Verse-by-Verse Commentary
The Book of 2 Peter
Chapter 3: The Day of the Lord Will Come
Second Peter 3, the apostle's final chapter, answers the mockers who deny Christ's return and calls believers to holy readiness. 'There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming?' They forget that the same word of God that made the heavens once flooded the world, and now keeps them 'reserved unto fire against the day of judgment.' God's apparent delay is not slackness but mercy: 'one day is with the Lord as a thousand years,' and 'the Lord is not slack concerning his promise... but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.' Yet the day is certain: 'the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night,' when 'the heavens shall pass away' and 'the elements shall melt with fervent heat.' So Peter asks, 'what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness?' We look for 'new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness,' and are to 'grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.' This chapter shows us the certainty of Christ's coming and the holy life it calls forth.
About This Commentary
This is a verse-by-verse study of 2 Peter chapter 3, the final chapter of the epistle. For each section you will find the KJV text, the Greek words that sharpen the meaning, plain explanation, and a Gospel Focus. Here Peter answers the scoffers who deny Christ's coming, reveals God's patience as mercy, and calls believers to holy living as they await the new heavens and new earth. Every Scripture quotation is from the King James Version.
Setting the Stage
Where Is the Promise?
Mockers deny the coming of the Lord.
Not Willing Any Perish
God's delay is longsuffering mercy.
As a Thief in the Night
The heavens pass, the elements melt.
New Heavens and Earth
Wherein dwelleth righteousness; grow in grace.
The Lord Is Not Slack Concerning His Promise (2 Peter 3:1-9)
Scoffers deny Christ's return, forgetting God's word of creation and judgment; but His delay is not slackness, it is longsuffering mercy, that all might repent.
Not Willing That Any Should Perish
"This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
Word Study
"scoffers," Greek empaiktes (ἐμπαίκτης). The word means a mocker, a scoffer, one who ridicules and makes sport of what is sacred; it is related to the verb used when the soldiers "mocked" Jesus. "There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts." Peter foretells that the last days will be marked not only by false teaching but by open mockery of the faith, especially of the promise of Christ's return. And he exposes the root of their scoffing: they are "walking after their own lusts." Their mockery is not really an intellectual problem but a moral one; they ridicule the coming judgment because they do not want to face it, preferring to live for their desires. Their taunt is, "Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were", they argue from the seeming sameness of the world that nothing will ever change, that God does not intervene. But Peter says they are "willingly... ignorant"; they deliberately forget that God's word once made the heavens and once flooded the world in judgment. The scoffer's confidence rests on a chosen blindness to God's past acts. So empaiktes warns us that mockery of the faith is to be expected, and that it usually springs not from honest doubt but from a heart that wants to sin freely. We are not to be shaken by the scoffer's ridicule, but to remember that the God who spoke the world into being and once judged it by water will surely keep His promise to come again.
Explanation
Peter warns that "there shall come in the last days scoffers," mocking, "Where is the promise of his coming?" They argue that nothing changes — but they are "willingly... ignorant" that God once judged the world by the flood. Two truths answer the scoff. First, God's timelessness: "one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" — He is never late by heaven's clock. Second, His mercy: "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise... but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." The delay we mistake for absence is grace, holding the door open.
Gospel Focus
Peter writes this "second epistle" to "stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance," calling believers to remember both "the holy prophets" and "the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour." The word of the prophets and the apostles stands together as our authority. Then he addresses a specific danger of "the last days": "scoffers, walking after their own lusts," who mock the promise of Christ's return: "Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." Their argument is that the world just goes on unchanged, so no divine intervention will come. But Peter exposes the flaw: "this they willingly are ignorant of." They deliberately forget two great acts of God's word. First, creation: "by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water." The world exists because God spoke. Second, judgment: "the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished." God once judged the whole world by the flood. The same word that created and once judged by water now keeps "the heavens and the earth, which are now... reserved unto fire against the day of judgment." The scoffers say nothing ever changes; Peter says God has intervened before and will again, by fire next time. Then he answers the deepest question, why the delay? First, God's timeframe is not ours: "one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." God is not bound by our sense of time; what seems long to us is nothing to the eternal God. Second, and most beautifully, the delay is mercy: "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." God's apparent slowness is not indifference or forgetfulness; it is patient love. Every day the judgment is delayed is another day of opportunity for sinners to repent. The God who will judge is "not willing that any should perish", His heart is that all would turn to Him and be saved. So the delay that scoffers mock is actually the space of God's mercy. We do not doubt Christ's coming because it tarries; we thank God that His patience gives more time for repentance, and we use that time to call the lost to the Saviour.
New Heavens and a New Earth (2 Peter 3:10-18)
The day of the Lord will surely come and dissolve this world, so believers live holy lives, looking for the new heavens and new earth, and grow in the knowledge of Christ.
Grow in Grace, and in the Knowledge of Our Lord and Saviour
"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 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? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 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; 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. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen."
Word Study
"new," Greek kainos (καινός). The word means new, but not merely new in time (that is a different Greek word, neos); kainos means new in kind, fresh, of a new and better quality, renewed. "We, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." Peter does not promise merely a second creation identical to this one, but a kainos creation, a world made new in quality, cleansed and glorified, purged of the curse and corruption. This present creation, groaning under sin, will be dissolved by fire, "the elements shall melt with fervent heat," not to be annihilated forever, but to be renewed. And the great mark of the new world is stated in one word: "wherein dwelleth righteousness." In this present age righteousness is a stranger, often opposed and rarely at home; but in the new heavens and new earth, righteousness will be permanently at home, dwelling there. It is the same kainos that describes the "new creature" a believer becomes in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) and the "new heaven and a new earth" John saw (Revelation 21:1). So kainos fills our hope with something better than a mere return to Eden: a creation renewed and perfected, from which sin and death are forever banished, and in which righteousness dwells at last. This is the promise we look for, and its certainty shapes how we live now.
