12/01/20
– 2 Peter 3:11-18
2 Peter
3:11 – [Seeing] then [that] all these things
shall be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy
conversation and godliness,
these things – or “of these”
shall be dissolved – lyo (to loose any person
or thing tied or fastened [such as sandals, shoes, bandages, chains]; to loose a married husband and wife; let go; loosen or
dissolve anything bound, tied or compacted together; dismiss; break up; annul;
do away with authority; declare unlawful; break up into parts; do away with)
Translated “shall melt” in 2 Peter 3:10 and “shall be dissolved” in Vs 12 below.
conversation – anastrophe
(manner of life; conduct; behaviour) from anastrepho
(metaphorically to conduct one’s self; behave one’s self; live – translated “live” in 2 Peter 2:18 – those
that were clean escaped from them who live in error.)
godliness – reverence;
respect; piety towards God; godliness. Also used in 2 Peter 1:3, 6, & 7. Translated “holiness” in Acts 3:12.
As a consequence of all these things (that
would “melt” in Vs 10 and “be dissolved” here – same word
used) you should be found exhibiting holy behaviour and godliness (holiness).
1 John 2:28-29 – 28And
now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have
confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 29If ye
know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is
born of him.
If you are one of the “beloved” (Vs 14 below),
and because all these things will dissolve as promised, then you will
demonstrate this by your holy and godly behaviour.
“what manner of” translates
literally as “from what country, nation or tribe”. That is, if you are a
citizen of heaven, then you’ll act like a citizen of heaven. If you do not act
like a citizen of heaven, then you may not be such a citizen.
2 Peter
3:12 – 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?
looking for – speudo (looking for; expecting; waiting for)
Acts 3:5 – And he (the lame man) gave
heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
hasting – “making haste”,
or “earnestly desiring” That is, either making it come quickly or wanting it to
come as soon as possible.
the coming – parousia (coming; arrival; advent; the future
visible return from heaven of Jesus, to raise the dead, hold the last judgment,
and set up the kingdom of God – see John 5:25-29) Also translated “coming” in 2 Peter 1:16 & 3:4.
being on fire – pyroo (burn with fire; set on fire; be incensed;
indignant; full of fire; fiery; of the fiery darts of the wicked in Ephesians 6:16; melted by fire
and purged of dross as per Revelation 3:18) From pyr (fire). Note Revelation 3:18a – I
counsel thee to buy of me gold tried (pyroo) in
the fire (pyr). Note our words “pyre” and
“pyromaniac”.
shall be dissolved – lyo (see Vs 11 above)
shall melt – teko (make liquid; liquify; become liquid; melt;
perish or destroyed by melting) Different from “melt” (lyo) in 2 Peter 3:10. This is the only use of teko in the
NT. In simple terms, lyo is to fragment or
break up something while teko is to destroy by
liquifying it. Maybe one needs a hammer while the other needs a blender?
fervent heat – kausoo (burn up; set fire to; suffer with feverish
burning; be parched with fever) Our word “caustic” (capable of burning
or destroying organic tissue, corrosive) comes from the same Greek root; cf caustic soda; holocaust (sacrifice by fire; burnt
offering). kausoo is only used twice in the
NT, here and in 2 Peter 3:10.
Not only should we be expecting the coming
of the day of the Lord, but we should be working toward the arrival of such a
day. But Peter’s statement about the thousand years being as one day (2 Peter 3:8) does suggest
that God’s timetable is already set out and that perhaps we cannot actually do
anything toward speeding it up. Therefore it could be
read as “earnestly desiring” the coming of such a day. Note Titus 2:13 – Looking
for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our
Saviour Jesus Christ; This verse also emphasises the earnest expectation that Christians
should have for the coming of that day.
Our earnestness would not be specifically
that the heavens be set on fire, but for the coming of that day which is
associated with the destruction by fire. We should be aware that this day will
not come without such destruction. The old heavens have to go to make way for
the new heavens (see next Vs). The old creation is tainted by sin; the new
creation is characterised by righteousness.
