2 Peter 3 Study Notes

3:1-2 Peter referred to his epistle as the second letter he had written to his readers. Presumably the previous letter was 1 Peter (see Introduction). In both letters Peter reminded his readers not to forget the teachings they had received through the prophets and apostles. The command may refer to the revelation of God in Christ through the apostles, or possibly to specific warnings about false teachers.

3:3-4 The teaching of which Peter spoke included accepting Christ’s return, which had been rejected by the false teachers. The apostles expected the presence of scoffers and their activities, and Peter warned his readers that scoffers will come in the last days. They were on the scene in Peter’s day; they would also be present in the future. The “last days” refers to the period of time between Christ’s incarnation and his return. The scoffers mocked Christ’s return because many years had passed and it had not yet occurred: Ever since our ancestors fell asleep, all things continue as they have been since the beginning of creation. “Our ancestors” probably refers to the OT patriarchs given the mention of “the beginning of creation.” Because the false teachers distorted the OT Scriptures, Peter countered them by alluding to the OT.

3:5-7 The heretics argued that the world was unchanging, that it would remain so, and thus that the Lord would not return. To counter this charge, Peter took his readers’ thoughts back to creation to show them that the world had not always been orderly and that the source of the world’s order was God. Peter appeared to speak of water as the element from which God formed the earth. By the word means “by God’s decree”—he spoke, and it happened. To counter the false teachers’ claims, Peter also reminded his readers of the great flood that took place in Noah’s day when the earth was destroyed. So God does demonstrate his power and intervene in judgment in a world that otherwise seems unchanging. By the same word, he will do it again when Christ returns.

3:8 What seems like a delay makes the Lord’s return no less certain. Peter noted that God views time differently than human beings do. Christ will return in accordance with the divine timetable, not ours. Dear friends recalls the recipients of the letter (1:1).

3:9 The Lord has not yet returned, says Peter, because he is patient with you, not wanting any to perish. “You” is variously interpreted as a reference to the letter’s Christian recipients (identified in 1:1) or else more broadly as all people. In chap. 1 “you” and “your” both refer back to the recipients identified in 1:1 (see 1:2,4-5,8,10-13,15-16,19-20). Peter’s later use of “dear friends” (3:1,8,14,17) seems also to point back to those identified in 1:1.

3:10 God’s patience toward sinners is not inexhaustible. The day of the Lord will be sudden and will catch many people unprepared, as when a burglar sneaks in and robs a house (cp. Mt 24:43-44; Lk 12:39-40).

3:11-14 Peter insisted that the anticipation of the Lord’s return and its accompanying events of judgment should rouse Christians to holy living. Evil will be completely destroyed when Christ returns, and righteousness will permanently dwell in new heavens and a new earth (cp. Is 32:16).

3:15-16 Peter notes that the teaching in Paul’s letters said that the Lord’s patience provided opportunities for salvation (Rm 2:4). Peter grouped Paul’s letters together with the rest of the Scriptures. This reference does not necessarily mean that Paul’s letters were already circulating as a complete collection. Peter may simply have been referring to the Pauline letters that were widely known and accepted as Scripture at the time he wrote 2 Peter. In any event, Peter clearly affirms the God-given authority of Paul’s writings (1:20-21; see note at 1:19-21).

3:17-18 Since Peter’s readers had now been warned about the false teachers in their midst, he instructed them to be on their guard and not be led astray. He also encouraged them to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ (cp. 1:2-11). He closed with a doxology in which he ascribed glory to Christ both now and forever.