3:1 the second letter The first letter is likely 1 Peter. This may indicate that the audience is the same for both letters, unless this refers to correspondence that is now lost. The contents of 1 Peter could certainly fit what is said here about this first letter.

Dear friends A term of endearment used in other writings in the nt (see note on 1 John 2:7).

3:2 the words proclaimed beforehand As in 2 Pet 1:16–21, Peter is appealing to his readers to remember what they were taught by him and by Scripture (particularly the ot prophets) regarding the second coming of Christ.

commandment of the Lord Peter may have in mind the entire message about Jesus’ saving work, which necessitates action (see note on 2:21). Considering the context of this remark, Peter may also specifically have in mind Jesus’ words about His second coming.

your apostles A reference to those who founded the church Peter addresses, and perhaps more particularly the 12 apostles and the Apostle Paul (Mark 3:13–19; Acts 1:12–14; 9:1–19; compare 2 Pet 3:14–16).

3:3 last days Peter is referring to things happening in his own day. This phrase describes the time between Jesus’ ascension to heaven (shortly after His resurrection) and the time when Jesus will return again (see Acts 2:17; Heb 1:2).

scoffers Refers to people disputing the truth of Jesus’ return (His second coming); this may be a reference to the false teachers or to a larger group (perhaps the false teachers and those who followed them).

following according to their own desires The false teachers and their followers acted like they had a form of godliness, but they were lacking the transformative power of Jesus in their lives; their decision to repeatedly choose and condone sin showed that they did not understand Jesus (2:1–16; compare 2 Tim 3:5).

3:4 Where is the promise of his coming The scoffers (or mockers) point to the fact that Christ has not yet returned as evidence for their understanding of the world. In the scoffers’ view, God is not going to intervene and judge (compare Jer 17:15 and note; Mal 2:17 and note).

the fathers fell asleep This may refer to the patriarchs of Genesis, though the first generation of church leaders is another option.

3:5 the earth held together out of water A reference to Gen 1:9–10, where dry land emerges from the waters, which in the ancient worldview, now surround the land (with water above the sky, below the land, and beside the land). This description reflects common cosmological beliefs in the ancient world (see note on Gen 1:6).

by the word of God The scoffers are claiming that Jesus’ return will not come to pass because, in their limited perspective, things have essentially been the same since creation. Peter counters the argument of the scoffers by claiming that the world came into being by God’s word (see Gen 1:3 and note; Heb 11:3) and God has continued to speak since that time.

3:6 destroyed Peter uses the example of God sending the flood (in response to humanity’s great wickedness) to show that contrary to the scoffers’ beliefs, things have indeed changed since creation (Gen 9–11).

3:7 heavens In this context, this refers to the area above the earth (the sky).

by the same word That is, God’s word (see 2 Pet 3:5 and note). If God once created and destroyed the world by His word, then His promised judgment will surely come to pass.

reserved for fire After the flood, God promised that He would never again judge the world by water (Gen 9:11). Many passages speak of a coming judgment using fire imagery (e.g., Deut 32:22; Isa 66:15–16, 24; Zeph 1:18; Mal 4:1; 2 Thess 1:7–8).

destruction of ungodly people As with the judgment of the flood, the focus of the future judgment is not creation itself; it is human sin. Also like the flood, in the future judgment the ungodly will be destroyed while those deemed godly will be spared (see 2 Pet 2:5, 9). The scoffers will not be tolerated forever; they will experience judgment.

3:8 is like a thousand years People, as finite beings, cannot expect to understand God’s timing, so they should not expect Christ to return according to their timetable. This is an allusion to Psa 90:4.

3:9 The Lord is not delaying the promise Peter argues against the scoffers’ accusation (2 Pet 3:4).

is being patient toward you God delays the second coming so that more people can be redeemed. The day Christ returns, His entire kingdom will be inaugurated and evil will be purged from the world.

does not want any to perish God wishes for all people to come to faith and be saved. Within the context of v. 9, this phrase indicates that Jesus has not returned yet because God desires that none be lost (or perish). Every day before Jesus returns is a day of grace and represents the possibility of more people turning to Him and receiving eternal life (compare John 3:16–17).

come to repentance Refers to turning toward God and away from sin. God desires that none perish; however, this will ultimately be a necessary consequence of the world becoming good and holy again, as God will not force His will upon those who resist it.