Explanation
When it comes, "the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night," and "the elements shall melt with fervent heat," the present order dissolved. The conclusion is intensely practical: "what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness," "looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God," awaiting "new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." Peter commends Paul's letters as "scripture," warns against wresting them, and gives the final charge: "Beware lest ye also... fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."
Gospel Focus
Having shown that God's delay is mercy, Peter now affirms the absolute certainty of the end: "the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night." It will be sudden and unexpected, and it will be cosmic: "the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." This present universe, corrupted by sin, will be dissolved by fire. Then Peter draws the practical application, the great "so what" of the coming judgment: "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness?" If the whole world is passing away, we should not cling to it, but live holy lives, "looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God." Remarkably, our godly living and evangelism can even "hasten" that day. And Peter lifts our eyes past the fire to the glory beyond: "we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." This is our hope, not annihilation but a renewed creation, cleansed and perfected, where righteousness will dwell at home forever. Because of this hope, Peter urges, "be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless." We prepare for that day by pursuing holiness now. And once more he frames God's patience as grace: "account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation", every delay is an opportunity for more to be saved. Then Peter makes a striking statement: he refers to "our beloved brother Paul," whose letters contain things "hard to be understood," which the unstable twist "as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction." Notice that Peter places Paul's epistles alongside "the other scriptures", an early witness that the apostolic writings are Scripture, the very word of God. He warns believers not to be "led away with the error of the wicked" and lose their "stedfastness." And the letter, and Peter's known writings, close with a final, beautiful charge: "grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." The Christian life is not static but growing, ever advancing in grace and in the knowledge of Christ. And the closing doxology is given to Jesus, "to him be glory," for the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is God, worthy of glory now and forever. So as we await the certain day of the Lord and the new creation where righteousness dwells, we live holy, count God's patience as salvation, hold fast to the Scriptures, and keep growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever.
Chapter 3 in Review
Second Peter 3 answers the scoffers and calls for holy readiness. "In the last days scoffers" will mock, "Where is the promise of his coming?", forgetting that God's word made the heavens, flooded the old world, and now keeps this one "reserved unto fire." God's delay is not slackness but mercy: "one day is with the Lord as a thousand years," and He "is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." Yet "the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night," when "the elements shall melt with fervent heat." So, "what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness," looking for "new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness"? Peter closes: "grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen."
For the Apostolic reader this final chapter is a bracing call to hope and holiness. It assures us that Christ's return is certain, however long delayed and however loudly mocked, because the God who created and once judged the world by water will surely judge it by fire. It reveals the tender heart of God in the delay: He is "not willing that any should perish," so His patience is the space of salvation, more time for the lost to repent. It fixes our hope not on this passing world but on the "new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness," and presses the practical question: since all this will be dissolved, what kind of holy people ought we to be? It bears early witness that the apostolic writings are "scriptures," the word of God. And it ends with the goal of the whole Christian life, to "grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ," to whom, as God our Saviour, belongs glory now and forever. So we live holy, count God's patience as mercy, hold fast the Scriptures, look for the new creation, and keep growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- "Scoffers" mock Christ's coming, "walking after their own lusts" (3:3-4).
- "One day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" (3:8).
- God is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (3:9).
- "The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night" and dissolve this world (3:10).
- We look for "new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness" (3:13).
- "Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (3:18).
Questions for Reflection
- Are you shaken by scoffers, or anchored in the certainty of Christ's return?
- Do you see God's patience as mercy, "salvation," giving time for repentance?
- Since "all these things shall be dissolved," what "manner of persons" are you becoming?
- Are you actively growing "in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ"?
References & Sources
Scripture is quoted from the King James Version (KJV). Supporting passages are listed so every claim can be verified in its own setting. Scoffers in the last days; the word of creation and judgment: 2 Peter 3:1-7; Jude 17-18; Genesis 1; Genesis 7:11-23. God's timeless patience, not willing that any perish: 2 Peter 3:8-9; Psalm 90:4; Ezekiel 18:23; 1 Timothy 2:4. The day of the Lord; new heavens and new earth: 2 Peter 3:10-13; Matthew 24:35-44; Isaiah 65:17; Revelation 21:1-4. Holy readiness; Paul's letters as Scripture; grow in grace: 2 Peter 3:14-18; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Timothy 3:16; Colossians 1:10. If anything here does not look right, a verse, a reference, or a wording, please tell us at info@FruitBearers.net. Thank you for helping us keep Bible Learning error free.
- Scoffers deny His coming; the word of creation and judgment: 2 Peter 3:1-7; Genesis 7:11-23.
- God's timeless patience; not willing any perish: 2 Peter 3:8-9; Psalm 90:4; Ezekiel 18:23.
- The day of the Lord; new heavens and new earth: 2 Peter 3:10-13; Isaiah 65:17; Revelation 21:1.
- Holy readiness; Paul's letters as Scripture; grow in grace: 2 Peter 3:14-18; 2 Timothy 3:16.