Read & explore together
The Coming Judgment
Peter writes to remind his readers to think clearly and remember what God has already said. In these verses, he answers people who mock the promise of the Lord’s coming and points to God’s past and future judgment.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
This passage presents itself as Peter’s second letter to beloved readers. He says his purpose is to stir up their sincere mind by reminding them of earlier words from the holy prophets and the commandment given by the apostles of the Lord and Saviour. From that reminder, he addresses mockers and their claims about the world.
2 Peter 3:1–7Main takeaway
This passage teaches that believers should remember God’s word, because mockers ignore what God has already done and God’s word still stands over the world’s future.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A letter of reminderPeter says this is his second letter, and in both letters he is trying to stir up a sincere mind by reminding his readers.
Explanation
Peter says this is his second letter, and in both letters he is trying to stir up a sincere mind by reminding his readers. The aim is not new teaching here, but clear remembering. He wants them to hold on to what they have already been given.
02Remember the prophets and apostlesThe reminder has a clear content. They should remember words spoken before by the holy prophets and the commandment of the apostles of the Lord and Saviour.
Explanation
The reminder has a clear content. They should remember words spoken before by the holy prophets and the commandment of the apostles of the Lord and Saviour. Peter places his readers under a message already spoken, not under the changing opinions of later mockers.
03What the mockers sayPeter says that in the last days mockers will come, living according to their own lusts. Their challenge is aimed at the promise of the Lord’s coming.
Explanation
Peter says that in the last days mockers will come, living according to their own lusts. Their challenge is aimed at the promise of the Lord’s coming. They argue that nothing has changed, because from the fathers falling asleep onward, everything seems to continue as it has since creation.
04What the mockers forgetPeter says their forgetting is wilful. They ignore that the heavens and the earth were formed by the word of God, and that the world that existed then perished when overflowed with water.
Explanation
Peter says their forgetting is wilful. They ignore that the heavens and the earth were formed by the word of God, and that the world that existed then perished when overflowed with water. By that same word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for a coming day of judgment and destruction of ungodly people.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What does Peter say he is trying to do for his readers in this letter?
Look for the repeated purpose word in the opening verse and notice that he wants to stir up a sincere mind by reminding them.
02Which two sources of teaching are Peter’s readers told to remember?
Read carefully for the two groups named in verse 2 and how both are linked to the Lord and Saviour.
03According to Peter, what facts do the mockers willingly forget?
List the two acts of God that answer their claim that everything simply continues unchanged.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
2 Peter 3:1–7
1This is now, beloved, the second letter that I have written to you; and in both of them I stir up your sincere mind by reminding you
2that you should remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets and the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior,
3knowing this first, that in the last days mockers will come, walking after their own lusts
4and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? For, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”
5For they willfully forget that there were heavens from of old, and an earth formed out of water and amid water by the word of God,
6by which means the world that existed then, being overflowed with water, perished.
7But the heavens that exist now and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.