2 Peter 3:15 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,

NIV: Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.

NASB: and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you,

CSB: Also, regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our dear brother Paul has written to you according to the wisdom given to him.

NLT: And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him —

KJV: And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

NKJV: and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,

It's understandable that God's people would be eager to get to the day of the Lord. Saved believers want to see the new heaven and new earth. That's especially true in our times of suffering, and it is exactly what we should be longing for (Colossians 3:1–4).

Unlike the false teachers, however, Christians must not view the seeming delay in the coming of Christ as evidence that God is unloving or unfaithful or has broken His promise. Instead, as he did in verse 9, Peter again writes that any such delay is motivated only by God's patience. What we are tempted to think of as God waiting too long is really an expression of His desire to bring salvation to as many as possible. God's timing is motivated by love, not indifference.

Peter recognizes here that Paul has written something similar. Maybe he had in mind Romans 2:4, where Paul mentions God's patience and says that God's kindness is meant to lead to repentance. In any case, Peter acknowledges that Paul's wisdom comes from God and calls Paul a beloved brother. This is helpful to us because it confirms what is already clear from a careful reading of the New Testament: The inspired writings of each of the books establish and support each other. Peter, Paul, and the other writers all wrote the words of God through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16).

None of the apostles were sinless men themselves though. Writing in one of his letters, Paul said that he rebuked Peter "to his face" at one point for sinful hypocrisy (Galatians 2:11–14). All the same, near the end of Peter's life, he speaks warmly of his brother Paul and affirms Paul's authority to speak on behalf of God as a full apostle.

2 Peter 3:14–18 concludes Peter’s letter. Because Christians are looking forward to the new heavens and earth, we should be working now to set aside sin and live in peace with God. Peter acknowledges that Paul is a writer of Scripture. False teachers twist the words of God. Since Christians know God’s Word, though, we are responsible not to be misled by the false teachers. Instead, we should continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus and to give Him glory.

Peter dismantles the arguments of false teachers working to mislead Christians in the early church. He counters their idea that since Jesus has not yet returned, He must not be coming. Peter reminds His readers that God created the world. The flood of Noah's day is evidence that He is willing to bring judgment on the earth for sin. God is not late, He is patient and merciful. But the day of the Lord will come eventually. Everything will be destroyed. A new heaven and earth will be established. Christians should live as if that’s true.

After thoroughly condemning the false teachers in chapter 2, Peter now dismantles their arguments. These deceivers scoff that Christ has not returned as promised. We should doubt Christ's return, they say, since the world goes along as it always has and always will. Peter reminds his readers that God is the one who made the world. Noah’s flood is evidence of His willingness to alter the course of nature in order to bring judgment on humanity for sin. Christians should be looking forward to the new heavens and earth, rejecting false teaching, and leading holy lives.

Apparently written shortly before his death in the AD 60s, 2 Peter may have been written to the same audience as 1 Peter, which was Christians scattered by persecution. Peter writes this letter to encourage Christians to live out the purpose of their lives in Christ. He warns readers to beware of teachers who claim to be believers, but present a false version of Christianity. And, Peter calls on all Christians to eagerly watch and wait for the return of the Lord.