:10)​

 

[Zao is life]

There Will Be No 1,000 Year Millennial Kingdom Upon This Earth, Jesus Christ Returns In Fire And Final Judgement, Dissolving This Existing Earth By Fire, Immediately After The Tribulation

This Existing Heaven And Earth Will Be (Replaced) By The New Heaven, Earth, Jerusalem, A New Creation, At The Return Of Jesus Christ

(Behold, I Make All Things New)

2 Peter 3:10-13KJV
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.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
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?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Revelation 21:1-5KJV
1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

Matthew 24:29-30KJV
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

1 Corinthians 3:13KJV
13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

Luke 17:29-30KJV
29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

2 Thessalonians 1:7-9KJV
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

Malachi 3:2KJV
2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:

Psalm 46:6KJV
6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

Psalm 50:3KJV
3 Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.

Psalm 97:5KJV
5 The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.

Isaiah 66:15KJV
15 For, behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.

Zechariah 14:12KJV
12 And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.

Nahum 1:5-6KJV
5 The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.
6 Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.

Revelation 20:9KJV
9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

Psalm 46
2 Therefore we will not fear when the earth changes, and when mountains are slipping into the heart of the seas.

Matthew 21
21 Jesus answered and said to them, Truly I say to you, If you have faith and do not doubt, you shall not only do this miracle of the fig tree, but also; if you shall say to this mountain, Be moved and be thrown into the sea; it shall be done.

If you cannot acknowledge the metaphor in scripture, you will remain blinded to it, and then you will misinterpret most of prophecy, which includes 2 Peter 3:10-12, of course.

 

[Zao is life]

How could the works of men be burned up without the burning up of the planet for a thorough cleansing? So Peter is speaking of both, since the planet contains the works of men.

Was Peter speaking about the total destruction of the planet when he spoke about the destruction of ungodly men in the flood? Will the earth be completely destroyed by the fire that destroys ungodly men?

 

[Zao is life]

So, using scripture to interpret scripture we can see that on the day Christ returns all unbelievers will be killed and the heavens and earth will pass away in some way. And the way in which they will pass away is not that they will be annihilated, but rather that they will be burned up and regenerated, resulting in "the new heavens and new earth, where righteousness dwells" that Peter said we are looking forward to in fulfillment of the promise of Christ's second coming (2 Peter 3:13).

So why are you arguing against what I'm saying when what I've said Peter is talking about, is almost no different to what you are saying above?

The burned up part is not what Peter is saying with regard to the universe and the earth though. He is not saying that it will be destroyed, any more than he is saying that the universe and the earth were destroyed by the flood. He's talking about the rudiments of this world and the works of men being burned with fire. That "fire" is not necessarily literal, because there are too many places in scripture where it's a metaphor for the judgment of God.

The heavens and the earth were not destroyed by water. Humans and all flesh was. We are not told that the earth itself will be destroyed by fire. We are told elsewhere that the beast and the enemies of Christ will be destroyed by fire. The context of everything in 2 Peter 3 is 2 Peter 2.

 

[Zao is life]

I Strongly Disagree

The very context of 2 Peter 3:10-13

.. is 2 Peter 2.

 

[Zao is life]

Nice to see you too my pre-mill friend.

Okay, lets go to the man himself! When Jesus was here, he explicitly said the world would come to an end. He was not speaking in hyperbole. Here is his straight forward statement:

“Heaven and earth will pass away” (Matthew 24:35)​

Furthermore, the final end of the world will be more than a surface destruction. It is the complete disintegration of the planet and its solar system! Here is how I believe it will happen in order of events:-

1. Earth shaken out of orbit

“For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be dark at its rising, and the moon will not shed its light … I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken out of its place, at the wrath of the LORD of hosts in the day of his fierce anger.” (Isaiah 13:10,13)​

2. Heavens dissolve and collapse

“Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment.” (Isaiah 51:6)​

3. Stars fall to the earth

“The stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.” (Rev. 6:13,14)​

4. Earth (and solar system) destroyed with fire

“The day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it. (2 Peter 3:10)​

hello Chris

IMO in point #1-4 you are conflating metaphor with literal things, which is a mistake many make. Before Babylon was destroyed, the same things were prophesied to occur when Babylon was destroyed. The stars of the sky are a metaphor for the falling away of saints in the great tribulation of the saints.

