Selected Studies from 2 Peter Part 4: Directives for Living in Dangerous Days: An Exposition of 2 Peter 3:14-18a -- By: D. Edmond Hiebert

Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 141:564 (Oct 1984)
Article: Selected Studies from 2 Peter Part 4: Directives for Living in Dangerous Days: An Exposition of 2 Peter 3:14-18a
Author: D. Edmond Hiebert


Selected Studies from 2 Peter
Part 4:
Directives for Living in Dangerous Days:
An Exposition of 2 Peter 3:14-18a

D. Edmond Hiebert

[D. Edmond Hiebert, Professor Emeritus of New Testament, Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary, Fresno, California]

Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, and regard the patience of our Lord to be salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest, being carried away by the error of unprincipled men, you fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pet 3:14–18a. NASB).

The contents of 2 Peter naturally divide into three parts, clearly marked by the chapter divisions. The first chapter portrays the nature of the Christian life with its challenge to continuing growth and maturity, built on the sure foundation of God’s revelation. The spiritual growth and maturity of the readers will be their best safeguard against the moral and doctrinal perversions which will confront them in the dangerous days ahead. Chapter 2 is a ringing polemic against the depraved false teachers who will seek to mislead God’s people, while chapter 3 deals with the denial of the return of Christ by immoral mockers.

In the third chapter Peter refutes the mockers’ denial of Christ’s return (vv. 1–7), presents the correct view concerning Christ’s return (vv. 8–13), and concludes with timely exhortation

to his readers in view of the dark and dangerous days facing them (vv. 14–18). These concluding exhortations readily fall into two parts. The two exhortations in verses 14–16 are linked to the thought of the eschatological future prominent in this chapter, while the two final exhortations in verses 17–18a gather up the themes of chapters 2 and 1, respectively.

The opening ...

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