17 Ye G5210 therefore, G3767 beloved, G27 seeing ye know these things before, G4267 beware G5442 lest G3363 ye also, G1601 being led away G4879 with the error G4106 of the wicked, G113 fall from G1601 your own G2398 stedfastness. G4740
For G1063 we are made G1096 partakers G3353 of Christ, G5547 if G1437 G4007 we hold G2722 the beginning G746 of our confidence G5287 stedfast G949 unto G3360 the end; G5056
For G1063 when they speak G5350 great swelling G5246 words of vanity, G3153 they allure G1185 through G1722 the lusts G1939 of the flesh, G4561 through much wantonness, G766 those that were clean G3689 escaped G668 from them who live G390 in G1722 error. G4106 While they promise G1861 them G846 liberty, G1657 they themselves G846 are G5225 the servants G1401 of corruption: G5356 for G1063 of whom G3739 a man G5100 is overcome, G2274 G2532 of the same G5129 is he brought in bondage. G1402 For G1063 if G1487 after they have escaped G668 the pollutions G3393 of the world G2889 through G1722 the knowledge G1922 of the Lord G2962 and G2532 Saviour G4990 Jesus G2424 Christ, G5547 they are G1707 again G3825 entangled G1707 therein, G5125 and G1161 overcome, G1096 G2274 the latter end G2078 is worse G5501 with them G846 than the beginning. G4413 For G1063 it had been G2258 better G2909 for them G846 not G3361 to have known G1921 the way G3598 of righteousness, G1343 than, G2228 after they have known G1921 it, to turn G1994 from G1537 the holy G40 commandment G1785 delivered G3860 unto them. G846 But G1161 it is happened G4819 unto them G846 according to G3588 the true G227 proverb, G3942 The dog G2965 is turned G1994 to G1909 his own G2398 vomit G1829 again; G1994 and G2532 the sow G5300 that was washed G3068 to G1519 her wallowing G2946 in the mire. G1004
For G1063 such G5108 are false apostles, G5570 deceitful G1386 workers, G2040 transforming themselves G3345 into G1519 the apostles G652 of Christ. G5547 And G2532 no G3756 marvel; G2298 for G1063 Satan G4567 himself G846 is transformed G3345 into G1519 an angel G32 of light. G5457 Therefore G3767 it is no G3756 great thing G3173 if G1499 his G846 ministers G1249 also G1499 be transformed G3345 as G5613 the ministers G1249 of righteousness; G1343 whose G3739 end G5056 shall be G2071 according G2596 to their G846 works. G2041
Beware G991 of dogs, G2965 beware G991 of evil G2556 workers, G2040 beware G991 of the concision. G2699
Remember G3421 therefore G3767 from whence G4159 thou art fallen, G1601 and G2532 repent, G3340 and G2532 do G4160 the first G4413 works; G2041 or else G1490 I will come G2064 unto thee G4671 quickly, G5035 and G2532 will remove G2795 thy G4675 candlestick G3087 out of G1537 his G846 place, G5117 except G3362 thou repent. G3340
Wherefore G1352 the rather, G3123 brethren, G80 give diligence G4704 to make G4160 your G5216 calling G2821 and G2532 election G1589 sure: G949 for G1063 if ye do G4160 these things, G5023 ye shall G4417 G4218 never G3364 fall: G4417 G4218 For G1063 so G3779 an entrance G1529 shall be ministered G2023 unto you G5213 abundantly G4146 into G1519 the everlasting G166 kingdom G932 of our G2257 Lord G2962 and G2532 Saviour G4990 Jesus G2424 Christ. G5547 Wherefore G1352 I will G272 not G3756 be negligent G272 to put G5279 you G5209 always G104 in remembrance G5279 of G4012 these things, G5130 though G2539 ye know G1492 them, and G2532 be established G4741 in G1722 the present G3918 truth. G225
Whom G3739 resist G436 stedfast G4731 in the faith, G4102 knowing G1492 that the same G846 afflictions G3804 are accomplished G2005 in your G5216 brethren G81 that are in G1722 the world. G2889
Of whom G3739 be G5442 thou G4771 ware G5442 also; G2532 for G1063 he hath G436 greatly G3029 withstood G436 our G2251 words. G3056
Surely in vain H2600 the net H7568 is spread H2219 in the sight H5869 of any bird. H1167 H3671
That G2443 we henceforth be G5600 no more G3371 children, G3516 tossed to and fro, G2831 and G2532 carried about with G4064 every G3956 wind G417 of doctrine, G1319 by G1722 the sleight G2940 of men, G444 and cunning craftiness, G1722 G3834 whereby G4314 they lie in wait G3180 to deceive; G4106
Therefore, G5620 my G3450 beloved G27 brethren, G80 be ye G1096 stedfast, G1476 unmoveable, G277 always G3842 abounding G4052 in G1722 the work G2041 of the Lord, G2962 forasmuch as ye know G1492 that G3754 your G5216 labour G2873 is G2076 not G3756 in vain G2756 in G1722 the Lord. G2962
But G235 these things G5023 have I told G2980 you, G5213 that G2443 when G3752 the time G5610 shall come, G2064 ye may remember G3421 that G3754 I G1473 told G2036 you G5213 of them. G846 And G1161 these things G5023 I said G2036 not G3756 unto you G5213 at G1537 the beginning, G746 because G3754 I was G2252 with G3326 you. G5216
