2 Peter 3:9 — God’s Heart For His Wayward Children
2 Peter 3:9 reads:
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Oftentimes in the midst of theological conterversy and debate, we can focus so much on the mitutia of certain biblical texts that we fail to appreciate their true meaning and context. Today’s verse is one such text. 2 Peter 3:9 is considered one of the “big three” in the primary list of proof-texts for Arminian theology, with the other two being John 3:16 & 1 Timothy 2:4. At first glance, one who is familiar with the relevant theological issues will easily percieve how this text has been used against those who profess and promulgate the doctrine of eternal salvation solely by the sovereign grace of God. This text has been used to attack our God’s freedom of choice in the matter of salvation as presented in the doctrine of Unconditional Election. It has been used likewise to attack our Savior’s victorious and effectual work of redemption upon the cross for His particular people, as represented in the doctrine of Limited Atonement. It is readily propped up by the advocates of free-will salvation as presenting us with a god who is doing his very best to eternally save his creatures, a god who is begging and pleading with them to comply with his conditions in order to escape the pains of hell, but whose cries and pleas will ultimately be for naught, as the vast majority of those whom he wished to save end up perishing forever.
But is this the impression that Peter intended to give his readers? Is this the god whom Peter preached? On the contrary, I would like to offer an alternative suggestion, one which takes into consideration the broader context of Peter’s epistle. In order to ascertain the true meaning of this verse, I will highlight four points:
- The general theme and purpose of this epistle
- The immediate preceding context of 3:9
- The Exegesis of the 3:9 itself
- The immediate subsequent context of 3:9
2 Peter — Purpose and General Theme
In the first place, it is needful whenever interpreting any verse of scripture to bear in mind the book as a whole, and the broader context thereof. Peter begins his epistle in chapter 1 verses 3–11 with a lengthy discussion on adding godly character qualities to our God-given faith. Now that his audience had “escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (v. 4), they are to “give all diligence” to add these qualities (v. 5). Peter does not assume a fatalistic attitude towards practical sanctification in the Christian life. He does not expect his readers to sit around and do nothing while God monergistically causes them to walk in the Spirit. On the contrary, Peter not only admonishes them to give all diligence in persuing these godly character qualities, but warns of the consequences of not doing so. If we are diligent in seeking to walk in the Spirit, we will never be barren or unfruitful (v. 8). Conversly, the believer (i.e the saved, born again child of God) who fails to walk in the Spirit, the one who fails to “give all diligence”, is described spiritually as being blind, as a man who is unable to see afar off (likely a reference to Christ’s future advent, more on that later), and who has forgotten even the past reality of having been cleansed from his past sins (v. 9).
After repeating his admonishment to diligence, with the promise of abundant entrance into the kingdom (vs. 10–11), Peter states the focus of his epistle:
2 Peter 1:12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.
Peter’s purpose is to put his audience in remembrance of these important truths, to the end that they may be “established” in the truth. To be “established” is to be firmly planted or founded in something. In this context, Peter is exhorting his audience to perseverance in the truth. In verse 11 he called on them to “make your calling and election sure” so that they would “never fall”. Fall from what? Certainly not from their eternal salvation. Rather, he is referring to them falling off of the narrow path of discipleship.
In chapter 2, Peter continues along this same theme, this time warning about the arrival of false teachers who would seek to lead many of the Lord’s people astray. After a scathing condemnation of such teachers in verses 1–17, Peter then offers a very real warning to God’s own people:
2 Peter 2:18–22 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Many people often assume that this passage isn’t really referring to children of God or true believers. Rather, they assume that Peter is merely describing those who have, what they have arbitrarily styled, “false faith”. That is, those who think that they believe, but in reality don’t actually believe, as evidenced by their being decieved by false teachers. But such an interpretation flies in the face of what has already been established in chapter 1. Peter is writing to born again children of God, admonishing them to walk the narrow path so as not to “fall”. This chapter is now describing those children of God who sadly end up “falling” due to the influence of false teachers. Notice that verse 20 states that these individuals had “escaped the pollutions of the world” through the knowledge of Christ, which is directly hearkening back to 1:3–4. Thus, it can be clearly seen that the first two chapters of 2 Peter are dealing with the subject of perseverance in the faith and the walk of discipleship, not maintaining ones eternal salvation.
The Preceding Context of 2 Peter 3:9
Having established the general focus of chapters 1–2, it is now helpful to examine the beginning portion of chapter 3. In this chapter, Peter introduces yet another class of enemies to the Gospel, while still bringing everything back around to the main subject by the end of it all. The chapter begins:
2 Peter 3:1–4 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
This second category of persons are distinguished from those in chapter 2 in that these individuals are described moreso as skeptics rather than blatant pseudo-Christian false teachers. They will come apparently after a long period of time has passed, mocking God’s people for their hope in our Lord’s return.
