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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 2Pe_3:1-7
1This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles. 3Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation." 5For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, 6through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. 7But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
2Pe_3:1 "beloved" This term is originally used by God the Father for the Son at His baptism (cf. Mat_3:17) and His transfiguration (cf. Mat_17:5 and 2Pe_1:17). It becomes a title for God's people (cf. Rom_1:7). It is only used once in 1 Peter (cf. 1Pe_2:11; 1Pe_4:12), but used extensively in 2 Peter 3 (cf. 2Pe_3:1; 2Pe_3:8; 2Pe_3:14-17). It is also very common in 1 and 3 John.
▣ "the second letter" This apparently refers to 1 Peter, if you believe Peter is the source behind both 1 and 2 Peter, which I do.
NASB "sincere minds"
NKJV "your pure minds"
NRSV "your sincere intention"
TEV "your pure thoughts"
NJB "an unclouded understanding"
This term can mean pure in the sense of sincere or morally straight (cf. Php_1:10). The false teachers were not pure in any sense. They were immoral and manipulative self-seekers.
▣ "by way of reminder" These are almost exactly the words of 2Pe_1:13-14 (cf. Jud_1:17). In the Bible humans are often called on to remember God, His Word, and His acts. God, however, is encouraged to forget their sin (i.e., Jer_31:34; Isa_43:25; metaphorical in Psa_103:3; Isa_1:18; Isa_38:17; Isa_44:22; Mic_7:18).
2Pe_3:2 "remember the words" This is an aorist passive infinitive. This is a strong emphasis on knowing (1) the OT (cf. 2Pe_1:21); (2) the words of Jesus (cf. 2Pe_2:21); and (3) and their apostolic application (cf. 2Pe_1:1). This is parallel to Jud_1:17.
The knowing/remembering was meant to affect believer confidence in the Second Coming and their Christlike living!
▣ "spoken beforehand by the holy prophets" This is a perfect passive participle, which implies the permanent revelation (perfect tense, cf. Mat_5:17-19; 1Pe_1:25) given by the Spirit (passive voice, cf. 2Pe_1:20-21).
This refers to all the OT. The Jews believed that all Scripture was written by prophets. This is why Moses is called a prophet in Deu_18:15 and that Joshua through Kings are called the "former prophets."
▣ "the commandment of the Lord and Savior" This was an idiom referring to the gospel ( "the holy commandment," cf. 2Pe_2:21; "the commandment," 1Ti_6:14). It is related to the idiom "the law of Christ" (cf. Gal_6:2).
▣ "your apostles" As prophet gave the first covenant, Apostles give the second!
2Pe_3:3 "know this first of all" This same phrase is used in 2Pe_1:20. Peter uses this literary idiom to mark his main points.
▣ "in the last days" This OT phrase denotes the period of time just before the culmination of human history. Peter is a bit ambiguous as to what time period this refers. In 2 Peter 2, he speaks of false teaching "coming," yet they are already present in his day. This is theologically similar to John's "antichrist. . .antichrists" of 1Jn_2:18. These false teachers and mockers will characterize every future period of church history, beginning with the first century. See Special Topic at Mar_13:8.
▣ "mockers will come with their mockings" This is parallel to Jud_1:18. The nominative and instrumental forms of the same noun are used for emphasis. These false teachers were making and will continue to make fun of the biblical promises about Christ's return (cf. 2Pe_3:4).
▣ "following after their own lusts" The false teachers are obvious because of their words and deeds (cf. Mat_7:15-20 and 2Ti_3:2-5). This is parallel to Jud_1:18.
2Pe_3:4 "where is the promise of His coming" This could refer to (1) the OT Day of YHWH's Coming or (2) the NT Second Coming of Christ.
NASB, NKJV "the fathers"
NRSV, TEV "our ancestors"
NJB "our Fathers"
The OT period is mentioned in 2Pe_3:2, so "the Fathers" must refer to the OT Patriarchs or tribal leaders. This is confirmed by 2Pe_3:4-6, which speak of creation.
The context clearly refers to God's visitation in judgment (cf. 2 Peter 2). The OT asserts that humans will one day give an account to God for the stewardship of the gift of life (i.e., Mat_25:31-46; Mat_20:11-15). These mockers not only depreciated Jesus' incarnation, they also scoffed at His return as Judge.
▣ "fell asleep" This is an OT euphemism for death, which is continued in the NT (cf. Mat_27:53; Mar_5:39; Joh_11:11; 1Co_11:30; 1Co_15:51; Eph_5:14; 1Th_4:14).
