2 Peter 3: The Day of the Lord

Short answer: 2 Peter 3 addresses scoffers who doubt Christ's return, reminding readers that God's timing differs from ours and that His patience allows time for repentance. It urges believers to live holy lives, be ready for the day of the Lord, and grow in grace and knowledge.

What 2 Peter 3 says

The chapter opens with a reminder. Peter says this is his second letter, and in both he stirs up sincere minds by way of reminder. He wants readers to remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the apostles. Then he introduces a key point: in the last days mockers will come, following their own lusts. They will ask where the promise of his coming is, arguing that from the beginning all things have continued as they were. Peter says they willfully forget that the heavens existed long ago and an earth was formed out of water and amid water by the word of God. By that same word, the world that then existed was overflowed with water and perished. But the present heavens and earth are stored up for fire, reserved for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

Verses 8 through 10 turn to God's perspective on time and His purpose in delay. Peter tells his beloved readers not to forget that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but He is patient, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. However, the day of the Lord will come like a thief. In that day the heavens will pass away with a great noise, the elements will be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works in it will be burned up. This sudden and complete destruction is certain, even though its timing is unknown.

In verses 11 through 14, Peter draws a practical conclusion from the coming destruction. Since all these things will be destroyed in this way, he asks what kind of people we ought to be. The answer is people of holy living and godliness, looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God. That day will cause the burning heavens to be dissolved and the elements to melt with fervent heat. But according to His promise, believers look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, since they look for these things, they should be diligent to be found in peace, without defect and blameless in His sight. The future hope shapes present conduct.

The final verses, 15 through 18, connect this teaching to salvation and Scripture. Peter tells his readers to regard the patience of the Lord as salvation, just as Paul also wrote to them according to the wisdom given him. He notes that Paul's letters speak of these things, and some things in them are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unsettled twist, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. Therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, they should beware lest they be carried away by the error of the wicked and fall from their own steadfastness. Instead, they are to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

Verses that carry the chapter

• “knowing this first, that in the last days mockers will come, walking after their own lusts” (2 Peter 3:3) — This verse identifies the coming of mockers in the last days as a key sign, setting up the challenge to the promise of Christ's return.
• “The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but he is patient with us, not wishing that anyone should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) — It explains God's apparent delay as patience, revealing His desire that all should come to repentance rather than perish.
• “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.” (2 Peter 3:10) — It describes the sudden and catastrophic nature of the day of the Lord, emphasizing its certainty and the dissolution of the heavens and elements.
• “But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3:13) — It provides the positive hope of believers: new heavens and a new earth where righteousness dwells, contrasting with the coming destruction.

Gospel connection

The chapter connects to the wider biblical story by pointing to the promise of Christ's return and the final judgment. It echoes the prophetic warnings of the Old Testament about the day of the Lord and the destruction of the wicked, while also holding out the promise of a renewed creation. The patience of God is linked to salvation, showing that His delay is not negligence but mercy, giving people time to repent. This aligns with the gospel message that God desires all to be saved and that Christ will return to judge the living and the dead. The call to holy living and growth in grace reflects the transformative work of the gospel in believers' lives as they await the fulfillment of God's promises.

Application

This chapter asks readers to live with a clear awareness of the future. It calls for holy living and godliness, not out of fear, but out of a genuine desire for the coming day of God. It encourages diligence to be found in peace, without defect and blameless. It also warns against being carried away by error and urges growth in grace and knowledge. Practically, this means examining one's life, turning from sin, and cultivating a hope that shapes daily choices. It means being patient with God's timing, trusting that His delay is for the salvation of others. It also means handling Scripture carefully, not twisting it, and remaining steadfast in the faith.

Biblical fidelity check

The chapter does not claim to know the exact timing of the day of the Lord; it says it will come like a thief. It does not specify the nature of the new heavens and new earth beyond saying righteousness dwells there. It does not explain how the elements will be dissolved or what the great noise will be. It does not identify the mockers beyond their lusts and their denial of the promise. It does not say that Paul's letters are the only Scriptures, but includes them among the Scriptures that can be twisted. It does not claim that God's patience is indefinite, only that it is salvation. It does not give a detailed chronology of end-time events.

Questions for study

1. What reasons do the mockers give for doubting the promise of Christ's return, and how does Peter respond to their argument?
2. How does the contrast between God's timing and human timing in verse 8 affect the way we understand His patience?
3. In what ways does the certainty of the day of the Lord motivate holy living and godliness according to verses 11 and 12?
4. What is the significance of looking for new heavens and a new earth, and how does that hope shape our present conduct?
5. Why does Peter warn about twisting Paul's letters and other Scriptures, and what does that imply for how we read and apply the Bible?

Keep reading

Related studies: 2 Peter 1 Bible Study, 2 Peter 2 Bible Study, Most-Read Bible Study Articles, Genesis: Creation, Fall, Promise, and Covenant.

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FAQ

What does it mean that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years?

It means God is not bound by human time; His perspective on delay and fulfillment is different from ours, so apparent slowness is not slowness at all.

Why is the day of the Lord described as coming like a thief?

It emphasizes that the day will arrive unexpectedly and suddenly, catching people unaware, so believers must always be ready.

How can we grow in grace and knowledge according to this chapter?

By remaining steadfast in the faith, being on guard against error, and actively pursuing a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ through His Word and obedience.