2 Peter 3

2 Peter 3:1

UNto you] Scattered strangers, 1 Pet. 1. 1. For it is a second epistle to the same persons.

your pure mindes] Or, your sincere mindes, as Philippians 1:10. That appear right, being judged by the light of the sun, as men trie cloth, and eagles their young ones.

by way of remembrance] Chap. 1. 12, 13, 14, 15.

2 Peter 3:2

That ye may be mindfull] Chap. 1. 12, &c. Phil. 3. 1.

holy prophets] Chap. 1. 21.

the apostles] Jude v. 17.

2 Peter 3:3

Knowing this first] Taking notice of this principally, that many will endeavour to draw you from that commandment, v. 2. Chap. 2. 21.

that there shall come] Of themselves, not sent by God.

in the last days] That is, in the later or following days; as the word is used, Genesis 49:1. Deuteronomy 4:30. and Daniel 2:28. where in the last days, is expounded hereafter, v. 29. So are the times of the Gospel called by the prophets, Isaiah 2:2. Micah 4:1. Peter meaneth, the times then beginning, and likely to hold on to the end of the world, in greater or lesser measure: for he warns those that then lived, as well as others in after-ages, to to take heed of such scosters: and such then began to arise in the Church, Acts 20:29-30. 1 John 2:18.

scoffers] Jude v. 18.

walking after their own lusts] Chap. 2. 10. Jude v. 18. After such desires as they had by nature, not according to grace, Romans 8:1.

2 Peter 3:4

Where is the promise] It is vanished; it no where appears; there is no such thing; it will never come to passe, Jer. 5. 12, 13.

of his coming] To judgement, which ye presse so much, to keep men in awe.

the fathers] The first men known, from whom the rest proceeded; and such patriarchs and prophets as foretold, believed and expected this coming of Christ, Jude v. 14.

fell asleep] Died, John 11:11; John 11:13-14. Acts 7:60. 1 Corinthians 11:30. 1 Thessalonians 4:15.

all things continue, &c.] And so it is likely they will continue still, and the world will have no end.

2 Peter 3:5

For this they willingly are ignorant of] They might have been informed, but will not: for they observe not the things written in Scripture of the end of the world, and day of judgement; else they would not be ignorant of these things. Or, they wilfully neglect to consider, that the earth was made by Gods power onely, and the heavens also; and that the world suffered much alteration in the flood, and so may be destroyed in the end. Or, For they that think thus, are ignorant, that by the word of God, &c.

standing out of the water, and in the water] Or, consisting, or, subsisting. Gr. standing together; so as it was not rent in pieces by the water. By Gods power the earth was upheld after it came out of the waters, as well as before, Genesis 1:2; Genesis 1:9. Or, standing out of the water, and by the water. For God hath made the earth so high, that the sea cannot overflow it, though it gird it about, Psalms 24:2.

2 Peter 3:6

the world that then was] The face of the earth, as then it appeared, and all the living creatures upon it.

2 Peter 3:7

which are now] Which we see remaining at this time.

by the same word] Or, by his word, as some copies read it; that is, by Gods word, v. 5. Hebrews 1:3.

reserved, &c.] Chap. 2. 5, 17. Jude v. 6.

2 Peter 3:8

be not ignorant] Know it, and believe it fir Romans 11:25. 1 Corinthians 10:1. 1 Thess. 4. 13.

one day is with the Lord as a thousand yeers] God doth not measure time, as we do: but unto him, in regard of his eternitie and omniscience, comprehending all things past, present and future; those periods of time, that seem so long unto us, are but as a moment, Psalms 90:4.

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise] Or, The Lord of the promise is not slack. He that made it, will perform it in due time. They are not slack, that are long ere they come; but they that come not at their due and appointed time. God puts not off his coming one hour beyond the set time, Hebrews 10:37.

is long-suffering to us-ward] Who are beloved, v. 8. and not in the number of those scoffers, v. 3. or, towards mankinde, of which number we also are.

not willing that any should perish] Any of his elect. He stays till they all be brought in by repentance, and faith in Christ. Nor any at all, by his directing and approving will, Ezekiel 33:11.

but that all should come to repentance] All his elect, as before. Or, some of all sorts of men; high and lowe, wise and foolish, Jews and Gentiles. So the word all is used, Matthew 4:23. Or, he speaks of Gods approving will, whereby he likes of repentance in any.

2 Peter 3:10

But the day of the Lord.] Every day is the Lords, to dispose of as he pleaseth. But the day of judgement is called his, in a peculiar manner, 1 Corinthians 5:5. 2 Corinthians 1:14. because Christ the Lord will then visibly judge all the world, Acts 17:31. Romans 2:16.

will come as a thief in the night] Matth. 24. 43, 44. Luke 12:39-40. 1 Thessalonians 5:2. Revelation 16:15. As a thief comes suddenly and unexpectedly, so will Christ come to judgement. No man can conjecture when that day will be, Matthew 24:36.

the heavens shall passe away with a great noise] Like a whirlwinde or tempest comes roring, and carries all before it: so shall the starrie skie passe away, Matthew 24:29. Not by being destroyed utterly, but being turned into a new form, vers. 13. Psalms 102:26. Romans 8:21.

and the elements] The air and water betwixt the heaven and earth.

the earth also] Either the earth is not included under the word elements before; or it is particularly named, because in it the burning will most visibly appear.

and the works that are therein] The works of God made at first by creation, or produced daily by nature; or the works of men, made by art, as houses, ships, &c.