For G1063 false Christs G5580 and G2532 false prophets G5578 shall rise, G1453 and G2532 shall shew G1325 signs G4592 and G2532 wonders, G5059 to G4314 seduce, G635 if G1487 it were possible, G1415 even G2532 the elect. G1588 But G1161 take G991 ye G5210 heed: G991 behold, G2400 I have foretold G4280 you G5213 all things. G3956
For G1063 there shall arise G1453 false Christs, G5580 and G2532 false prophets, G5578 and G2532 shall shew G1325 great G3173 signs G4592 and G2532 wonders; G5059 insomuch that, G5620 if G1487 it were possible, G1415 they shall deceive G4105 the very G2532 elect. G1588 Behold, G2400 I have told G4280 you G5213 before. G4280
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 2 Peter 3
Commentary on 2 Peter 3 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 3
2Pe 3:1-2
That the apostle might the better reach his end in writing this epistle, which is to make them steady and constant in a fiducial and practical remembrance of the doctrine of the gospel, he,
2Pe 3:3-7
To quicken and excite us to a serious minding and firm adhering to what God has revealed to us by the prophets and apostles, we are told that there will be scoffers, men who will make a mock of sin, and of salvation from it. God's way of saving sinners by Jesus Christ is what men will scoff at, and that in the last days, under the gospel. This indeed may seem very strange, that the New-Testament dispensation of the covenant of grace, which is spiritual and therefore more agreeable to the nature of God than the Old, should be ridiculed and reproached; but the spirituality and simplicity of New-Testament worship are directly contrary to the carnal mind of man, and this accounts for what the apostle seems here to hint at, namely, that scoffers shall be more numerous and more bold in the last days than ever before. Though in all ages those who were born and walked after the flesh persecuted, reviled, and reproached those who were born and did walk after the Spirit, yet in the last days there will be a great improvement in the art and impudence of bantering serious godliness, and those who firmly adhere to the circumspection and self-denial which the gospel prescribes. This is what is mentioned as a thing well known to all Christians, and therefore they ought to reckon upon it, that they may not be surprised and shaken, as if some strange thing happened unto them. Now to prevent the true Christian's being overcome, when attacked by these scoffers, we are told,
2Pe 3:8
The apostle comes in these words to instruct and establish Christians in the truth of the coming of the Lord, where we may clearly discern the tenderness and affection wherewith he speaks to them, calling them beloved; he had a compassionate concern and a love of good-will for the ungodly wretches who refused to believe divine revelation, but he has a peculiar respect for the true believers, and the remaining ignorance and weakness that the apprehends to be in them make him jealous, and put him on giving them a caution. Here we may observe,
2Pe 3:9-10
We are here told that the Lord is not slack-he does not delay beyond the appointed time; as God kept the time that he had appointed for the delivering of Israel out of Egypt, to a day (Ex. 12:41), so he will keep to the time appointed in coming to judge the world. What a difference is there between the account which God makes and that which men make! Good men are apt to think God stays beyond the appointed time, that is, the time which they have set for their own and the church's deliverance; but they set one time and God sets another, and he will not fail to keep the day which he has appointed. Ungodly men dare charge a culpable slackness upon God, as if he had slipped the time, and laid aside the thoughts of coming. But the apostle assures us,
And now who can but observe what a difference there will be between the first coming of Christ and the second! Yet that is called the great and dreadful day of the Lord, Mal. 4:5. How much more dreadful must this coming to judgment be! May we be so wise as to prepare for it, that it may not be a day of vengeance and destruction unto us. O! what will become of us, if we set our affections on this earth, and make it our portion, seeing all these things shall be burnt up? Look out therefore, and make sure of a happiness beyond this visible world, which must all be melted down.
2Pe 3:11-18
The apostle, having instructed them in the doctrine of Christ's second coming,