@Christian Gedge The Bible is always 100% consistent with its own established metaphor and symbolism. The sun and moon and stars do not change their meaning from one passage to another. They do not change from one meaning in for example Revelation 12:1 to another in Revelation 16:13-14. The same metaphor/symbols were used for ancient Jerusalem and ancient Babylon, and in Revelation 12:1, where it does not refer to any literal stars falling to the earth. Same with the fig tree:

Destruction of ancient Babylon ("the nations" of the Babylonian Empire)

Isaiah 34:4:
And all the host of the heavens shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled like a scroll; and all their host shall droop, as a leaf falls off from the vine, and as the falling from the fig tree.

Isaiah 34:8-10:
For it is the day of the LORD's vengeance, the year to repay for the fighting against Zion. And its streams shall be turned into pitch, and its dust to brimstone, and its land shall become burning pitch. It shall not be put out night or day; its smoke shall go up forever. From generation to generation it shall lie waste; none passes through it forever and forever.

Different time, different judgment, same metaphors used.

Jesus also likened what is coming when He returns, to the deluge, in which the heavens and the earth itself were not destroyed. Only the rudiments of that world and the works of men, along with all flesh, perished in those waters.

 

[Truth7t7]

Psalm 46
2 Therefore we will not fear when the earth changes, and when mountains are slipping into the heart of the seas.

Matthew 21
21 Jesus answered and said to them, Truly I say to you, If you have faith and do not doubt, you shall not only do this miracle of the fig tree, but also; if you shall say to this mountain, Be moved and be thrown into the sea; it shall be done.

If you cannot acknowledge the metaphor in scripture, you will remain blinded to it, and then you will misinterpret most of prophecy, which includes 2 Peter 3:10-12, of course.

You didn't answer the post, there were 15 scripture references that show fire in destruction, and you want to disregard this with its just a Metaphor "Really"

You living in denial of biblical truth that's before your eyes, Jesus returns in fire and final judgment (The End)

 

[WPM]

Oh, so you did decide to actually address what I said. What was all that other stuff all about then? Anyway, I don't understand what you're saying here. Did Peter not point out how the world was destroyed by the flood waters in the past (which we know happened in Noah's day)? The entire surface of the earth was affected, was it not? That is what I'm talking about in relation to the future event. The entire surface of the earth will be burned up.

Peter followed up the reference to the world being destroyed by the flood by saying "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.". It's clear to me that he was comparing two literal, physical global events here. The past one destroyed the world with water and the future one will destroy the world with fire. Very simple. No unbelievers survived the flood and no unbelievers will survive the fire that comes down when Christ returns. Again, very simple. You are turning something simple into something convoluted and confusing, in my opinion.

Can you tell me what exactly you believe will result from what is described 2 Peter 3:10-12? What do you think the world will be like exactly after what is described there occurs? Will it result in the new heavens and new earth that Peter references in the very next verse (2 Peter 3:13) as I believe? If not, what then?

The world (kosmos) was destroyed in Noah's day but the earth (gē) was not. Big difference! The kosmos can refer to the physical earth but can also refer to the people or orderly arrangement on earth. Anyway, there is a major difference between the world being enveloped by water and being purged by fire. What is more, when the heavens and earth are coupled together (as they are here) they always mean exactly that. Significantly, the word gē is employed to describe the physical globe. Anyway:

• Water may clean a metal but fire purifies and cleanses it.
• Water may drown someone (as in the flood) but fire burns up and melts.

2 Peter 2:4-9: “For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world [Gr. kosmos], but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world [Gr. kosmos] of the ungodly; And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked. (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished.”

