2 Peter 3:13

2 Peter 3:13 But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Expanded Translation

But (though this world shall surely be destroyed as I have described), in accordance with his promise to grant us such, we look with anticipation and expectation for new, fresh, unused heavens and a new, fresh, unused earth.

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But, according to his promise,

We are again reminded of our promises, as in 2 Peter 1:4. See also 2 Peter 3:9. The promise of a heavenly home for the righteous is repeated several times in Scripture: John 14:1-3, Luke 20:34-36 (that world), etc. But see especially Isaiah 65:17; Isaiah 65:22; Revelation 21:1, where the new heavens and new earth are promised. Note our discussion of the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:11). In that new world, righteousness and justice shall dwell, that is, shall prevail and be practiced everywhere. And there shall in no wise enter into it anything unclean, or he that maketh an abomination and a lie: but only they that are written in the Lamb's book of life (Revelation 21:27).

we look for new heavens and a new earth,

But precisely what is meant by new heavens and a new earth? The word kainos, according to the lexicons, is used with respect to form or quality, and means fresh, unused, novel. W. E. Vine tells us that it does not necessarily mean new in time, but new as to form or quality, of a different nature from what is contrasted as old. The new (kainos) tomb in which Joseph of Arimathea laid the body of the Lord (Matthew 27:60, John 19:41), was not a tomb recently hewn from the rock, but one that had never yet been used or occupied, in which no dead person had lain (which would have made it ceremonially unclean). It might have been hewn out a hundred years before, but in view of the fact that it had not been used, it is termed kainon (from kainos). So heaven may be ready and waiting for us now, and perhaps will wait for another thousand years, but it will still be kainos as long as it is unused and unoccupied.

Had Peter wanted to say that the new heavens and earth were only the old remade or cleansed, he would probably have chosen another Greek wordneos, which also means new. Thayer says neos denotes the new primarily in reference to time, the young, recent; kainos denotes the new primarily in reference to quality, the fresh, unworn. This distinction is confirmed by Vine, for in speaking of neos he says it may be a reproduction of the old in quality and character. but no such statement is made of kainos, used here.[81]

[81] The careful Greek student will want to read Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament, pp. 219-225, where neos and kainos are distinguished.

Because of the above distinction, along with what is said elsewhere in Scripture, it is difficult to believe that our eternal home will be on this globe, for it is very used, yea, worn out! Jesus said, I go to prepare a place for you (John 14:2). Did Christ go to some place on earth?[82]

[82] The Jehovah's Witnesses have made hamburger out of this verse! They affirm that the world to be destroyed is only Satan's system of human society. The earthly globe, they say, will remain forever and will never be burned up or desolated. (Make Sure of All Things, 1053 ed., p. 108). Others have made all kinds of speculations concerning this changed earth and how it shall be used after cleansing. See Barnes-' Notes on this verse. Also, The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Vol. IV, pp. 2337-2358.

John saw a new heaven and new earth [kainos in both instances]: for the first heaven and the first earth are passed away; and the sea is no more (Revelation 21:1). No, the heavens and earth that shall then be are not the heavens and earth we have at present. It shall not be a renovated earth, but brand new!