The Second Epistle of Peter chapter 3

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:

I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is my sincere Prayer that you are being Blessed even as you read this email.

Today, be begin the study of the Second Epistle of Peter chapter 3.

3:1, 2 Peter clearly places the holy prophets of the Old Testament on the same level of inspiration and authority as the apostles of Christ in the New Testament, emphasizing the inspiration of all Scripture.

3:3-7 Peter further  warns that in the last days of the church age, scoffers (lit., "mockers") will ridicule the promise of Christ's second coming. He further states that arguments based on supposedly unchanging processes since creation fail to recall the severity of the flood of water upon the earth. Just as God once destroyed the world by water, so it is now reserved unto fire until the day of judgment. See the description of fiery judgments in Revelation 17-19.

3:9 God is not willing that any should perish clearly expresses desire for the salvation of all who will trust in Him. Salvation is equated here repentance.

3:10-13 The day of the Lord here refers to the return of Christ in judgment, not the Rapture, since this day results in final apocalyptic judgment. The heavens that shall pass away with a great noise are the atmospheric heavens. The elements shall melt with fervent heat certainly could refer to a nuclear holocaust. Thus, Peter urges his readers to look beyond this present world to the new heaven and a new earth characterized by righteousness.

3:14-18 Peter's reference to our beloved brother Paul indicates that the rift between Peter and Paul was not permanent (Galatians 2:14). Peter further refers to Paul's epistles in relation to the other scriptures by equating them with all other Scripture, including the Old Testament.

Yours in Jesus Christ,

Bishop William B. Caractor