2 Peter 3:2,5-13

From Reconciling understandings of Scripture and Science
(Redirected from 2 Peter 3:2,5-6)
Jump to navigationJump to search

BibleNew Testament2 Peter

RSV

2 that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles.

. . . 

5 [Scoffers] deliberately ignore this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago, and an earth formed out of water and by means of water, 6 through which the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished.
7But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist have been stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
8But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up.
11Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of persons ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be kindled and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire!
13But according to his promise we wait for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.


This passage alludes to the "new heavens and new earth" of Isaiah 65:17.

Vv. 2, 5-6 are cited in The Fourth Conversation: various interpretations of Genesis 1:1 to 2:3 (such as those of Peter Watkins and Alan Hayward) emphasise that God's spoken Word precedes the act of creation.

See The Heavens for discussion of what the "heavens" are in the Bible, how many there are, whether they should be read literally, and whether they should be understood as layered, successive (as implied by their destruction in this chapter), or both.

See also Created, formed and made and Literal and Figurative Creation in the Bible.