The heavens will be broken up, fragmented,
all cohesion gone, and the elements will be liquified. “elements” can be
translated as “the principles and practices of the old covenant world order”
but could also represent the elements as per the periodic table of elements
which lists all the known pure elements that are the basic building blocks of
everything on earth. Every pure element, every chemical compound, every atom
and molecule, is represented by various combinations of the 118 elements on the
periodic table. Atoms themselves are almost completely empty space. If you were
to compress a block of steel to remove all space in the atoms, then you would
end up with a microscopic speck that would still weigh as much as the original
block. If the earth were to be compressed it would be very small, yet would
retain the same gravity it had before. It is believed that black holes are
places where the gravity is so immense that all atoms collapse and even light
cannot escape the gravity (thus the term “black hole”).
Here it talks of the elements being
liquified by use of fervent heat which could even be a corrosive action that
literally melts all solids into liquid. Note also that extreme heat melts the
hardest metal, making it a fiery liquid.
See Micah 1:3-4 – 3For,
behold, the Lord cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread
upon the high places of the earth. 4And the mountains shall be
molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, [and]
as the waters [that are] poured down a steep place. It is talking
about Samaria and Jerusalem but the picture painted is similar.
2 Peter
3:13 – Nevertheless we,
according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein
dwelleth righteousness.
Nevertheless – or “Moreover”
or “But”
look for – prosdokao (expect; look for; wait for) Used 16 times
in the NT, 3 usages in 2 Peter 3 – “Looking for” (Vs 12) and “look
for” (Vss 13 & 14).
new – either
“recently made” or unused” or “a new kind of”
We see this from a different perspective,
one of the renewing that can only take place after the old has been destroyed.
One person might see the destruction of a house as the end, while another might
see it as the sign of a new beginning, necessary for the building of a new
house that is better in every way. Thus: But we see it according to what God
has promised, that the destruction will make way for a new heavens and new
earth to be created such that righteousness may dwell without conflict.
Daniel 9:24 – Seventy weeks are determined upon thy
people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end
of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness,
and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
And because we desire righteousness, we look
for the new to replace the old, and therefore we expect the old to be destroyed
to make way for the new, all because we trust in the promise of God that this
will happen in that day of the Lord. For one group the day of the Lord is a
time of terror, while to the other group the same day represents the ushering
in of a new creation “wherein dwelleth righteousness”.
Note the old covenant having to be put away
to make way for the new in Hebrews.
2 Peter
3:14 – Wherefore,
beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found
of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
beloved – agapetos
look for – or “are
expecting”, or “are waiting for”
be diligent – spoudazo (to hasten; make haste; exert one’s self;
endeavour; give diligence) It is translated “give diligence” in 2 Peter 1:10 and “will
endeavour” in 2 Peter 1:15. From the same
root word as “hasting” in Vs 12 above.
of him – “by him”, or
“in his sight”
peace – eirene (we get Irene from this word)
without spot, and
blameless – see 1 Peter 1:19 – But
with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without
spot: where “blameless” (amometos) (Vs
14 above) and “without blemish” (amomos) are
derived from the same root word.
Wherefore beloved (here Peter is
clearly talking to Christians of like precious faith to his own faith – 2 Peter 1:1) because you are
looking for (or should be looking for) such things as the destruction of the
old to make way for the new, act as if you expect it to happen. If you truly
believe that God’s promise is sure, then you’ll act accordingly. That means
that you should be diligent (exert yourself; work at it) to ensure that you may
be found by God (or Christ) in peace, without spot (without vice; unsullied by
sin) and blameless (above reproach; not necessarily without sin but not able to
be censured for sin).
We should be the opposite to those false
teachers that Peter describes as “spots and blemishes”.
2 Peter 2:12-14 – 12But
these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of
the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own
corruption; 13And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, [as]
they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots [they
are] and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; 14Having
eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable
souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous
practices; cursed children:
But we are not to be like those “cursed
children” of 2 Peter 2:14!
2 Peter 1:10-11 – 10Wherefore
the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure:
for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11For so an entrance
shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
1 John 2:28-29 – 28And
now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have
confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 29If ye
know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is
born of him.
2 Peter
3:15 – 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;
account – hegeomai (lead; rule; command; leader; prince;
chief; spokesman; consider; deem; account; think) It has the idea of having
authority behind the word. In 2 Peter 1:13 Peter thinks it but doesn’t expect to be ignored. In fact, Peter
uses it 4 times in 2 Peter out of 28 times in the NT. It gives his words
authority that should not be ignored. Here, “account” is more of an
order than a suggestion.
the longsuffering – or “the
patience” The noun form of the verb “longsuffering” used in 2 Peter 3:9.
salvation – soteria (deliverance; preservation; safety;
salvation) From soter (saviour; deliverer;
preserver)
beloved – agapetos
the wisdom – sophia (wisdom; full of intelligence; the knowledge
of diverse matters; science and learning; the knowledge and practice of the requisites
for godly and upright living) We get the name Sophy (or Sophia) from this. Note
“philosophy” is the love of wisdom and knowledge, and “theosophy” is the
knowledge of divine things (allegedly God).
