MY DEAR FRIENDS. AGAPETOI = those who form a _unity_ in Christian love. Peter uses this four times in this chapter. THIS IS NOW. He refers to the Letter of First Peter, and implies that only a short time separates the two letters. See note on 2 Peter 1:13. I HAVE TRIED TO AROUSE. As Peter writes, th... [ Continue Reading ]
TO REMEMBER THE WORDS. The things spoken by the Old Testament prophets. See note on 2 Peter 1:19. The Old Testament prophets predicted the coming of Christ in Judgment (_compare_ Jude 1:14). AND THE COMMAND. The command of Christ to prepare for the Judgment. Peter could mean the whole truth which Ch... [ Continue Reading ]
FIRST OF ALL. The _last days_ began at Pentecost (Acts 2:16-17) and will continue until Christ Comes Again!!! Christians live in a _last-hour situation (see_ 1 John 2:18_ and note)._ False teachers will arise all during the time God's offer of salvation is still in effect!!! MAKE FUN OF YOU. See Jud... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SAY. "These people will say: Where is his promised Coming to raise the dead and destroy the earth??? For from the time of the death of the first race of men, all parts of our universe continue just as they were in the Creation. Christ's Coming is therefore only something which you dreamed up!!!'... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY PURPOSELY IGNORE. "They say the stability of the universe disproves both Creation and any coming destruction. But in saying this they must purposely ignore the facts which they already know! Our universe HAS NOT continued to be just as it was without any changes, as the Flood proves!!!" WAS FOR... [ Continue Reading ]
BY WATER ALSO. _MacKnight_ says: "The reason is, if the word of God destroyed the old world by water, he certainly is able to destroy it a second time." See Genesis 7:11-12.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT NOW EXIST. "But though the destruction of the old world shows that the present world is capable of being destroyed, I do not say that it will be again destroyed by water. The same word of God who destroyed the old world by water, is now preserving the present heavens and earth for their future... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT DO NOT FORGET. "Do not listen to those who say the fact that Christ has not come yet proves he will not come at all. God is not limited by time as we are, and both one day and a thousand years are the same thing to him!" Peter paraphrases Psalms 90:4 to show that God works in ETERNITY!!!... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD IS NOT SLOW. "If the Lord seems slow to keep his promise to destroy the world, it is certainly not because he cannot do it!!!" INSTEAD. God acted in Christ to offer salvation to all mankind! God _desires_ all human beings to hear and come (John 6:44-45; 1 Timothy 2:4-6; Revelation 22:17). W... [ Continue Reading ]
WILL COME AS A THIEF. Compare Matthew 24:36-44 and notes. ON THAT DAY. The _Expositor's Greek Testament_ says: "No distinction is made between the Day of the Lord, and the Coming of Christ. This is remarkable, as excluding any idea of millenarian teaching, which speedily made its appearance in the E... [ Continue Reading ]
SINCE. "Since you know the prediction that all these things will be destroyed in this way, what should be your response??? You should always be prepared for the Lord to Come!!!... [ Continue Reading ]
AS YOU WAIT. See Philippians 3:20 and note. TO MAKE IT COME SOON. Compare note on 1 Corinthians 16:22. This is John's _last-hour situation_ (1 John 2:18 and note). Christians are to have a sense of _urgency_ and pray for Christ to bring the Day of Judgment! This is the attitude which the early churc... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WE WAIT. The Coming will be both judgment for the wicked and triumph for the Kingdom! The Church Militant will become the Church Triumphant!!! NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH. _MacKnight_ understands God's promise to Abraham of Canaan to refer to this new creation, and that Isaiah describes this in... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SO, MY FRIENDS. "Since we expect this whole world-system to be destroyed, we must each do our best to be pure and faultless in God's sight and to be at peace with him. We must firmly hold to _God's finished work in Christ_ as the means of our being _put right with God._ And as God's people, we m... [ Continue Reading ]
AS THE OPPORTUNITY, "Don't think of the Lord's delay in coming as proof that he will not come at all!!! Instead, think of it as the opportunity which he gives all to be saved!!!" See note on 2 Peter 3:9. PAUL WROTE. Remember that much writing was done very early in the life of the church (Luke 1:1-4... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS IS WHAT HE SAYS. This implies that Paul is now dead and that Peter has read everything Paul had written. Note that Peter calls their attention to the fact that Paul wrote the very same thing about the Judgment that he is writing!!! SOME DIFFICULT THINGS. This is not criticism of Paul, but rathe... [ Continue Reading ]
ALREADY KNOW THIS. "You already know all these things I have warned you about. I just want to put you on your guard so that no false teachers will be able to steal your promise away from you and make you fall from your safe position!!!... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT CONTINUE TO GROW. See 1 Peter 2:1-3 and notes. A failure to grow spiritually exposes you to the Devil's power!!! But you never progress _away from_ God's act in Christ to set you free: you progress deeper and deeper _into_ it!!! Everything God has for _his people_ is based on CHRIST-ON-THE-CROSS... [ Continue Reading ]