II Peter 3:12
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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.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
hasting unto--with the utmost eagerness desiring [WAHL], praying for, and contemplating, the coming Saviour as at hand. The Greek may mean "hastening (that is, urging onward [ALFORD]) the day of God"; not that God's eternal appointment of the time is changeable, but God appoints us as instruments of accomplishing those events which must be first before the day of God can come. By praying for His coming, furthering the preaching of the Gospel for a witness to all nations, and bringing in those whom "the long-suffering of God" waits to save, we hasten the coming of the day of God. The Greek verb is always in New Testament used as neuter (as English Version here), not active; but the Septuagint uses it actively. Christ says, "Surely I come quickly. Amen." Our part is to speed forward this consummation by praying, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Rev 22:20). the coming--Greek, "presence" of a person: usually, of the Saviour. the day of God--God has given many myriads of days to men: one shall be the great "day of God" Himself. wherein--rather as Greek, "on account of (or owing to) which" day. heavens--the upper and lower regions of the sky. melt--Our igneous rocks show that they were once in a liquid state.
Open source ↗The apostle drawing towards the conclusion of his second epistle, begins this last chapter with repeating the account of his design and scope in writing a second time to them (Pe2 3:1-2). II. He proceeds to mention one thing that induced him to write this second epistle, namely, the coming of scoffers, whom he describes (Pe2 3:3-7). III. He instructs and establishes them in the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to judgment (Pe2 3:8-10). IV. He sets forth the use and improvement which Christians ought to make of Christ's second coming, and that dissolution and renovation of things which will accompany that solemn coming of our Lord (Pe2 3:11-18).
Open source ↗3:12 looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along: God’s people can hasten the end by their repentance and godly living (cp. Acts 3:19-20). • the elements will melt away: Cp. Mic 1:3-4; see also Isa 63:19–64:1.
Open source ↗Cross-references
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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, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.
All the stars of heaven will be dissolved. The skies will be rolled up like a scroll, and all their stars will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like foliage from the fig tree.
The mountains will melt beneath Him, and the valleys will split apart, like wax before the fire, like water rushing down a slope.
as we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
Our God approaches and will not be silent! Consuming fire precedes Him, and a tempest rages around Him.
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.
being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
keep yourselves in the love of God as you await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you eternal life.