2 Peter 3

This is now my second letter to you: The first letter was probably 1 Peter.

Peter moves from condemning the false teachers to encouraging the believers. The false teachers doubted that Christ would return, so Peter needed to teach clearly about this truth. Christians must hold onto the message that the apostles taught about the day of judgment. They should live godly lives as they wait for that day.

• The holy prophets of the Old Testament predicted the day of the Lord, when God would judge his enemies (see study note on 1:19).

• commanded by our Lord and Savior: Jesus had taught the church through the apostles.

• In the last days: Peter was not only predicting something in the future. He was also speaking about the situation of those he was writing to at that time. In the New Testament, the phrase the last days refers to the period between the first coming of Jesus and his second coming (see Acts 2:17; Hebrews 1:2). This is the time when God begins to fulfill his promises.

• scoffers will come: See Proverbs 1:22; 9:7–8; 13:1. These people refuse to take the truth seriously. Instead of using evidence or clear reasoning, they belittle the truth and make fun of it

since our fathers fell asleep: The false teachers were probably claiming that nothing had really changed in history. They argued that, even though God promised to act, God had never intervened and never would.

• Creation is the first evidence that the false teachers were wrong. Change does happen. If God made the world, then he is also able to destroy it.

• the earth was formed out of water and by water: See Genesis 1:2, 6–10.

The Old Testament often connects fire with the day of the Lord (see Isaiah 30:30; 66:15–16).

Peter refers to Psalm 90:4. God works according to his own sense of time, and he will send his Son when the time is right.

• The elements might refer to the basic parts of the physical universe or to the sun, moon, and stars.

• its works will be laid bare: The Greek wording here is difficult to interpret. The most likely meaning is that creation will stand before God at the time of judgment, and God will see that it deserves his judgment.

• anticipate and hasten the coming of the day of God: God’s people can help bring the end closer by turning away from sin and by living in a godly way (compare Acts 3:19–20).

• the elements will melt in the heat: Compare Micah 1:3–4; see also Isaiah 63:19–64:1.

a new heaven and a new earth: See Isaiah 65:17; 66:22; Revelation 21.

our beloved brother Paul: The New Testament tells us only a little about the relationship between the apostles Peter and Paul. Some people think the two apostles were hostile toward each other because of the dispute in Antioch (Galatians 2:11–14). But the New Testament indicates otherwise.

Peter and Paul about the good news for non-Jews (Gentiles) (Acts 11:2–18; 15:7–11). Silvanus and Mark worked with both Paul and Peter (see 1 Peter 5:12–13). According to early Christian tradition, both apostles were killed in Rome during the same persecution under Nero in the mid-60s AD.

Peter probably knew almost all of the apostle Paul’s letters at this time. His words suggest that he viewed Paul’s letters as Scripture, or as writings that carried God’s authority.

Peter repeats his purpose. He wants to protect his audience from false teachers so that they can grow in grace. He ends the letter with words of praise to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.