Antidote Against Despising the Day of the Lord. Exhortation. Doxology
2 Peter 3 may be subdivided into three parts: (a) 2 Peter 3:1-7. 'This Second Epistle is a reminder of what prophets and apostles have said. Those who would understand it must first know that, though mockers will deny this, there will be an end of the present world by fire, as once it was overwhelmed by water. This will be a day of judgment and destruction for the ungodly. (b) 2 Peter 3:8-13. As for the delay, which induces some to doubt this, time to God is not what it is to us, and His delay is due to His longsuffering will that men should be saved. When the day does come, it will be sudden, and since it is surely approaching, we ought to be preparing the way for it by holy living. (c) 2 Peter 3:14-18. Be holy then, and consider that God's longsuffering is a means of attaining spiritual health. This is the teaching of St. Paul's letters, though some mischievously pervert their meaning. Do you keep free from error and grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, to whom be glory now and when that day of eternity shall come.' The mockers may be different persons, but are probably the same as the false teachers. Here, as in 2 Peter 2, the Apostle speaks of an evil which is expected in the future, but of which he already sees the signs: cp. Acts 20:30; 1 Timothy 4:1-5; 2 Timothy 3:1-9.