Read or listen The Second Epistle of Peter chapter 3 online (ESV, Bible Gateway)

"This is now the second letter" – 2 Peter 3:1-2

What was the first letter referred to in verse 1?

1. The First Epistle of Peter? - Not suitable because of the content. In addition to this the First and Second Epistles of Peter were written to different recipients (compare 1 Peter 1:1-2:12 and 2 Peter 1:16).

2. Some biblical scholars have suggested that the Second Epistle of Peter is a compilation of three separate letters, the second chapter of which is a variation of the letter of Jude and here refers to the first chapter, which would originally have been a separate letter.

- This theory is opposed by the fact that these three chapters often refer to the ideas of other chapters (compare, for example, 3:2 - 2:21). Rather, it seems that this is a single whole and not a collection of three separate letters.

3. That letter has been lost.
   Paul’s letter to the Laodiceans (Col 4:16) is lost, as are at least two of Paul’s letters to the Corinthians (1 Cor 5:9, 2 Cor 7:8).

Note that verse 2 parallels the Old Testament writings and the teachings of the apostles. Both are God’s words to us.

"you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles"
2 Peter 3:2

Why is the Lord’s return delayed? 2 Peter 3:3-7

The false teachers described in these verses are the same ones discussed in the previous chapter (compare verse 3 with 2 Peter 2:2). Although the heretics are called "scoffers" (verse 3, or "mockers"), this does not necessarily mean that they were outside the church. Rather, it seems that they were active within the church. They represented a “reinterpreted Christianity.”

Unfortunately, modern Western scholarly Bible study often represents the position expressed in verse 4. It has even been said that one of the foundations for the birth of modern scholarly Bible study was the realization that the early Christians’ hope for Jesus’ imminent return was not fulfilled.

The end times (verse 3) refers to the time after Pentecost, not any specific new period of time below the end (see Acts 2:16-17, 1 Tim 4:1, 2 Tim 3:1-7, Heb 1:2, Jas 5:3).

False teachers were themselves one indication that the prophecies of Jesus’ return were being fulfilled. Paul also had to fight against the same delusion (1 Cor. 15:12-23, 1 Thess. 4:14-18, 5:1-3). Even in Old Testament times, prophets were accused of making empty promises when their prophecies were not fulfilled according to the timetables chosen by men (see Isa. 5:19, Jer. 17:15, Ezek. 12:22, Hab. 2:1-4, Mal. 2:17).

Some Bible scholars want to date 2 Peter to a later date because verse 4, they say, speaks of the death of the first generation of Christians. But “fathers” does not necessarily mean the apostles and other early Christians. In the Jewish Revelation to Baruch, “fathers” means the patriarchs, as does Acts 3:13 (see also Rom. 9:5, and Heb. 1:1-2). In John 6:31, "fathers" refers to the wilderness journey.

The fact that "fathers" specifically refers to the saints of the Old Testament is also indicated by the opponents' talk about creation (verse 4) and Peter's response, which specifically speaks of the times of the Old Testament (verses 5-7). Apparently, the heretics thought that everything would continue as it was. They were poor experts in the Old Testament: they had forgotten the flood. In ancient times, God destroyed the world with water, but after that he promised that there would be no more flood (Genesis 8:21, 9:11,15, Isaiah 54:9). The second destruction would come by fire (verse 10), as had already been predicted in the Old Testament (Isaiah 34:8-9, 66:15-16, Ezekiel 15:7, Daniel 7:9-10, Micah 1:4, Zephaniah 1:18, 3:8).

John the Baptist also predicted that fire would destroy the world (Matthew 3:11-12), as did Paul and other New Testament writers (1 Corinthians 3:13, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8, Hebrews 6:7-8, 12:29, 1 Peter 1:7, Revelation 21:8). History is therefore not an endless cycle, as e.g. Hinduism, teach, but is God's history, which has a beginning and an end.

Creation was by the Word (v. 5, Gen. 1:6,9,11,14,20,24,26, see also Ps. 33:6, John 1:1-3, Heb. 11:3). The end of verse 5 refers to the story of creation, to the fact that the waters were separated (Genesis 1:6-10).

The Greek at the beginning of verse 6 simply says "these..." Many English translations assume that Peter is speaking of the waters in the plural here (cf. v. 5), but this is God's judgmental word.

God's chosen time of the end - 2 Peter 3:8-13

The scoffers (verse 3) were mistaken on another point: God is above time (Ps 102:28, 1 Tim 1:17, Heb 13:8, Rev 1:4), therefore we cannot calculate the timelines of salvation history according to earthly measurements. To God a thousand years is as one day and vice versa (verse 8, which is a quote from Ps 90:4). This makes calculating the time of the end impossible (Mark 13:32, Acts 1:7).

Today, physicists teach that time is bound to matter. Since God is not bound to matter, he is not bound to time either. Eternity is impossible for us humans, who are bound to time and matter.

Opponents saw the delay in Jesus’ return as a sign of God’s weakness. Peter shows that God does not delay the end because He cannot bring it about at any time, but because He wants to give people more time to repent (verse 9). The time of the end is the time of grace. It is not a question of pointless delay (compare Hab 2:3-4, Heb 10:37-38).

The time of waiting for the end is a time of work for the church: it must call people to participate in salvation (Matt 24:45-51).

God is patient (verse 9). The same was taught by the writers of the Old Testament (Exodus 34:6, Numbers 14:18, Psalm 86:15, Jeremiah 15:15, Jonah 4:2), the same emphasis is also found in the New Testament (Romans 2:4, 9:22, 1 Peter 3:18-22).

If God wants everyone to be saved (verse 9), doesn’t that mean that everyone will be saved? Can’t God do what he wants? Can’t God save people even against their will?