The scoffers of 2 Peter 3:3 would have been
claiming that if God were to do anything, He would have done it by now, yet nothing
has changed for so long, and therefore nothing will change now. But Peter is
telling them to “account” it, that is, get the message straight, that God’s
patience is not because He’s a bit slow off the mark, but that God is following
a certain time pathway for the purposes of salvation.
As far as I am concerned, the salvation
spoken of here must refer to those whose names are written in the Book of Life,
chosen (elect) by the foreknowledge of God the Father as per 1 Peter 1:2. When the Church
is complete (see Romans 11:25) its times will be
fulfilled (pleroma) and salvation will then pass back to Israel (Romans 11:26-27). Then a further
7 years (the final weeks of years as per Daniel 9:24-27) will fulfill the salvation of Israel as well.
Following this is the 1000-year millennial reign of Christ. God has purposed to
save a certain amount (chosen by foreknowledge) and predestined them (again by
foreknowledge – Romans 8:29) to be conformed
to the image of Christ. God’s timeline will neither be short of this number,
nor will it be longer than necessary to bring His Church to complete
fulfillment.
Peter says that Paul through the wisdom
given him by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20-21) has put the same message in writing to them (see next Vs). However,
who “you” might be is uncertain. Some say the Thessalonians, others Ephesians or
even Colossians, or Corinthians, these all being Gentile churches. Note in
particular the passages of Paul that related to the coming of the day of the
Lord, such as 2 Thessalonians 2.
2 Peter
3:16 – 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.
hard to be
understood – dysnoetos (hard to be understood)
From dys (a prefix conveying the idea of
difficulty, opposition, injuriousness, similar to our "mis-" or
"un-" prefixes) and noieo (perceive
with the mind; understand; think upon; heed; ponder; consider) from nous
(the mind; understanding; reasoning) The prefix “dys”
in “dysfunctional” is derived from the Greek prefix dys-.
unlearned – or “ignorant”
unstable – asteriktos (unstable; unsteadfast) Only used twice
in the NT, here and in 2 Peter 2:14a – Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from
sin; beguiling unstable souls:
From sterizo
(make stable; place firmly; set fast; fix; strengthen; make firm; confirm) –
used for “be established” in (and be established in the
present truth) 2 Peter 1:12. Thus “unstable” can be seen as
the opposite of “established” in relation to the truth of the Bible.
wrest – strebloo (twist; turn awry; torture; put to the
rack; pervert or twist language) Sounds like calvinist verbal gymnastics! This
is its only use in the NT.
scriptures – or “writings” (graphe) Unstable and ignorant people twist or
pervert the meaning of Paul’s epistles as they do other writings (probably
meaning the epistles of other NT writers) While they seek to destroy others
through such “wresting”, such distortion of scriptures will lead to their own
utter destruction. This is clearly a continuation of the condemnation of the
false teachers of Ch.2 and probably also applied to the scoffers of 2 Peter 3:3.
The wisdom Paul has written to them is the
same as he has written in all his epistles, where he speaks of such things as Peter
has been saying to them. Some of his writings might be hard to understand,
particularly those referring to the future and the end times. In particular,
there are those (false teachers and scoffers) who are ignorant, lacking a good
biblical foundation, who twist and pervert the true meaning just as they do
with other Scripture. They select difficult passages in order to deceive
others. They think they are profiting from the verbal gymnastics (the
distortion of language), but in actual fact, these are those who through
covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose
judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their
damnation slumbereth not. (2 Peter 2:3)
That is, their destruction is just as
assured as those “beloved” ones are assured of righteousness with the coming
of the day of the Lord. For some it will be life, and others condemnation.
John 5:25-29 – 25Verily,
verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now
is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear
shall live. 26For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he
given to the Son to have life in himself; 27And hath given him
authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28Marvel
not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves
shall hear his voice, 29And shall come forth; they that have done
good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the
resurrection of damnation.
