2 Peter 3:9-11
The Voice
Scoffers use the delay in His second coming to question if He is going to return at all. Peter responds by saying that God’s perspective on time is not like ours. What seems long from a finite, human perspective is incredibly short from an eternal one. Peter also describes how God is not slow, but patient. God wants to allow the time needed for as many sinners as possible to turn from their sinful ways. Unlike some depictions of God as vindictive and enjoying inflicting punishment on people, the God we see here desires that all be saved and not destroyed. If we had true spiritual insight, we would not be amazed by the severity of eternal judgment but by the intensity of God’s mercy.
9 Now the Lord is not slow about enacting His promise—slow is how some people want to characterize it—no, He is not slow but patient and merciful to you, not wanting anyone to be destroyed, but wanting everyone to turn away from following his own path and to turn toward God’s.[a]
10 The day of the Lord will come unexpectedly like a thief in the night; and on that day, the sky will vanish with a roar, the elements will melt with intense heat, and the earth and all the works done on it will be seen as they truly are.[b] 11 Knowing that one day all this will come to pass, think what sort of people you ought to be—how you should be living faithful and godly lives,
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2 Peter 3:9-11
New International Version
9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise,(A) as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient(B) with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.(C)
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.(D) The heavens will disappear with a roar;(E) the elements will be destroyed by fire,(F) and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.[a](G)
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives
Footnotes
- 2 Peter 3:10 Some manuscripts be burned up
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