It is important to remember that Bible verses should not be taken out of context. Verse 9 should not be read in isolation, but as part of 2 Peter chapter 3. Then verse 7, which warns of the danger of being lost, also comes into play.

Everyone can be saved - heaven is open to everyone. But it is possible to choose to rebel against God and go to hell. God does not force a person to go to heaven if he deliberately wants to go to hell.

Note the same "division" also in Ezekiel 33:11 (11-20): God wants all people to be saved, but at the same time there is the possibility of apostasy and perdition. Similarly, in connection with 1 Tim 2:4, 1 Tim 1:18-20 must be read. He who teaches that all people are saved teaches contrary to the clear word of the Bible. That doctrine can only be justified by taking individual Bible passages out of context and the rest of the Bible's teaching.

Jesus taught the so-called in the "synoptic apocalypse" (=the accounts of the end times in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke) that the end will come suddenly, like a thief in the night (Matthew 24:42-44, verse 10, see also 1 Thessalonians 5:2, Revelation 3:3, 16: 15).

The day of the Lord (verse 10) already meant the day of God's judgment in the Old Testament (Isaiah 2:6-22, Amos 5:18-20). It is the day when God says: "The time is up!" (Revelation 10:6). Then there will be no more time to repent, but God's judgment will fall on the world. No one can escape it, which is why Peter says that then everything will be exposed (verse 10).

God's judgment is not just for the world - it is not a question of nuclear war, for example - but for the whole creation, the universe (verse 12).

Christians are to watch (verse 11, Matt. 25:13, 1 Thess. 5:6-8, 1 Peter 1:13-16). Christians can give testimony to outsiders also with their own lives.

"Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour."
(Matt. 25:13)

The hastening of the day of the Lord (verse 12) is related to the proclamation of the gospel: The end will come when the gospel has been preached to all nations (Matthew 24:14, Isaiah 62:10-11). God determines when the end has come, the "day of the Lord" (Revelation 16:14). Prayer can also be used to hasten the day of the Lord (Matthew 6:10, Luke 18:7, 1 Corinthians 16:22, Revelation 6:10, 22:20).

The Greek word at the end of verse 12 can be translated either "elements" or "heavenly bodies." Isaiah 34:4 supports the option "heavenly bodies."

Christian faith cannot be based on anything other than God’s promises (verse 13). Relying on human reason inevitably leads to error (compare verses 3-5).

God had already promised a new heaven and a new earth in the Old Testament (Isaiah 65:17, 66:2) and the Book of Revelation describes their coming (Revelation 21:1-8). There is no longer sin in heaven, but righteousness reigns there (verse 13, Isaiah 45:8, Dan 9:24). As Christians, we must remember that the end of this age is also the beginning of eternity.

Not everything in the Bible is easy to understand – 2 Peter 3:14-16

Waiting is repeated in three consecutive verses (12,13 and 14).
“since you are waiting for these” in verse 14 refers to the new heaven and new earth (verse 13).

"Without spot or blemish" (verse 14) are close in meaning (see also Phil 2:15 and James 1:27). The sacrifices used in the Old Testament sacrificial service had to be pure, without blemish (Exodus 29:1, Leviticus 1:3,10). In 1 Peter 1:19 Peter calls Jesus a Lamb without blemish and without spot (the same Greek words in both verses: verse 14 and 1 Peter 1:19).

The result of faith is peace with God (verse 14, Rom 5:1, see also 2 Pet 1:2).

"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
(Rom 5:1)

God’s patience produces salvation (verse 15), because he gives humanity time for repentance (verse 9).

In verse 16 Peter compares Paul’s writings with the Old Testament scriptures. This has been taken as a sign of the late date of the letter’s writing. But it is worth remembering that Paul already considered his letters to be God’s revelation to his readers (Rom 1:1, Gal 1:1, cf. 2 Pet 1:21). From the very beginning of the Christian faith, the apostles’ testimony about Jesus stood alongside the Old Testament scriptures (cf. Luke 1:1-4).

Would a disciple of Peter, writing in Peter’s name, have dared to claim that Peter did not understand everything in Paul’s letters (verse 16)?

“Unstable” (verse 16) refers to those who have no solid foundation (compare verse 17) (see also 2 Peter 2:14). Note the difference between misunderstanding and twisting (verse 16). Even today, many distortioners are those who claim to understand the Bible in the “only right way.”

Even in Paul’s lifetime, he was misunderstood (see Romans 3:5,8; 6:1,15), even on the most important points of faith. The much-debated “denial of idle Christianity” in James’s letter (James 2:14-26) involves the same problems.

It is impossible to say which letter or letters of Paul are referred to in verse 15. The letter to the Ephesians is addressed to the same area, and it also speaks of growing up into Christ (Ephesians 2:21, 4:15), as in verse 18, but it speaks of patience only once (Ephesians 4:2).

Abide in Christ – 2 Peter 3:17-18

"Knowing this beforehand" (verse 17) refers to the message of the entire letter, but especially to the warnings about false teachers in chapters two and three. The Christian faith must be built on the foundation of Christ (verse 17, Matt. 7:24-27, 16:17-19). It is the only foundation that can withstand all storms.

The exhortation to grow in the knowledge of Christ both begins (2 Peter 1:2-3) and concludes the letter (verse 18).

Even Jesus spoke about the fact that he should be respected in the same way as the Father (John 5:23, compare verse 18 and Isaiah 42:8). There are only a few passages in the New Testament where honor is given to Jesus alone (verse 18, see also Rev. 1:4-6, 5:8-10,13-14, 7:9-12, in addition there are passages where "Lord" refers to Jesus, for example Eph. 5:19 and 2 Tim. 4:18).