Catholic Commentary on 2 Peter 3

"But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells." (2 Peter 3:13)

The Day of the Lord

Scoffers will come in the last days, following their own evil desires and saying: where is this coming he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation. But they deliberately forget that the world was formed out of water and by water, and by water it was deluged and destroyed. The present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment. But do not forget this one thing: with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with us, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire; the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought we to be? We ought to live holy and godly lives as we look forward to the day of God. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. The Catechism identifies this hope as the eschatological horizon of all Christian moral effort: we live in the light of a coming world where righteousness is finally at home (CCC 1048).

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, the Lord is patient with us, not wanting anyone to perish. The delay is not slowness but mercy: every day the Lord waits is a day more people have the opportunity to repent. Live with that awareness. The time you have today is a gift of divine patience. Use it for the repentance and the holiness that makes ready for the world where righteousness dwells.

Prayer

Lord God, patient beyond our understanding, not wanting anyone to perish: use the time you give us for repentance and holiness. We look forward to the new heaven and new earth where righteousness dwells. Until that day comes, make us holy and godly in all our conduct. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

3
The Coming Judgment
(Genesis 7:1–24; Jude 1:17–23)
1 Beloved, this is now my second letter to you. Both of them are reminders to stir you to wholesome thinking 2 by recalling what was foretold by the holy prophets and commanded by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.
 
3 Most importantly, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.* 3:3 See Jude 1:18. 4 “Where is the promise of His coming?” they will ask. “Ever since our fathers fell asleep, everything continues as it has from the beginning of creation.”
 
5 But they deliberately overlook the fact that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water, 6 through which † 3:6 NA through whom the world of that time perished in the flood. 7 And by that same word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
The Day of the Lord
(Zephaniah 1:7–18; Malachi 4:1–6; 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11)
 
8 Beloved, do not let this one thing escape your notice: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.‡ 3:8 See Psalms 90:4. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.
 
10 But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed § 3:10 Or dissolved; also in verses 11 and 12. by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.* 3:10 Or will not be found. BYZ and TR will be burned up; SBL, NE, and WH will be found, i.e., will be unable to hide.
 
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness 12 as you anticipate and hasten the coming of the day of God, when the heavens will be destroyed by fire and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with God’s promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
Final Exhortations
 
14 Therefore, beloved, as you anticipate these things, make every effort to be found at peace—spotless and blameless in His sight.† 3:14 Or to be found by Him in peace, without spot and without blemish.
 
15 Consider also that our Lord’s patience brings salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom God gave him. 16 He writes this way in all his letters,‡ 3:16 Or in all the letters speaking in them about such matters. Some parts of his letters are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort,§ 3:16 NA will distort as they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.
 
17 Therefore, beloved, since you already know these things, be on your guard so that you will not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure standing. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.
 
Amen.* 3:18 NE, WH, and NA do not include Amen.

*3:3 3:3 See Jude 1:18.

†3:6 3:6 NA through whom

‡3:8 3:8 See Psalms 90:4.

§3:10 3:10 Or dissolved; also in verses 11 and 12.

*3:10 3:10 Or will not be found. BYZ and TR will be burned up; SBL, NE, and WH will be found, i.e., will be unable to hide.

†3:14 3:14 Or to be found by Him in peace, without spot and without blemish.

‡3:16 3:16 Or in all the letters

§3:16 3:16 NA will distort

*3:18 3:18 NE, WH, and NA do not include Amen.

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