2 Pet. 3 2 Pet. 3:1–7 The apostle declareth it to be the design of both his Epistles to remind the brethren of Christ’s coming to judgment, in opposition to scoffers. 2 Pet. 3:8–9 No argument can be drawn against it from the delay, which is designed to leave men room for repentance. 2 Pet.

This second epistle: this confirms what has been said, that this Epistle was written by Peter, as well as the former. I stir up your pure minds; or, sincere minds: the sense is either: 1.

The words which were spoken before by the holy prophets; the word of prophecy, 2 Pet. 1:19; he joins the prophets and apostles together, as concurring in their doctrine, and so useth it as an argument to persuade them to constancy in the faith of the gospel, that what the apostles preached to them…

Knowing this first; especially, as being very necessary to be known. The apostle having in the former chapter cautioned these saints against the more close enemies of the gospel, seducers and false teachers, here he foretells them of more open enemies, profane scoffers. In the last days: see 1 Cor.

And saying, Where is the promise? Questioning or denying the great truths of the gospel, thereby to encourage themselves in walking after their own lusts. Of his coming; viz. Christ’s, mentioned 2 Pet. 3:2.

For this they willingly are ignorant of; they will not know what they ought to know, and, if they would search the Scripture, might know. That by the word of God; the command of God, or word of his power, as it is called, Heb. 1:3, Gen. 1:6, Gen. 1:9, Ps. 33:6, Ps. 148:5.

Whereby; by which heavens and water, mentioned in the former verse, the fountains of the great deep being broken up, and the windows of heaven opened, Gen. 7:11.

The heavens; the ethereal, or starry heaven, as well as aerial; for, 2 Pet. 3:10, 2 Pet. 3:12, he distinguisheth the heavens that are to perish by fire, from the elements; and 2 Pet.

Be not ignorant of this one thing; i.e. be sure of it: the same word is here used as 2 Pet. 3:5; and so he cautions them against the ignorance of scoffers, and to prevent it, would have them certainly know this one thing, which is extant in the Scripture, which foretells Christ’s coming.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise; i.e. doth not defer the fulfilling of it beyond the appointed time, Isa. 60:22. As some men count slackness; either the scoffers here mentioned, who, because of Christ’s not yet coming, questioned whether he would come at all, as if God had changed his…

But the day of the Lord; the day of judgment is here called the day of the Lord by way of eminence, as the great day, Jude 6, and the great day of God Almighty, Rev. 16:14, and the day of the Lord Jesus, 1 Cor. 1:8, 1 Cor. 5:5, 2 Cor. 1:14, Phil. 1:6, Phil. 1:10.

Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved; seeing the coming of the Lord will be so terrible, as to bring with it the consumption of the world, and the destruction of these things here below, upon which we are so apt to set our affections.

Looking for; patiently waiting for, and expecting. And hasting unto; by fervent desire of it, and diligent preparation for it. The coming of the day of God; the day of the Lord, 2 Pet. 3:10.

Nevertheless we, according to his promise: see Isa. 65:17, Isa. 66:22, Rev. 21:1, Rev. 21:27, to which this text seems to refer, speak of a new state of the church here in the world, yet by way of allusion to the renovation of the world, which is ultimately there promised, and the perpetuity of the…

Such things; Christ’s coming to judgment; the destruction of this world; a new heaven and a new earth, in which dwells righteousness. Of him; Christ the Judge.

And account; reckon with yourselves, and be confidently persuaded; or take for granted. The longsuffering of our Lord; viz. in his not yet coming to judgment, and bearing with so much sin in the world without presently punishing it. Is salvation; i.e.

As also in all his epistles; to make the sense complete, we must supply here from the former verse, he hath written. Speaking in them of these things; viz.

Seeing ye know these things, which I have been now writing to you of, viz. That the Judge will certainly come; or, that heretics, deceivers, and scoffers will come; or both may be comprehended. Beware lest ye also; as well as others have been.

But grow in grace; in all those spiritual gifts ye have received from Christ, especially sanctifying. And in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; in faith, whereby ye are sanctified, and made partakers of that grace.