Repentance

3:10 the day of the Lord This is an ot concept that describes Yahweh’s full judgment of and reconciliation with the world. Peter’s relation of the Day of the Lord to Jesus’ second coming further adds to the evidence that Peter identifies Jesus with Yahweh Himself. This fits with the imagery from the book of Daniel (see note on Dan 7:13). See Amos 5:18–20; Joel 2.

like a thief Jesus’ return will be an unexpected event. See 1 Thess 5:2 and note; Matt 24:43–44; Luke 12:39–40; Rev 3:3; 16:15 and note.

the heavens will disappear Jesus also refers to the passing away of the heavens (or the sky), contrasting it with the permanence of His words (Matt 24:35; Mark 13:31; Luke 21:33). The same image is used toward the end of Revelation (Rev 21:1; compare Rev 6:14).

celestial bodies will be destroyed by being burned up The Greek word stoicheia can refer to the physical elements (earth, air, fire, water), the heavenly bodies (sun, moon, stars), or spiritual powers (see Gal 4:9; Col 2:8, 20).

will be disclosed While some Greek manuscripts read katakaēsetai (often translated “burned up”) here, the more likely original reading is heurethēsetai (often translated “found” or “laid bare”). The implication is that on the day of judgment all of the deeds done on earth will be brought to light.

3:11 in holy behavior and godliness Peter is primarily interested in the present-day ethical implications of Christ’s coming rather than trying to explain exactly what it would look like. Here, he refocuses his readers on the issue at hand: living as people who honor God in contrast to the immoral urgings of the false teachers.

3:12 hastening Peter stresses that his readers are not to sit around idly waiting for Jesus to return, but should instead busy themselves with the work He left for them to do (compare Acts 3:19–20).

3:13 according to his promise Peter has now refuted the viewpoints of the scoffers (2 Pet 3:4), so his audience can be confident in God’s promise to bring justice on the day of the Lord (the day of Jesus’ return).

new heavens and a new earth The terminology of a new heavens and new earth is found in Isaiah (Isa 65:17; 66:22) and is picked up in the nt here and in Revelation (Rev 21:1).

righteousness resides The new heavens and new earth will be the permanent home of righteousness. There will be no more evil.

3:14 these things Refers to the coming of the Day of the Lord and the new heavens and new earth. Since only the righteous will be at home in the new heavens and new earth, Peter’s audience should take an interest in righteousness in the present.

spotless and unblemished Believers are to be morally pure (living ethically before God), in contrast with the false teachers (see 2:13; compare 1 Pet 1:19).

3:15 patience of our Lord as salvation The scoffers regarded the delay in the Jesus’ return as evidence that He would not come after all. Believers should take the delay in Jesus’ return as evidence of His patient desire to save.

our dear brother Paul wrote to you The recipients of this letter knew Paul, and had received at least one letter from him. Paul expressed a similar view as Peter on the delay of Christ’s return (see Rom 2:4; 9:22–24).

3:16 ignorant and unstable distort Even at this early stage of church history, Paul’s writings were being misrepresented (see note on 2 Pet 3:4–12).

the rest of the scriptures Peter expresses a high regard for Paul’s writings, classifying them as part of the sacred writings of the early church.

3:17 lose your own safe position The false teachers have moved from Christ to destructive heresy (2 Pet 2:20–22). Peter aims to caution his audience against this (see note on 1:10).

error of lawless persons The false teachers are characterized by their immorality; this same word is used of the people of Sodom in 2:7.

grow in the grace and knowledge Peter asserts that the best way to resist incorrect teachings is to grow in understanding of Christ and His work.

glory The full honor belongs to Jesus (compare note on Rom 1:23).

day of eternity This is a fitting closing in light of Peter’s emphasis in this letter on the Day of the Lord. Glory is given to Jesus both now and on the day when He returns in glory.