2 Peter 3

 

 1 This (1) second Epistle I now write unto you, beloved, wherewith (*) I stir up, and warn your pure minds,

 

(1) The remedy against those wicked enemies, both of true doctrine and holiness, is to be sought for by the continual meditation of the writings of the Prophets and Apostles.

(*) For we fall quickly asleep and forget that which we are taught.

 

 2 To call to remembrance the words, which were told before of the holy Prophets, and also the commandment of us the Apostles of the Lord and Saviour.

 

 3  (*) (2) This first understand, that there shall come in the last days, (a) mockers, which will walk after their lusts,

 

(*) 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 3:1; Jude 1:18 .

(2) He voucheth the second coming of Christ against the Epicureans by name.
(a) Monstrous men, who will seem wise by their contempt of God, and wicked boldness.

 

 4  (3) And say, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers died, all things continue alike from the beginning of the creation.

 

(3) The reason which these mockers pretend because the course of nature is all one as it was from the beginning, therefore the world is from everlasting, and shall be forever.

 

 5  (4) For this they (*) willingly know not, that the heavens were of old, and the (b) earth that was of the water, and by the water, by the word of God.

 

(4) He setteth against them the creation of heaven and earth by the word of God, which these men are willingly ignorant of.

(*) He meaneth them which had once professed Christian religion, but became afterward contemners and mockers, as Epicureans and atheists.
(b) Which appeared when the waters were gathered together into one place.

 

 6  (5) Wherefore the (*) world that then was, perished, overflowed with the (c) water.

 

(5) Secondly he setteth against them the universal flood, which was the destruction, as it were of the whole world.

(*) As touching the beauty thereof, and things which were therein, except them which were in the ark.
(c) For the waters returning into their former place, this world, that is to say, this beauty of the earth which we see, and all living creatures which live upon the earth, perished.

 

 7  (6) But the heavens and earth, which are now, are kept by the same word in store, and reserved unto fire against the day of judgment, and of the destruction of ungodly men.

 

(6) Thirdly, he pronounceth that it shall not be harder for God to burn heaven and earth with fire, in that day which is appointed for the destruction of the wicked (which thing he will also do) than it was for him in times past to make them with his only word, and afterward to overwhelm them with water.

 

 8  (7) Dearly 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.

 

(7) The taking away of an objection: in that he seemeth to desire this judgment a long season, in respect of us it is true, but not before God with whom there is no time either long or short.

(*) Psalm 90:4 .

 

 9  (8) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise (as some men count slackness) (9) but is patient toward us, and (*) (♣) would have no man to perish, but would all men to come to repentance.

 

(8) The Lord will surely come, because he hath promised; and that neither sooner nor later than he hath promised.
(9) A reason why the latter day cometh not out of hand, because God doeth patiently wait till the elect be brought to repentance, that none of them may perish.

(*) Ezekiel 33:11; 1 Timothy 2:4 .

(♣) He speaketh not here of the secret and eternal counsel of God, whereby he electeth whom it pleaseth him, but of the preaching of the Gospel whereby all are called and bidden to the banquet.

 

 10  (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 (d) noise, and the elements shall melt with heat, and the earth with the works that are therein, shall be burned up.

 

(10) A very short description of the least distinction of the world, but in such sort as nothing could be spoken more gravely.

(*) Matthew 24:44; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; Revelation 3:3; Revelation 16:15 .
(d) With the violence as it were of a hissing storm.

 

 11  (11) Seeing therefore that all these things must be dissolved, what manner persons ought ye to be in holy conversation and godliness,

 

(11) An exhortation to purity of life, setting before us that horrible judgment of God, both to bridle our wantonness, and also to comfort us, so that we are found watching and ready to meet him at his coming.

 

 12 Looking for, and (e) hasting unto the coming of the day of God, by the which the heavens being on fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with heat?

 

(e) He requireth patience from us, yet such patience as is not slothful.

 

 13 But we look for (*) new heavens, and a new earth, according to his promise, (f) wherein dwelleth righteousness.

 

(*) Isaiah 65:17; Isaiah 66:22; Revelation 21:1 .

(f) In which heavens.

 

 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in (g) (*) peace, without spot and blameless.

 

(g) That you may try to your profit, how gentle and profitable he is.

(*) In quiet conscience.

 

 15  (*) And suppose that the long suffering of our Lord is salvation, (12) even as our beloved brother Paul according to the wisdom given unto him wrote unto (♣) you,

 

(*) Romans 2:4 .

(12) Paul's Epistles are allowed by the express testimony of Peter.

(♣) Albeit his Epistles were written to peculiar Churches, yet they contain general doctrine appertaining to all men.

 

 16 As one that in all his Epistles speaketh of these things, (13) among the (*) which some things are (♣) hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable, (♠) wrest, as they do also other Scriptures unto their own destruction.

 

(13) There be certain of these things obscure and dark, whereof the unlearned take occasion to overthrow some men that stand not fast, wresting the testimonies of the Scripture for their own destruction. But this is the remedy against such deceit, to labor that we may daily more and more grow up and increase in the knowledge of Christ.

(*) That is to say, among the which things; for he disputeth not here whether Paul’s Epistles be plain or dark, but saith, that amongst those things which Paul hath written of his Epistles, and Peter himself in these two of his own, there are some things which cannot be easily understood, and therefore are of some drawn to their own destruction; and this he saith to make us more attentive and diligent, and not remove us from the reading of holy things, for to what end should they have written vain speculations?

(♣) As no man condemneth the brightness of the sun because his eye is not able to sustain the clearness thereof; so the hardiness which we cannot sometimes compass or perfectly understand in the Scriptures, ought not to take away from us the use of the Scriptures.

(♠) Or, pervert.

 

 17 Ye therefore beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware, lest ye be also plucked away with the error of the wicked, and fall from your own steadfastness.

 

18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for evermore. Amen.

 

Steve

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