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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Peter 3:11-18

The apostle, having instructed them in the doctrine of Christ's second coming, I. Takes occasion thence to exhort them to purity and godliness in their whole conversation: all the truths which are revealed in scripture should be improved for our advancement in practical godliness: this is the effect that knowledge must produce, or we are never the better for it. If you know these things, happy are you if you do them. Seeing all these things must be dissolved, how holy should we be, that are... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 2 Peter 3:11-14

3:11-14 Since these things are going to be dissolved like that, what kind of people ought you to be, living a life of constant holiness and true piety, you who are eagerly awaiting and doing your best to hasten on the Day of the Lord, by whose action the heavens will burn and be dissolved and the stars blaze and melt! For it is new heavens and a new earth, as he promised, for which we wait, in which righteousness has its home. So, then, beloved, since these are the things for which you... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 2 Peter 3:11-14

There is in this passage still another great conception. Peter speaks of the Christian as not only eagerly awaiting the Coming of Christ but as actually hastening it on. The New Testament tells us certain ways in which this may be done. (i) It may be done by prayer. Jesus taught us to pray: "Thy Kingdom come" ( Matthew 6:10 ). The earnest prayer of the Christian heart hastens the coming of the King. If in no other way, it does so in this--that he who prays opens his own heart for the entry... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Peter 3:12

Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God ,.... The same with the day of the Lord, 2 Peter 3:10 , and so the Vulgate Latin and Arabic versions here read; and it intends the day of Christ's second coming to judgment, and so is a proof of the deity of Christ; and is called "the day of God", in distinction from man's day, or human judgment, 1 Corinthians 4:3 , which is often fallacious; whereas the judgment of God is according to truth; and because in that day Christ will... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 3:12

The heavens being on fire - See on 2 Peter 3:10 . (note). It was an ancient opinion among the heathens that the earth should be burnt up with fire; so Ovid, Met., lib. i. v. 256. Esse quoque in fatis reminiscitur, adfore tempus, Quo mare, quo tellus, correptaque regia coeli Ardeat; et mundi moles operosa laboret 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 3:10-13

Destiny and duty. This passage is woven to the preceding by a link so clear and close that there is no need for indicating it. But we proceed to notice— I. THE CERTAINTY AND YET THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE PASSING AWAY OF THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF THINGS . 1 . What will "pass away"? "Heavens;" i.e., firmament. "Elements;" not the forces we usually so name, because they include "fire," which is here the revolutionary force; but, according to Farrar and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Peter 3:11-18

Exhortations. I. THE DUTY OF PREPARATION . 1 . Christians should look for the city that hath foundations. The cities of this world have no sure foundation, for the earth on which they are built must pass away; it has within itself the element which is to cause its dissolution; the germs of that dissolution are working even now. Then wise men must not lay up for themselves treasures upon earth; they must not live as if this changeful, dying world was to be their home for ever;... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Peter 3:11-18

Duty in view of second coming. I. REFERENCE TO GOD IN OUR CONDUCT . "Seeing that these things are thus all to be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy living and godliness?" The catastrophe that is to accompany the second coming is here put down in time present in the original, to raise an impression of its certainty: "Seeing that these things are thus all dissolved." If the conclusions of some scientific men are to be accepted, this is literally true,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Peter 3:12

Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God. The preposition "unto" is inserted without authority. The second participle σπεύδοντας is followed directly by the accusative, and is evidently transitive. In the Septuagint Version of Isaiah 16:5 , σπεύδων δικαιοσύνην represents the "hasting righteousness" of our translation (comp. Pindar, 'Isthm.,' Isaiah 5:22 , where σπεύδειν ἀρετάν means "to pursue virtue"). Here the translation "hastening" is most... read more

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