2 Peter
3:17 – Ye therefore,
beloved (agapetos), seeing ye know [these things] before,
beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from
your own stedfastness.
therefore – then;
therefore; accordingly; consequently.
seeing ye know [these
things] before – proginosko (to have knowledge before hand; to foreknow) From pro (before;
beforehand) and ginosko (know; have knowledge
of; perceive; discern)
beware – phylasso (guard; keep watch; keep an eye on; keep
someone safe by watching him; protect someone; avoid; shun; flee from) We get “phylactery”
(a small leather box containing OT texts) from this word.
being led away
with – synapago (to lead away with or
together; to experience with others the force of that which carries away; to
yield or submit one’s self to lowly things, conditions, employments) From syn
(many acting as one; intimately connected with others) and apago
(to lead away, especially of those who are led off to trial, prison, or
punishment) apago is used for “led away” in Mark 15:16 – And
the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Prætorium; and they call together the whole band.
synapago has the idea of
being led away as a group, all together, as one, like following the crowd, or
going astray like sheep.
stedfastness – sterigmos (firm condition; steadfastness especially
of mind) From sterizo (used for “be
established” in 2 Peter 1:12) and opposite in
meaning to “unstable” (asteriktos) of
Vs 16 above.
Thus, beware lest you become as one of those
“being led away with the error of the wicked”.
2 Peter 1:8-10 – 8For
if these things be in you, and abound, they make [you that ye shall] neither
[be] barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But
he that lacketh these things is
blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his
old sins. 10Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make
your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
Those to whom Peter is writing should know
these things already (beforehand) even if only because Peter has told them so
earlier in 2 Peter. They should not be ignorant (2 Peter 3:8) nor should they fall away from their stability
(steadfastness) (which would happen if they were led away along with those
wicked ones who were trying to entice them back to the world from which they
had clean escaped – 2 Peter 2:18). Those of the
Church must choose to not ignore (they must “beware”) what God has
promised, for it will certainly come to pass.
2 Peter
3:18 – But grow in
grace, and [in] the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To
him [be] (the) glory both now and for ever. Amen.
knowledge – gnosis
Peter exhorts them to grow, as this appears
to be the remedy against falling away as per Hebrews 6:6 (If
they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance …), also noting that Hebrews 5:12-14 declares them to
be babes on the milk of the word and not the meat. That is, they are immature,
when by this stage they should be more mature. Thus
the writer tells them: let us go on unto perfection (Hebrews 6:1) for this
will we do, if God permit. (Hebrews 6:3). That is, those who do not grow as Christians will probably remain at
risk of apostasy, while growth is a reasonable remedy against such apostasy. Thus it is quite relevant for Peter to exhort them to grow in
grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
The word “wrest” in Vs 16 (twist;
turn awry; torture; put to the rack; pervert or twist language) is one that
particularly brings to mind all those false teachings which demand that the
Bible be translated according to their doctrine. Calvinists are such a people;
they redefine words such as “all” and “many” to avoid conflict, such that “all” often means “not all” (Eg 1 Timothy 2:4) and “many” can never mean “all”
(Eg Matthew 20:28), where “the whole world” only means some of the whole world (Eg 1 John 2:2) and “all (mankind)” means only some of mankind (Eg
John 12:32). This is what I
call “verbal gymnastics”, efforts made to “wrest” (or twist,
pervert) the meaning of a word, phrase or verse such that it is beaten into the
shape that will fit into their corrupt doctrinal jigsaw.
Another example is where John 3:3 is made to
somehow “prove” that one must be born again (regenerated) before one may have
faith to believe in Christ. They do this by changing “see” into “have faith
in”, conveniently ignoring 2 Corinthians 5:7 which teaches that sight and faith are opposing ideas (For
we walk by faith, not by sight.) They also somehow “prove” that “the
determinate counsel” and “foreknowledge” of God (Acts 2:23) are synonyms by misusing the Granville Sharp rule
of Greek; they teach that “foreknowledge” is “predeterminate
counsel”.
Yet that is impossible, both logically and scripturally. They say that Christ’s
sheep hear His voice (John 10:27) because they are
His chosen elect, yet when Jesus “came unto His own” people (Israel,
His own sheep of the old covenant), His own “received Him not” (John 1:11). Etc etc etc etc
….ad infinitum (ad nauseum?)! When interpreting the Bible, therefore, take the
plain straight-forward meaning wherever such meaning makes sense.
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