▣ "all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation" Human history, though minimal in time compared to geological history, gives humans the sense of regularity. This is the presupposition of modern science (i.e., Uniformitarianism) that natural process and regularity of natural laws can be projected both backward and forward in time. The Bible asserts that there was a beginning to creation and there will be an end. God created with a purpose. That purpose was fellowship with creatures made in His image who reflect His character. The world is accountable to an ethical, moral God. However, the illusion of endless time and the regularity of nature has caused the false teachers to reject the revelation of Scripture, Jesus' words, and Apostolic proclamation. Human history and individual longevity are long enough to lull humans into a false perception of confidence in a "tomorrow just like today"!
2Pe_3:5
NASB "it escapes their notice"
NKJV "they willfully forget"
NRSV, NJB "they deliberately ignore"
TEV "they purposely ignore"
This term has the connotation of forgetting something or hiding something; therefore, an intent of purposefulness is contained in the term (cf. 2Pe_1:9; 2Pe_3:5; 2Pe_3:8). These false teachers "conveniently forgot" or "chose to ignore" the intervention of God into His creation and His stated intent to all-creation accountability (i.e., judgment).
▣ "by the word of God" This is creation by the spoken word (cf. Gen_1:3; Gen_1:6; Gen_1:8; Gen_1:14; Gen_1:20; Gen_1:24). It is called in theology by the Latin term "fiat," which means "by means of the spoken word," see John L. Walter, The Lost World of Genesis One, where he asserts that Genesis 1 is not the creation of matter, but a functioning universe. The Gnostic false teachers denied that a holy God could form, much less, create sinful, coexistent matter.
NASB, TEV "the earth was formed out of water and by water"
NKJV "the earth standing out of water and in the water"
NRSV "and earth was formed out of water and by means of water"
NJB "the earth was formed by the word of God out of water and between the waters"
Water is a significant element in Gen_1:2 ( "the deep" and "the waters"). It is not mentioned as being specifically spoken into existence. The Greek preposition "through" (dia) water can also mean "between," "circled," "amidst," "action of," or "sustained by" (cf. Psa_24:2; Psa_136:6). This phrase could refer to Gen_1:2; Gen_1:6; or 2Pe_1:9.
2Pe_3:6 "the world was destroyed" This refers to Noah's flood (cf. Genesis 6-8). I have included a brief note from my commentary on Genesis 1-11.
GENESIS
"There has been some conjecture that the term "flood" may be related to the Assyrian term "to destroy." Was the flood of Noah's day world-wide or only in the Ancient Near East? The term "earth" is often translated "land" in a local sense. If humans had not spread out to all the parts of the earth, which is surely implied in the tower of Babel experience of 2 Peter 10-11, then a local flood would have done the job. The best book I have read on the rational evidence for a local flood is Bernard Ramm's The Christian View of Science and Scripture" (p. 62).
2Pe_3:7
NASB "by His word"
NKJV, NRSV "by the same word"
TEV "by the same command"
NJB "it is the same Word"
As God created by the spoken word and reigns by the word (i.e., Christ, cf. Joh_1:1), we were born again by the living and abiding W ord of God (1Pe_1:23). He will also cleanse by the spoken word (i.e., flood judgment, fire judgment). The metaphor of Jesus in Rev_19:15 as returning with a two-edged sword from His mouth is another way to express this same truth.
▣ "the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire" This is a periphrastic perfect passive participle, which speaks of something that has already occurred. Here it is used in the prophetic sense of the certainty of a future event based on the trustworthiness of God's word. This entire context emphasizes the power and pre-eminence of God's word (cf. 2Pe_1:19; 2Pe_3:5; 2Pe_3:7; 1Pe_1:23; 1Pe_2:8; 1Pe_3:1).
This judgment by fire may come from the OT in two senses: (1) the Psalms speak of fire going before the Lord (cf. Psa_18:8; Psa_50:3; Psa_97:3) or (2) the judgments of YHWH in the wilderness wanderings (cf. Lev_10:2; Num_11:1-3; Num_16:35; Num_26:10) or eschatological (cf. Dan_7:10; Isa_30:27; Isa_30:30; Isa_30:33).
Fire often accompanies YHWH's presence in the OT. This may be associated with (1) God as an agent of knowledge and revelation (light); (2) God as a purifying agent; or (3) God as a judge (i.e., destroying agent).
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▣ "kept for the day of judgment. . .of ungodly men" This is a present passive participle. Both 2 Peter 2 and Jude have emphasized that evil angels and evil humans are kept for a day of accounting. All conscious creatures (cf. Php_2:9-11) will one day be held accountable as stewards of the gift of life (cf. Gal_6:7).
This eschatological day is a time of judgment for the ungodly, but a time of great reward for believers. The persecuted church needs to remember that one day God will set all things right!
▣ "destruction" We get the English word Apollyon from this word (cf. Rev_9:11).