Nov. 12, 2025

Dear Friends,

I hope you can join us tonight as we conclude our study of 2 Peter 3 (which also concludes the letter itself). We will study vv. 9-18. Notes are attached.

LIVING THE CHRISTLIFE

WAYNE BARRETT

NOVEMBER 12, 2025

2 Peter 3

pt. 2

8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a

thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is

patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the

day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly

bodiesa will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.b

11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness

and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens

will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his

promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

14 Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or

blemish, and at peace. 15 And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother

Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, 16 as he does in all his letters when he speaks

in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant

and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. 17 You therefore, beloved,

knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and

lose your own stability. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To

him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

______________________

v 8 – was studied last week

v 9 – “The Lord is not slow …”

God’s timing is exactly right—and the Lord’s return is not guided by our impatience or our

perception of what constitutes “slow.”

But is patient toward you –the Lord is giving you time to repent, the “you” perhaps particularly

directed at those who may hear the letter but have not yet repented of their sins

“not wishing that any should perish”

The Lord does not desire people to be destroyed, to be condemned after death—although many

are

wishing – boulomai, - willing, intending, desiring, planning

John 3:16 summarizes beautifully what God’s desire for people is.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”—Matthew 11:28

What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not

leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if

he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never

went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones

should perish.—Matthew 18:12-14

a Or elements; also verse 12 [ESV]

b Greek found; some manuscripts will be burned up [ESV]

2

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for

all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet

life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our

Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.—1

Timothy 2:1-4

“The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one

who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.”—

Revelation 22:17

“reach” – chóreó - come to, enter, receive

repentance—the only pathway to salvation

v 10 – “But the day of the Lord …”

meaning his return and all that then follows

“like a thief” – when you’re not expecting it, in a surprising way

more lit. “in which the heavens will pass away with a roar …”

What will happen in the heavens—is what Peter describes first

“The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord

comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls

upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”—Acts 2:20-21, Peter is quoting Joel 2:31

“Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything

written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like

a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden

destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they

will not escape.—1 Thessalonians 5:1-3

Scripture here and elsewhere prophesizes some type of global catastrophe(s)—perhaps

caused by a celestial event (such as a meteor or comet strike) or a geological event

(volcanoes filling the sky with ash) or a man-made event (such as caused by nuclear

detonations). Perhaps some other grim possibility. Whatever it is, it will “come like a

thief.”

But what Peter says here goes beyond earthly catastrophes which people (who survive)

endure, at least for a season. This is the complete destruction of the “heavens”

“and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved”

“heavenly bodies’ – stoicheion - element, principle, rudiment. “Heavenly bodies” seems to be a

translation stretch, even in this context. It seems more likely that the apostle means the

elements that comprise the earth, or, perhaps, all components of matter itself. These

“elements” will be burned up and dissolved.

“and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.”

more lit. “and the earth and the works in it will [not] be found [heuriskó].”

Some mss. have “not.” If we read “will not be found,” the meaning is perhaps more obvious—

meaning all will have been destroyed. If read “will be found,” it means that the earth and the

works in it will be found by the destruction that is being described—the earth and its works

will not escape.

vv 11-13 – “Since all these things …”

If true, and it is! this is a perspective-shaping truth. What should we invest in and live for?

3

holiness – lit. “holy conduct” – and godliness, perhaps with a focus on a person’s inner life and

character—two sides of the same coin

Peter reiterates what will happen at the end, but it is not the complete end

“But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which

righteousness dwells”—this is where all is headed. A new creation. We should be aware that

in Peter’s day this teaching would have been met with just as much skepticism and even

ridicule as it is by some today.

What may be more disturbing is how underemphasized this teaching is in the Church.

v 14 – “Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting …”

A reminder to live in holiness for the Lord—and at peace.

“waiting for” – prosdokaó – expecting

vv 15-16 – “And count the patience of our Lord …”

patience – makrothymia – long-suffering. Referring back to v 9. Instead of listening to

suggestions that the Lord is slow to fulfil his promise, understand that he is patiently

enduring much, allowing more time for people to come to salvation.

“just as our beloved brother Paul …”

An important mention of Paul by Peter—and, in particular, Paul’s letters

Peter acknowledges that some things in them are difficult to understand—and that this is

exploited by ignorant and unstable people—then and now!

What is widely recognized as being of high importance is Peter’s writing “as they do the other

Scriptures,” showing that Peter himself recognized Paul’s letters as being Scripture

v 17 – “You therefore …”

A warning not to be led astray by false teaching

lawless people – to be called “lawless” was about as bad as it got, particularly among the Hebrew

Christians. To be lawless was to be without any moral restraint—a godless, evil person with

no conscience to speak of.

v 18 – “But grow in the grace …”

A final encouragement. The Christian life is not static—we are to grow.

Ending in a word of praise to Christ.