This passage highlights the great faithfulness of God toward His elect and the justice of God against the rebellious. It is a solemn reminder to mankind of the awful consequences of rejecting God or His gracious plan of salvation. Peter points us back in time to God’s treatment of the rebellious angels at the beginning and his dealing with Noah’s world and also the iniquitous cities of Sodom and Gomorrha in Lot’s day. The two mentions of “world” in v 5 (referring to Noah’s day) are not talking about the physical earth (gē) but rather “the old world … the world of the ungodly” – talking about the wicked. The Greek word for “world” here is kosmos describing the human world that rejected God in Noah’s day.

Most commentators accept that Peter is speaking of actual people in in v 5 and not the physical world.

The whole context and wording here are clear and unequivocal. It is showing us God’s ultimate grace when dealing with those who humble themselves and His ultimate justice when dealing with rebellious angels and humans. We see that in Peter’s conclusion of his thought in v 9: “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished.”

2 Peter 3:3-7 similarly says: “there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after 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 the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens [Gr. ouranos] were of old (or “a long time”), and the earth [Gr. gē] standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world [Gr. kosmos] that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens [Gr. ouranos] and the earth [Gr. gē], which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.”

Again: the writer distinguishes between the ungodly world (kosmos) and the physical earth (gē). Peter deliberately uses the two different Greek words to differentiate between them. This is in context with everything he had previously said in 2 Peter 2.

2 Peter 3:8-13 couldn't be clearer: “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. 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. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens [Gr. ouranos] shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements [Gr. stoicheion] shall melt with fervent heat, the earth [Gr. gē] also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens[Gr. ouranos] being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements [Gr. stoicheion] shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens [Gr. ouranos] and a new earth [Gr. gē], wherein dwelleth righteousness.”

Creation will be finally purged of wickedness, all the wicked, rebellion and all degeneration forever when Jesus comes. If the remedy for the corruption of the old heavens and earth is the introduction of a brand-new perfect heavens and earth then we are looking at an all-consummating reference to the destruction of the current globe and the existing heavens. The old arrangement that is marked by sin and insurrection is indeed destroyed by fire (as Peter said) and changed to a new glorified perfect arrangement “wherein dwelleth righteousness.” This allows no room for the continuation of unrighteousness or corruption, as Premils insists. Such is totally eliminated through the conflagration.

The new heavens and new earth are such a stark contrast to this current present evil age that is blighted by all the result of the fall, including the existence of Satan. The new arrangement is especially noted for “righteousness.”

 

[WPM]

It has nothing to do with Amil. I don't believe that the NHNE that Peter and the Revelation speak about will only follow a thousand years after Christ. That's your view. Except that you believe it will follow thousands of years after Christ. I believe the NHNE comes immediately after Christ. He ushers it in. That's why it's both already here and it's coming - because He is already come and is coming, and His Kingdom is already come and is coming. The new heavens and earth is in Christ and it came into being when He rose from the dead. That's why Paul teaches we are a new creature and in Him all things are become new, but the NHNE is coming. Both already here and still coming.

So perfection and the removal of the curse occur at the second coming?

 

[WPM]

The context of what Peter is talking about is what Peter was talking about - the rudiments of this world and the works of men. He said nothing in all previous verses and chapters about rocks so that he could say the wicked works of the rocks will be burned up. That's your interpretation, but it's not according to the context.

You stating this does not change its actual meaning. You did not even address what I wrote. Context is actually talking about the natural physical change that occurs to this creation when it is regenerated by fire to purge creation of the curse at the second coming. You want to spiritualize it away like the Full Preterists.

The “elements” in view in 2 Peter 3 that “melt with fervent heat” when Jesus comes as “a thief in the night” obviously relate to creation. That is the context that Peter is talking about. He’s talking about the removal of the entire fallen visible physical system. The word denotes the “rudiments” of anything; the minute parts or portions of which anything is composed, or which constitutes the simple portions out of which anything grows, or of which it is compounded. Here it would properly denote the component parts of the material world; or those which enter into its composition, and of which it is made up.

Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and phosphorus are believed to be the chief elements because they are the building blocks that allow life to exist. Those are the most common elements used in biology but there are several others that are also essential, like sodium, chlorine, potassium, iron and magnesium.

• The earth and the works therein are speaking about our habitable globe and everything on it
• The heavens refer to our solar system.
• The elements refer to everything in between.

 

[WPM]

The context of what Peter is talking about is what Peter was talking about - the rudiments of this world and the works of men. He said nothing in all previous verses and chapters about rocks so that he could say the wicked works of the rocks will be burned up. That's your interpretation, but it's not according to the context.

You choose one reality (the melting of the elements) and only want to talk about it. You divorce that from the other aspects of the solar system mentioned that will be regenerated when Jesus comes (namely the earth, the works therein and the heavens - or the other planets). This is actually talking about the purging of the physical creation of all the result of the Fall in order to introduce a new perfect eternal arrangement. The bondage of corruption is going to be removed from creation when He appears (Romans 8:19-23 and 1 Corinthians 15:50-55). What is more, this earth will not be eliminated. It will be regenerated at the coming of Jesus. We see that in Psalm 102:25-27, Matthew 19:28, Acts 3:19-21, 2 Peter 3:7–13, and Hebrews 1:10-12.

 

[Randy Kluth]

Nice to see you too my pre-mill friend.

Okay, lets go to the man himself! When Jesus was here, he explicitly said the world would come to an end. He was not speaking in hyperbole. Here is his straight forward statement:

“Heaven and earth will pass away” (Matthew 24:35)​

Furthermore, the final end of the world will be more than a surface destruction. It is the complete disintegration of the planet and its solar system! Here is how I believe it will happen in order of events:-

1. Earth shaken out of orbit

“For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be dark at its rising, and the moon will not shed its light … I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken out of its place, at the wrath of the LORD of hosts in the day of his fierce anger.” (Isaiah 13:10,13)​

2. Heavens dissolve and collapse

“Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment.” (Isaiah 51:6)​

3. Stars fall to the earth

“The stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.” (Rev. 6:13,14)​

4. Earth (and solar system) destroyed with fire

“The day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it. (2 Peter 3:10)​

Unless you believe Jesus was a liar or confused, how do you reconcile your interpretation of the destruction of the earth with his full knowledge of the Scriptures, where we are told that the "earth is forever?"

 

[CadyandZoe]

Take a look at the following three Greek words:

1. érgon (Strongs Greek 02041)

Throughout the New Testament and without exception, érgon (works) always refers to the works of God / Christ, or of men, or of Satan (the vast majority of times it refers to the works of men):-

Works of Christ and of God the Father:-

Matthew 11:2; Luke 24:19; John 4:34; John 5:20; John 5:36; John 6:28; John 6:29; John 7:3; John 7:21; John 9:3; John 9:4; John 10:25; John 10:32; John 10:33; John 10:37; John 10:38; John 14:10; John 14:11; John 14:12; John 15:24; John 17:4; Acts 13:41; Acts 15:18; Romans 14:20; Philippians 1:6; Hebrews 1:10; Hebrews 2:7; Hebrews 3:9; Hebrews 4:3; Hebrews 4:4; Revelation 15:3.

Works of darkness or of Satan:-

Romans 13:12; II Corinthians 11:15; Ephesians 5:11; I John 3:8.