2 Peter 3:11

Seeing then that all these things, &c.] If heaven and earth must be so wonderfully purged, to make a fit dwelling for us, v.13. how holy had we need to be! Or, seeing such a fearfull appearance of judgement shall then be.

what manner of persons ought ye to be] That is, how great a degree of godlinesse should we labour to attain. So the word is used, Matthew 8:27. Mark 13:1. Luke 1. 29. and 7. 39. 1 John 3:1.

in all holy conversation, and godlinesse] Gr. conversations, and godlinesses: That is, in all manner of good duties towards man, and God, Acts 24:16.

2 Peter 3:12

Hasting unto the coming] Or, Hastening the coming. Not onely expecting it, or looking for it, as Luke 12. 43. Matth. 4. 42. but also, as it were, going forth to meet Christ with burning lamps, Matthew 25:1. So servants that desire their masters return, get all things ready to entertain him, against he comes. And so should we prepare our selves for Christs coming, by sitting our selves for it, more then seeking after worldly things. He hastes, that followeth one thing to finish it, and is not so distracted as to begin many things, and end none. The one thing needfull for us, Luke 10. 42. is to fit our selves for Christs coming.

of the day of God] Or, of that day of God, mentioned, v. 10. wherein the heavens, &c.] See on v. 10.

2 Peter 3:13

Neverthelesse] We must not be discouraged, because these heavens and this earth passe away; for we look for new, and better ones.

according to his promise] Isaiah 65:17. and Isaiah 66:22.

look for new heavens] Not others for substance, but renewed in qualities. See on v. 10.

and a new earth] An earth shining with new brightnesse and glory, being somewhat proportionable to the saints, to delight their eyes and mindes, Romans 8:21.

wherein] In which heavens: or, in both which, heaven and earth.

dwelleth righteousnesse] That is, righteous men onely; whereas in this world dwell many sinners, which then shall be all in hell. So righteousnesse is taken, Isaiah 1:21. Or, the whole verse may be thus read; Neverthelesse we, in whom dwelleth righteousnesse, look for new heavens, and a new earth, according to this promise. That is, we that are justified by faith in Christ, and sanctified by his Spirit, expect eternall happinesse in another world, when this world shall be at an end.

2 Peter 3:14

in peace] Reconciled to God by Christ, Col. 1. 20 Romans 5:1. Or, in peace of minde and conscience, not troubled nor affrighted.

without spot, and blamelesse] Ephesians 5:27. Jude v. 24. Colossians 1:22.

2 Peter 3:15

account that the long-suffering of the Lord is salvation] Think not that God doth put off his coming, out of slacknesse, as some suppose, v. 9. nor to do hurt to men; but for the good of his, and to further their salvation. Gods patience furthers our salvation much, by affording time of repentance, and of the use of the means, Romans 2:4.

our beloved brother Paul] Our brother in office, and dear fellow-apostle.

according to the wisedom given unto him] From above, whereby he was fitted to be an apostle, Galatians 1:11-12.

hath written unto you] Such as take it to be written to the Christian Gentiles dwelling in those places mentioned, 1 Peter 1:1. (for both epistles were written to the same persons, as v. 1. of this chapter) conceive the epistle here mentioned to be that to the Romans, because, Romans 2:4-5. is to this purpose. Others, who think Peter wrote now to the Jews (as James did, James 1:1.) because he calls them scattered strangers; and the Christians that dwelt in the places mentioned, 1 Peter 1:1. were naturall inhabitants there; think he means the epistle to the Hebrews, or to the Galatians there named, or to the Ephesians, or Colossians, which were in Asia, there mentioned.

2 Peter 3:17

Seeing ye know these things before] Out of the doctrine of the other apostles, and by my putting you in minde of them in this epistle, v. 1, 2. and therefore, being so forewarned of them, ought the better to be forearmed against them.

beware] He doth not say, Read no Scripture, because some places are hard; or, Believe the Churches interpretation. He rather warns them to take heed of seducers, and such as misinterpreted the Scriptures; and expects they should read them diligently, that they might grow in knowledge, v. 18. In vain had he written this epistle to private men, for a memoriall when he should be dead, chap. 1. 15. and called upon them to be mindfull of the doctrine of the prophets and apostles, who were dead, v. 2. and Jude also in his epistle, if they ought not to read the Scriptures. The Israelites, who had far lesse knowledge then Christians have now, are blamed for not doing it, Hosea 8:12. and the Jews exhorted to do it, John 5:39.

ye also being led away] Gr. ye being led away with others.

with the errour of the wicked] Chap. 2. 1, 2, 18. Or, with that particular errour of not believing Christs coming, v. 3, 4.

fall from your own stedfastnesse] And so become unstable, as those perverters of Scripture, v. 16. and so be unsetled.

2 Peter 3:18

grow in grace] Get more sense of Gods favour daily. Or, seek to encrease the graces of his Spirit in you, ch. 1. 5, 8, 10.

and in the knowledge] How can they do that, without reading the Scriptures? Ignorance then is not the mother of devotion, in Peters own language, whom the papists boast of, more then the Jews did of Moses, by whose testimony our Saviour confutes them, John 5:45.

of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ] Chap. 2. 1. Jude v. 25. Revelation 1:1.

To him be glory] Jude v. 25.

both now and for ever] G. both now, and to the day of eternity〈◊〉 That is, to eternity, without end; as Matthew 6:13.

Amen] See on Matthew 6:13. Jude v. 25. Revelation 22:21.