2 Peter 3:10-18
We have come to the end of Peter’s contribution to the holy Scriptures. At least we have come to the end of Peter’s official contribution. We can never fully know the extent to which Peter contributed to and influenced the other writers. Most scholars believe that Peter was behind Mark’s Gospel. This is not to suggest that Peter wrote it, but that Peter was Mark’s eyewitness to the events. Clearly, Peter influenced Paul, John, and others as well.
It is a shame that Peter gets overlooked in many Christian circles today. For centuries, Peter’s position held primacy due to the Catholic Church’s position on tracing its authority back to Peter. Protestants came along and seemed to run in the other direction and give Paul primacy. Both Peter and Paul would have rejected such thinking, as must we. Both Peter and Paul are equal in the eyes of the Lord, and both only write what the Holy Spirit inspires them to write.
We are going to pick up where we left off two weeks ago by looking at verse 10 again. Verse 10 is what transitions us from Peter’s discussion on why it is necessary to reject the false teachers who claim Jesus is not going to return and what he says next.
Jesus is going to come like a thief in the night. This does not mean Jesus is going to come without people knowing, or under the cover of darkness, but rather that, just like a thief, He is not going to announce ahead of time when He will come.
I said last time that scholars are undecided on what the rest of the verse means. We are simply not given enough information on how the heavens will pass away, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and what it means that the earth and the works on it will be disclosed. It would not surprise me to learn that Peter didn’t know what these things meant either. The Lord gave him an insight, and Peter dutifully wrote it down. Here is why I think this.
Look at verse 11. Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way. Another way to say this would be, “Since this is going to happen…” here is what you need to do. Peter says, “it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness.” Whatever this passing away and dissolving looks like, the conduct of God’s holy people should be the same.
Let’s imagine for a second we understood exactly what was going to happen and what it will look like. Our inclination would then be to set ourselves up to be prepared for what comes next. We would want to be positioned to take optimal advantage of what the world would like next. By not telling us exactly what we are going to encounter, God instead wants us to be holy in our conduct and act in godliness to everyone.
There is one standard we are to live by and we are not tempted to try and position ourselves for the future. Here is how we are to live as we wait for the day of God and hasten its coming. Can we influence when Jesus returns? Can we make Jesus return sooner?
Some think this statement says that, but that may not be the case. Here is where Bible translation becomes difficult. The only other places the Greek word appears are in Luke and Acts, and each time it means to speed up or hasten. As Bible translators try to be consistent in their translations, it can lead to misunderstanding. This word can also mean to eagerly desire something. Therefore, even though it means to speed up or hasten in every other occurrence, Peter probably intended the alternative meaning.
Throughout Peter’s letters, he has been cautioning us to remain patient, even to understand how God is patient. It makes little sense, then, to think Peter is now asking us to hurry God up. Instead, we eagerly desire the return of Jesus, and therefore, here is how we should conduct ourselves.
How the end is going to look is less important than the fact it is going to happen. That is the point of verse 13. Based on the promise of God, we wait for a new heaven and a new earth. Whether they come about because God completely destroys both or by transforming and renewing is irrelevant. There are Scripture passages that can be taken to argue both points. What matters to Peter, and therefore to us, is that it is going to happen.
While we wait for these things to happen, our job is to make every effort to be found without spot or blemish in His sight, at peace. The way we do that is first and foremost, accept the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. Without the blood of Christ nothing we do makes an difference eternally. At the same time, acknowledging Jesus does not give us a license to do whatever we want.
Also, regard the patience of our Lord as salvation. This goes back to understanding that God is being patient to give people a chance to respond and to give us time to get our act together. God is being patient because God is love and desires all to know Him.
Peter then mentions that this is what Paul has been writing. This shows us that these letters were copied and shared with other churches. The people clearly have heard of Paul and read the things Paul has written. Unsurprisingly, they don’t understand everything Paul wrote.
Even Peter admits to struggling with some, but notice Peter never says Paul doesn’t know what he is talking about. Peter doesn’t reject Paul’s writings simply because they are hard. He understands that Paul is being inspired.
Yes, there are hard things, but we must be watchful because some will try and twist them. Peter calls these people untaught and unstable. The key to knowing if someone is twisting Scripture is to look at who the teaching benefits. A common sign that someone is twisting Scripture is that it always works to benefit them. As Peter points out, they do this with all Scripture.
One of the things I hear a lot, especially in SBC circles, is that we need to look for the plain and simple understanding of passages. This is, unless, of course, the plain and simple doesn’t fit their agenda, and then it is too complex for the average person to understand. Peter here says that some of the things Paul writes are hard to understand. Plain and simple are not words Peter used to describe Paul, and Peter is much closer to Paul, has the same cultural understanding, the same language, plus he walked, talked, and ate with Jesus.
Peter says we know all of this in advance, so be on guard so that you are not led astray. The danger in being led astray is that you fall from your own stable position. Peter is not saying you can lose salvation, because that would be inconsistent with other Biblical teaching, but you can be led down a path where you stumble and fall. It is still possible to get back up, but you must reject the false teaching to do so.
Peter and Barnabas were led astray by false teaching and Paul had to rebuke them. Both men accepted Paul’s rebuke and returned to the path of holy conduct and godliness.
Peter then ends with the plea to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This has been the point of both letters. We are not forgiven and saved to continue living the life we previously lived. We are called to grow in both grace and knowledge.
To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.