2 Peter 3:1-13, 2 Peter 3:17-18 WEB

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 3:4

Verse 4 4.Where is the promise. It was a dangerous scoff when they insinuated a doubt as to the last resurrection; for when that is taken away, there is no gospel any longer, the power of Christ is brought to nothing, the whole of religion is gone. Then Satan aims directly at the throat of the Church, when he destroys faith in the coming of Christ. For why did Christ die and rise again, except that he may some time gather to himself the redeemed from death, and give them eternal life? All... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 3:5

Verse 5 5.For this they willingly are ignorant of. By one argument only he confutes the scoff of the ungodly, even by this, that the world once perished by a deluge of waters, when yet it consisted of waters. (Genesis 1:2.) And as the history of this was well known, he says that they willingly, or of their own accord, erred. For they who infer the perpetuity of the world from its present state, designedly close their eyes, so as not to see so clear a judgment of God. The world no doubt had its... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 3:6

Verse 6 It seems, however, strange that he says that the world perished through the deluge, when he had before mentioned the heaven and the earth. To this I answer, that the heaven was then also submerged, that is, the region of the air, which stood open between the two waters. For the division or separation, mentioned by Moses, was then confounded. (Genesis 1:6;) and the word heaven is often taken in this sense. if any wishes for more on this subject, let him read Augustine on the City of God.... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 3:7

Verse 7 7.But the heavens and the earth which are now. He does not infer this as the consequence; for his purpose was no other than to dissipate the craftiness of scoffers respecting the perpetual state of nature, and we see many such at this day who being slightly embued with the rudiments of philosophy, only hunt after profane speculations, in order that they may pass themselves off as great philosophers. But it now appears quite evident from what has been said, that there is nothing... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 3:8

Verse 8 8.But be not ignorant of this one thing. He now turns to speak to the godly; and he reminds them that when the coming of Christ is the subject, they were to raise upwards their eyes, for by so doing, they would not limit, by their unreasonable wishes, the time appointed by the Lord. For waiting seems very long on this account, because we have our eyes fixed on the shortness of the present life, and we also increase weariness by computing days, hours, and minutes. But when the eternity... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 3:9

Verse 9 9.But the Lord is not slack, or, delays not. He checks extreme and unreasonable haste by another reason, that is, that the Lord defers his coming that he might invite all mankind to repentance. For our minds are always prurient, and a doubt often creeps in, why he does not come sooner. But when we hear that the Lord, in delaying, shews a concern for our salvation, and that he defers the time because he has a care for us, there is no reason why we should any longer complain of tardiness.... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 3:10

Verse 10 10.But the day of the Lord will come. This has been added, that the faithful might be always watching, and not promise to-morrow to themselves. For we all labor under two very different evils — too much haste, and slothfulness. We are seized with impatience for the day of Christ already expected; at the same time we securely regard it as afar off. As, then, the Apostle has before reproved an unreasonable ardor, so he now shakes off our sleepiness, so that we may attentively expect... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 3:11

Verse 11 Heaven and earth, he says, shall pass away for our sakes; is it meet, then, for us to be engrossed with the things of earth, and not, on the contrary, to attend to a holy and godly life? The corruptions of heaven and earth will be purged by fire, while yet as the creatures of God they are pure; what then ought to be done by us who are full of so many pollutions? As to the word godlinesses (pietatibus ,) the plural number is used for the singular, except you take it as meaning the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 3:12

Verse 12 12Looking for and hasting unto, or, waiting for by hastening; so I render the words, though they are two participles; for what we had before separately he gathers now into one sentence, that is, that we ought hastily to wait. Now this contrarious hope possesses no small elegance, like the proverb, “Hasten slowly,” (festina lente .) When he says, “Waiting for,” he refers to the endurance of hope; and he sets hastening in opposition to topor; and both are very apposite. For as quietness... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Peter 3:1

This Second Epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; literally, this Epistle already a second one I write unto you. The ἤδη ("already") implies that the interval between the two Epistles was not long. The expression "beloved," four times repeated in this chapter, shows the apostle's affectionate interest in his readers; and the word "second" forces us to make our choice between the Petrine authorship of the Epistle or the hypothesis of a direct forgery. In both which I stir up your... read more

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 3:4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 3:5

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 3:6

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 3:7

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 3:8

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 3:9

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 3:10

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 3:11

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 3:12

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Peter 3:1

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