Peter then offers two rebuttals to the argument presented by these scoffers:
2 Peter 3:5–8 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
Peter indicates that these individuals are aware of, and apparently believe, the flood narrative of Genesis. This indicates that he might have Jewish opposers to the faith in view, however the principle would still apply to other sorts of unbelievers doubting the promise of Christ’s second coming. Peter essentially offers two rebuttals to their argument:
- Just as God destroyed the ancient world of the ungodly through water, so now he plans on one day destroying the present world of the ungodly by fire
- Time with God is not the same as time for us. To put this in contemporary context, for us it has been over 2,000 years since Christ’s first coming, but for God it has only been a little over 2 days.
Exegesis of 2 Peter 3:9
It is in this context that we find Peter’s controversial statement:
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Contrary to the claims of such scoffers, the Lord is not “slacking off” when it comes to the fulfillment of his promises. On the contrary, he is longsuffering, or patient, to “us-ward”. It is at this point that we must highlight a few key points of the text. Peter specifically identifies the objects of God’s longsuffering. The phrase “us-ward” is simply an archaic way of saying “toward us”. So God is longsuffering “toward us”. Moreover, the word “any” in the following clause, “not willing that any should perish”, is a pronoun. All pronouns require an antecedent, thus the antecedent to “any” is clearly “us”, while “all” likewise modifies “us”. Thus Peter’s statement should be read as follows:
“but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any [of us] should perish, but that all [of us] come to repentance”
But what exactly is Peter’s point here? How does his previous discussion of the Lord’s second coming relate to God’s desire for “us” (referring in the immediate context to his own audience to whom he was writing) to come to repentance? Moreover, how does this relate to the “perishing” mentioned in this verse? The answer is found in rest of the chapter.
The Subsequent Context of 3:9
2 Peter 3:10-12But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
Notice how Peter ties the eschatological subject with which he is dealing in this chapter in with the original message of the epistle — the godly walk of discipleship for the believer. This is the key to understanding verse 9. Peter is telling us that our eschatology ought to inform our walk with the Lord. Our hope in the future return of the Lord Jesus Christ (regardless of how one parses out the prophetic details leading up to this marvellous event) is what all Christians have in common, and it ought to be our motivation in serving him in this life. Notice how Peter elaborates on this same point:
2 Peter 3:13–15 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 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;
There are two main points to notice here. Firstly, notice that Peter reiterates his instruction to “be diligent”! This giving of diligence is not for nothing. In fact Peter offers a very sobering and eye-opening reason as to why we ought to give such diligence: so that we may be “found of him in peace, without spot, blameless”. This is an utterly remarkable statement on Peter’s part which doesn’t seem to get much attention in american pulpits these days. Peter is telling us explicitly that since we are looking for our Lord’s return, we ought to walk in such away that we are ready and prepared to be found by him walking as we ought to walk. This of course implies that many of God’s people may be found of Him not walking “in peace, without spot, blameless”, and will therefore be ashamed before him at his coming (cf. 1 John 2:28). If that doesn’t get the believer’s attention, I’m not sure of what else will! Secondly, notice what Peter says in verse 15. He tells his audience to “account that the longsuffering of the Lord is salvation”! This directly relates back to verse 9 where the “longsuffering” of God is mentioned. The “salvation” in view here is clearly salvation from the “perishing” in verse 9. But is this eternal salvation from an eternal perishing? This surely cannot be if we grant the truth of eternal salvation by sovereign grace, and if we have been paying attention to the context up to this point. When we keep in view the context, it is easy to see that Peter has a temporal perishing and a temporal salvation in view here.
Peter’s sentiment is not original to him. The Old Testament prophets expressed this exact same desire on God’s part for his people to turn from their backslidden ways and repent. Take the prophet Ezekiel for example:
Ezekiel 18:30–32 herefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. 18:31Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? 18:32For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.
The prophet Jeremiah also gave this very encouraging word after Jerusalem had been destroyed by the Babylons due to her sin and constant rebellion against Jehovah:
Lamentation 3:31–33 For the Lord will not cast off for ever: But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.
God’s chastisement of His people is that of a Father towards His children. He does not take delight when they perish for their sins, and He does not take delight in bringing suffering upon them for their sins. God’s ultimate desire for His backslidden children is that they turn and live. He is not willing that they perish, but that all of them come to repentance. I believe that is the message that Peter is giving to his audience in 2 Peter 3:9.
Chapter 3 closes with the same admonishment to perseverance that Peter began with in chapter 1:
2 Peter 3:17–18 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
This is a genuine warning for all believers. God’s people must “beware”. They must give “diligence”, so as to avoid being led away with the error of the wicked. Yet in the midst of such warnings, there is a message of hope. For all who have fallen, backslidden, and fallen from their own steadfastness, the longsuffering of the Lord is salvation! He stands ready to receive every wayward child of His if they will but repent and turn to him.
