2 Peter 3 Bible study

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The Second Epistle of Peter Chapter 3:1–18 Purpose of this Letter 3:1 Dear friends, this is already the second letter I have written you, in which I am trying to stir up your pure mind by way of reminder: Peter had already written a longer letter to the church exhorting encouraging and reminding them of the truth of the doctrines of the faith. In this letter he has warned them of the danger of false teachers and prophets who would seek to undermine these truths. Therefore, he considered it his duty while he remained on earth to continually stir up their renewed minds in Christ to remind them of these things (Colossians 3:10, Romans 12:2, Ephesians 4:23).

3:2. I want you to recall both the predictions foretold by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles.

Peter wants every believer to read and meditate on the word of God every day so that it is engrafted in the heart. This includes that predicted by the Old Testament prophets and the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ which had been imparted to them by his apostles so that it is always in the forefront of the mind (Psalm 119:11). Jesus told his disciples that the Comforter, the Holy Spirit would bring all the things that he taught them back to their remembrance (14:26). Doing this would safeguard them from erroneous teachings.

Scoffers 3:3–4 Above all, understand this: In the last days blatant scoffers will come, being propelled by their own evil urges and saying, "Where is his promised return? For ever since our ancestors died, all things have continued as they were from the beginning of creation."

The first thing that Peter wanted his readers to know and understand is that in the last days there will come people who fill their lives with their own desires. They will blatantly ridicule those who believe in the second coming if the Lord Jesus Christ tauntingly saying “he promised to come again for you where is he then?

Nothing has changed since the prophets who predicted this event died everything is going on as it was from the beginning of creation.” They are fools ignorant of the scriptures and historical events. They seem to forget the flood in the days of Noah and all Gods mighty acts and intervention in world events and the life and impact of the Lord Jesus Christ that changed the world.

3:5–6 For they deliberately suppress this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago and an earth was formed out of water and by means of water. Through these things the world existing at that time was destroyed when it was deluged with water.

In fact they deliberately forget these things so that they can suppress the truth that by His Word God created the heavens and the earth and all that is therein. The earth arose from out the water (Genesis 1:9–10) and because men become extremely evil God destroyed it by water saving only Noah and his family (2 Peter 2:5).

3:7 But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, by being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

By the same Word God has kept this present world for the day of judgment when it will be completely destroyed with fire and the ungodly will be cast into the lake of fire with the devil and his angels (Revelation 20:15), 3:8–9 Now, dear friends, do not let this one thing escape your notice, that a single day is like a thousand years with the Lord and a thousand years are like a single day. The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

However, he tells them not to forget that God dwells in eternity whereas man is in time so a day with the Lord is like a thousand years and a thousand years like a single day. The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some people think but is rather extremely patient for our sake. He doesn’t want anyone to perish but for all to come to repentance and be saved. (1 Timothy 2:3–4).

End of this Present Age and the Eternal Age to Come 3:10 (NKJV) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.

In Matthew 24:42–44 Jesus told His disciples that they must "keep watch! For you don't know what day your Lord is coming.” Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.” From this Peter tells us the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. It is then that the heavens and the earth will disappear with a thunderous crash and all the material elements of the universe will be dissolved by the fervent heat and the earth all the works on it will be burned up (Heb. 12:26– 27).

3:11–12 Since all these things are to melt away in this manner, what sort of people must we be, conducting our lives in holiness and godliness, (NKJV) looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?

As all these things that make up our lives here on earth will be destroyed so we should live a godly and holy life in earnest expectation of the return of the Lord (1 Timothy 6:11, Philippians 2:15).

3:13 But, according to his promise, we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness truly resides.

All those that are Christ’s and are ready and waiting for the coming of the Lord according to His promise shall a part in the new heavens and earth that he will create wherein there will be no sin but a world filled with God’s righteousness (Rev. 21:3-5 Rev. 22: 3 - 5).

Continue To Grow in Grace 3:14 Therefore, dear friends, since you are waiting for these things, strive to be found at peace, without spot or blemish, when you come into his presence.

As we are waiting for this is the hope that we have to come we are to endeavour to live peaceful lives (Romans 12:18) to be pure and blameless before the Lord.

3:15 And regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as also our dear brother Paul wrote to you, according to the wisdom given to him, We are to think of the Lord’s long-suffering to us that when we do wrong he has provided for us in His salvation to forgive if we confess our sins (1 John 1:9). God ever cares and loves us as His children and deals with us as our heavenly Father (Hebrews 12: 6 - 10).

3:16 speaking of these things in all his letters. Some things in these letters are hard to understand, things the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they also do to the rest of the scriptures.

Paul in his letters to the churches spoke of these things with the wisdom and understanding that God had given to him. Peter admits that some of these things that he wrote were difficult to understand. It is these things that the ignorant and unstable, Jude says “They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots (Jude 12), take a hold of and twist around to serve their own purpose as they do with all the scriptures. They will bring about their own destruction.

3:17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard that you do not get led astray by the error of these unprincipled men and fall from your firm grasp on the truth.

Since we have been warned about these things here by Peter in his letters and throughout the Bible we are to be on our guard against such ruthless people with their false teachings so that we will not be led astray by their errors and turn away from the steadfastness of the truth.

3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the honor both now and on that eternal day.

Instead, we are to continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:10). To Him be all the glory power and honour both now and forevermore. AMEN © Derek Williams & Mathew Bartlett 2015 Bible Studies Online UK www.biblestudiesonline.org.uk You may copy, print or distribute our studies freely in any form, just so long as you make no charges. Sign up today for our FREE monthly Bible study magazine “Living Word” Scriptures taken from the NET Bible www.bible.org