Scoffers in the Last Days
Study note
Peter writes this second letter to stir up sincere minds, calling believers to remember the words of the holy prophets and the apostles' commandment. In the last days, scoffers will come asking, 'Where is the promise of his coming?' They willfully ignore that God created the world by his word, destroyed it by water in the flood, and now reserves the present heavens and earth for fire on the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
1 Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. In both letters, I am trying to wake up your honest thinking and help you remember important things. This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
2 I want you to remember what the holy prophets said long ago. Also remember the commands the Lord and Savior gave through your apostles. That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
3 First, understand this: in the last days, people will come along who make fun of everything. They will follow whatever they feel like doing. Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4 They will mock you by saying, "So where is this 'coming' he promised? Our ancestors have been dead and gone for ages, and everything keeps going the same as it always has since the world was made." And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
5 They are choosing to forget something on purpose: long ago, God spoke and the heavens came into being. The earth was formed out of water and by water. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
6 And by that same water, the world at that time was flooded and destroyed. Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7 But by God's same word, the heavens and earth that exist right now are being saved up for fire. They are being held until the day of judgment when ungodly people will be destroyed. But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
God's Patient Mercy
Study note
Peter corrects the misconception that God is slow. With the Lord, a thousand years is like one day and one day like a thousand years. God is not slow to fulfill his promise; he is patient, not wanting anyone to perish but desiring everyone to come to repentance. Nevertheless, the day of the Lord will come unexpectedly like a thief, when the heavens will pass away with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be exposed.
8 Dear friends, do not forget this one thing. For the Lord, one day is like a thousand years. And a thousand years is like one day. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will sneak up like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a loud roar. Everything that makes up the universe will melt in blazing heat. The earth and everything people have done on it will be laid bare. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Living for the New Creation
Study note
Since everything will be dissolved, Peter asks what kind of people believers ought to be. They should live holy and godly lives, looking for and hastening the day of God. But according to God's promise, they look forward to new heavens and a new earth where righteousness dwells. Therefore, believers should be diligent to be found by Christ in peace, spotless and blameless.
11 Since everything will be destroyed like this, think about what kind of people you should be. You should be living holy lives that honor God. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Look forward to the day God comes and do what you can to speed it along. On that day, the heavens will be on fire and will be torn apart, and the building blocks of the universe will melt in the heat. Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13 But God has promised us new heavens and a new earth, where everything will be right and good. And that is what we are waiting for. Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 So, dear friends, while you wait for this, do your very best to be found at peace with God, without any sin or blame. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
Final Warning and Benediction
Study note
Peter affirms that God's patience means salvation, noting that their dear brother Paul wrote about these same things with God-given wisdom. Some of Paul's writings are hard to understand, and the untaught and unstable distort them to their own destruction, just as they distort the rest of Scripture. Peter closes with a warning to stand guard against the error of lawless people and not fall from their firm position, and a call to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. He ends with a doxology ascribing glory to Christ now and forever.
15 Keep in mind that our Lord's patience means more people are being saved. Our dear brother Paul wrote the same thing to you, using the wisdom God gave him. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
16 He talks about these things in all his letters. Some of what he writes is hard to understand. People who do not know the Scriptures well and who are not stable twist his words around, just like they twist the rest of the Bible. They are only hurting themselves by doing this. As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
17 So, dear friends, now that you have been warned, be on guard. Do not get swept away by the mistakes of people who have no respect for God's law. Do not lose the solid ground you are standing on. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.
18 Instead, keep growing in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory belongs to him, now and forever. Amen. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.