2 Peter 3:3-7 NLT,NIV,ESV

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Peter 3:1-10

Fact of second coming, especially in its accompaniments. I. AIM OF THE EPISTLE . 1 . To stir them up by reminding them. "This is now, beloved, the second Epistle that I write unto you; and in both of them I stir up your sincere mind by putting you in remembrance." There is here the first of four designations of them as beloved in this chapter. It was already a second Epistle that he was writing to the same circle; not much time had elapsed since the writing of the First... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Peter 3:3

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers. (For the irregular construction of γινώσκοντες , see Winer, 3:63, 2, a.) St. Peter has the words, "knowing this first," in 2 Peter 1:20 , where he is speaking of the interpretation of prophecy; he repeats them now when referring to the scoffers who mocked at the long delay of the Lord's coming foretold by the prophets. (For "the last days," see note on 1 Peter 1:20 .) The Revised Version has, "Mockers shall come with... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Peter 3:4

And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? (comp. Malachi 2:17 , "Where is the God of judgment?"). The Lord had prophesied of his coming; St. Paul had spoken more than once as if that coming were very near at hand ( 1 Corinthians 15:51 ; 2 Corinthians 5:4 ; 1 Thessalonians 4:15 ). Yet he came not. Already men were beginning to mock, and to question whether the long-delayed promise would ever be fulfilled. For since the fathers fell asleep; better, from the day that. By "the ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Peter 3:4

"The promise of his coming." The principle which actuated these scoffers, leading them to irreligion and self-indulgence upon the ground that the promises and threats professing to emanate from Divine authority were unfulfilled, is the same principle which was embodied in the ancient proverb, "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil." It must be remembered that what is a promise to the loyal... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Peter 3:5

For this they willingly are ignorant of; literally, for this escapes them of their own will. All things have not always been as they are; there have been great changes; there was once a great catastrophe; but this they willfully forget, Huther translates differently, "For, whilst they assert this, it is hidden from them that," etc. But this rendering seems forced and unsatisfactory, and gives a meaning to θέλω which it has nowhere in the New Testament. That by the Word of God the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Peter 3:6

Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished. The Greek for" whereby" is δἰ ὧν , literally, "through which things." The plural here presents some difficulty. The most obvious antecedents are "the heavens and the earth" of the last verse; but many commentators refer the relative to the twice-repeated "water." The meaning will be the same whichever view we take. "The fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened;" that is, the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Peter 3:7

But the heavens and the earth, which are now; rather, the heavens which are now, and the earth. The "now" does not refer, as some think, to any change wrought by the Flood, but distinguishes the present heavens and earth from the new heavens and new earth, which Christians are to look for ( 2 Peter 3:13 ). By the same Word are kept in store, reserved unto fire. Several of the better manuscripts have "by his Word," which, on the whole, seems to give the best meaning. The reading in the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Peter 3:3

Knowing this first - As among the first and most important things to be attended to - as one of the predictions which demand your special regard. Jude Jude 1:18 says that the fact that there would be “mockers in the last time,” had been particularly foretold by thom. It is probable that Peter refers to the same thing, and we may suppose that this was so well understood by all the apostles that they made it a common subject of preaching.That there shall come in the last days - In the last... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Peter 3:4

And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? - That is, either, Where is the “fulfillment” of that promise; or, Where are the “indications” or “signs” that he will come? They evidently meant to imply that the promise had utterly failed; that there was not the slightest evidence that it would be accomplished; that they who had believed this were entirely deluded. It is possible that some of the early Christians, even in the time of the apostles, had undertaken to fix the time when these... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Peter 3:5

For this they willingly are ignorant of - Λαιθάνει γὰρ αὐτοὺς τοῦτο θέλοντας Laithanei gar autous touto thelontas. There is some considerable variety in the translation of this passage. In our common version the Greek word (θέλοντας thelontas) is rendered as if it were an adverb, or as if it referred to their “ignorance” in regard to the event; meaning, that while they might have known this fact, they took no pains to do it, or that they preferred to have its recollection far from their... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Peter 3:1-10

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Peter 3:3

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Peter 3:4

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Peter 3:4

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Peter 3:5

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Peter 3:6

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Peter 3:7

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Peter 3:3

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Peter 3:4

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Peter 3:5

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