Works of men:-

Matthew 5:16; Matthew 23:3; Matthew 23:5; Matthew 26:10; Mark 13:34; Mark 14:6; Luke 11:48; John 3:19; John 3:20; John 3:21; John 7:7; John 8:39; John 8:41; Acts 5:38; Acts 7:22; Acts 7:41; Acts 9:36; Acts 13:2; Acts 14:26; Acts 15:38; Acts 26:20; Titus 2:14; Romans 2:6; Romans 2:7; Romans 2:15; Romans 3:20; Romans 3:27; Romans 3:28; Romans 4:2; Romans 4:6; Romans 9:11; Romans 9:32; Romans 11:6; Romans 13:3; Romans 15:18; I Corinthians 3:13; I Corinthians 3:14; I Corinthians 3:15; I Corinthians 5:2; I Corinthians 9:1; I Corinthians 15:58; I Corinthians 16:10; II Corinthians 9:8; II Corinthians 10:11; Galatians 2:16; Galatians 3:2; Galatians 3:5; Galatians 3:10; Galatians 5:19; Galatians 6:4; Ephesians 2:9; Ephesians 2:10; Ephesians 4:12; Philippians 1:22; Philippians 2:30; Colossians 1:10; Colossians 1:21; Colossians 3:17; I Thess 1:3; I Thess 5:13; II Thess 1:11; II Thess 2:17; I Timothy 2:10; I Timothy 3:1; I Timothy 5:10; I Timothy 5:25; I Timothy 6:18; II Timothy 1:9; II Timothy 2:21; II Timothy 3:17; II Timothy 4:5; II Timothy 4:14; II Timothy 4:18; Titus 1:16; Titus 2:7; Titus 3:1; Titus 3:5; Titus 3:8; Titus 3:14; Hebrews 4:10; Hebrews 6:1; Hebrews 6:10; Hebrews 9:14; Hebrews 10:24; Hebrews 13:21; James 1:4; James 1:25; James 2:14; James 2:17; James 2:18; James 2:20; James 2:21; James 2:22; James 2:24; James 2:25; James 2:26; James 3:13; I Peter 1:17; I Peter 2:12; II Peter 2:8; I John 3:12; I John 3:18; II John 1:11; III John 1:10; Jude 1:15; Revelation 2:2; Revelation 2:5; Revelation 2:6; Revelation 2:9; Revelation 2:13; Revelation 2:22; Revelation 2:23; Revelation 2:26; Revelation 2:19; Revelation 3:1; Revelation 3:2; Revelation 3:8; Revelation 3:15; Revelation 9:20; Revelation 14:13; Revelation 16:11; Revelation 18:6; Revelation 20:12; Revelation 20:13; Revelation 22:12.

Example
1 Corinthians 3:13-15
each one's érgon (work) shall be revealed. For the Day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try each one's érgon (work) as to what kind it is.
If anyone's érgon (work) which he built remains, he shall receive a reward.
If anyone's érgon (work) shall be burned up, he shall suffer loss. But he shall be saved, yet so as by fire.

2. stoicheîon (Strongs Greek 04747)

The word stoicheîon refers to the rudiments of this world in Galatians 4:3; Galatians 4:9; Colossians 2:8; Colossians 2:20; Hebrews 5:12.

Example
Colossians 2:8:
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments [stoicheîon] of the world, and not after Christ.

3. parérchomai

In every verse it's found, the word parérchomai is used interchangeably for "passing by" or "passing closeby" (Matthew 8:28; Mark 6:48; Luke 18:37; Acts 16:8), or for "coming near/approaching near" or "seizing upon" (Luke 12:37; Acts 24:7), or to pass, or to pass from, or to have passed (Mat.14:15 & 26:39; Luk.11:42 & 15:29; Acts 27:9; 2 Cor.5:17; Jam.1:10; 1 Pet.4:3; Mat.24:34-35).

Example
Acts 24:7:
"But the chief captain Lysias came upon [parérchomai] us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands."

Here is a short statement that contains all three of the above words:

2 Peter 3:10
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away [parérchomai] with a great noise, and the elements [stoicheîon] shall be dissolved [lýō] with fervent heat [kausóō], the earth also and the works [érgon] that are therein shall be burned up [katakaíō].

Should the actual meaning of the words érgon, stoicheîon, and parérchomai in every other New Testament verse they are used affect the way we interpret what Peter said, or not? Because if we use the meaning as all the other verses do, then Peter is saying that the works of men and of darkness and the principles of this world will be burned up when Christ returns.

The whole context of what Peter was saying in the chapters and verses before about false teachers etc, and the fact that he says we will see a new heavens and earth in which only righteousness dwells, should tell us that Peter is not speaking about the burning up of the planet, but of the works of men and the principles of this world.

The short answer is no. I like the word study you did and I appreciate your hard work. But I would say that each word should be understood from within the immediate context of where it is found.

 

[CadyandZoe]

2 Peter 3:10
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away [parérchomai] with a great noise, and the elements [stoicheîon] shall be dissolved [lýō] with fervent heat [kausóō], the earth also and the works [érgon] that are therein shall be burned up [katakaíō].

Is Peter talking about physics here or another kind of "ordered system?"

Should the actual meaning of the words érgon, stoicheîon, and parérchomai in every other New Testament verse they are used affect the way we interpret what Peter said, or not? Because if we use the meaning as all the other verses do, then Peter is saying that the works of men and of darkness and the principles of this world will be burned up when Christ returns.

Does Peter mention the return of Christ? I don't think he did. The Day of the Lord is NOT the day Christ returns.

The whole context of what Peter was saying in the chapters and verses before about false teachers etc, and the fact that he says we will see a new heavens and earth in which only righteousness dwells, should tell us that Peter is not speaking about the burning up of the planet, but of the works of men and the principles of this world.

Good point.

 

[Zao is life]

So perfection and the removal of the curse occur at the second coming?

The curse was removed when Jesus was cursed for our sins. What are you talking about?

 

[Zao is life]

Is Peter talking about physics here or another kind of "ordered system?"

If he's talking about physics at all, he's not talking about the complete destruction of a planet that will be "replaced" by a newly created one in a NHNE. He's talking primarily about the destruction of the godlessness works (ergon) of men, and the rudiments (stoicheion) of this world that he was talking about in 2 Peter 2.

People think that just because chapter divisions were inserted into the text in 1227 AD that a new chapter begins a new subject. In 2 Peter 2 and 2 Peter 3 it does not. 2 Peter 2 is the introduction to what Peter was going to say about the destruction of the godlessness works (ergon) of men, and the rudiments (stoicheion) of this world. Peter is not talking about the complete destruction of the planet earth.

Does Peter mention the return of Christ? I don't think he did. The Day of the Lord is NOT the day Christ returns.

I believe he did. The Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night (2 Pet.3:10; Rev.16:15). I don't believe the day of the Lord is NOT referring to the same day that Christ returns. I do believe that the Day of the LORD is a phrase that is used for every time God has brought judgment upon a people or a nation, or nations.

 

[Jim B]

Regarding the OP... Translation is both a skill and an art. I pay no attention to unqualified people who think that by using various aids they are qualified to translate Koine Greek (or ancient Hebrew or Aramaic). The great majority of people who translate the ancient texts are people who have carefully studied the Biblical source languages and have an excellent command of the destination language. And they don't always agree.

 

[Jim B]

The short answer is no. I like the word study you did and I appreciate your hard work. But I would say that each word should be understood from within the immediate context of where it is found.

VERY TRUE! I wish that more people would understand that basic principle of translation!

 

[Randy Kluth]

I believe we must begin with clear statements of fact from the Bible...

Psa 78.69 He built his sanctuary like the heights, like the earth that he established forever.
Eccl 1.4 Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever.

Now weigh this against the main focus of OT Prophecy, which assures the removal of Disgrace from Israel and the promise of a final National Restoration....

Isa 25.8 he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken.
Isa 51.6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail.

It seems apparent to me that Hebrew poetry here seeks to utilize the metaphor of universal destruction as a kind of hyperbolic expression of God's sovereignty and overwhelming power to change things as they are to allow for Israel's Salvation, which had appeared to be impossible.

 

[Zao is life]

The short answer is no. I like the word study you did and I appreciate your hard work. But I would say that each word should be understood from within the immediate context of where it is found.

In that case the first and only time in the New Testament that those words mean what people say they mean in 2 Peter 3:10-12, is in 2 Peter 3:10-12.

The context of all of 2 Peter 3 is 2 Peter 2, which is talking about the rudiments of this world and the works of men (false teaching etc).

I somehow don't think the saints can legitimately pick and choose what words mean so as to adjust the context to be something other than what the context actually is, which is 2 Peter 2 and 3 together.