Faithful Steward Ministries and FSM Women's Outreach

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Some may ask, if God wishes none to perish, why do so many perish? To this I answer that no mention is made here of the hidden purpose of God, according to which the reprobate are doomed to their own ruin, but only of God’s will made known to us in the gospel. For God stretches forth his hand to all, but lays hold only of his own to lead those to himself whom he has chosen before the foundation of the world.

(365 Days with Calvin)

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In v.8, (ESV), Peter writes But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. Here in our text for today, we have one of the most abused and confused verses of the Bible. Do not mistake my implication, Peter’s writing is not confusing, man’s interpretation of God’s Holy Word is confused.

Peter begins v.9 with the reassurance that God will (even considering the eons of v.8) always keep His promises. It is the closing two phrases, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance that seem to get turned upside down.

Does God make wishes? Seriously, what kind of “god” would he be if He were wishing things to happen and not directing (as a sovereign creator/ruler) everything. The ESV’s translation of “wishing” comes from the Greek wanting βουλόμενός (boulomenos), Verb – Present Participle Middle or Passive – Nominative Masculine Singular. It is refering to the will of God not some distant hope of His.

Secondly, who is the “that all” Peter (under the direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit) writes of? CONTEXT is everything, who is Peter writing to 3:1 enlightens us, This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder. Peter is writing to those (beloved) he considers in fellowship with Christ. In fact, the opening verses of Chapter 1 make this clear.

The apparent confusion in the phrase comes from trying to make the word “everyone” a noun and the subject of the verse. However, this word in Greek πάντας (pantas) is an Adjective – Accusative Masculine Plural and is used to describe the true subject, repentance.

If we change the context and make “everyone” the subject of this verse we change God’s will and have Universalism¹. The idea in this thought; is that everyone no matter how good, bad, repentant or not, will be saved. I wonder how they deal with subjects like Hell and Judgement?

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CONTEXT

2 Peter 3:1–18

The True Knowledge of God Protected

The First Reminder—Judgment Is Coming, 3:1–7
The Second Reminder—Mercy Is Here for a Time, 3:8–10
The Third Reminder—Live Godly, Wait Patiently, 3:11–18

Setting Up the Section – Chapter 3 transitions from a description of the false teachers to encouragement for the readers. It is a chapter of reminders meant to help the church understand who God is, how to stay true to His message, and how to live in a world with false teachings.

Mark Strauss, ed., Hebrews Thru Revelation, vol. 12, Layman’s Bible Commentary (Barbour Publishing, 2008), 112.

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v.9 – The Lord is not slack concerning his promise; i. e. doth not defer the fulfilling of it beyond the appointed time, Isa. 60:22. As some men count slackness; either the scoffers here mentioned, who, because of Christ’s not yet coming, questioned whether he would come at all, as if God had changed his purpose, or would not fulfil it: or believers themselves, who, through the weakness of their faith, and greatness of their sufferings, might grow into some degree of impatience, and think Christ slow in coming to avenge their cause, and give them their reward. So much may be gathered from Rev. 6:10. But is long-suffering to usward; to us believers, or us elect. Not willing that any should perish; any that he hath ordained to life, though not yet called. But that all should come to repentance; all whom he hath elected; he would have the whole number of them filled up, and defers the day of judgment till it be so: or this may be meant not of God’s secret and effectual will, but of his revealed will, whereby he calls all to repentance promiscuously that hear the gospel preached, hath made it their duty, approves of it, hath prescribed it as the way of salvation, commanded them to seek salvation in that way, and is ready to receive and save them upon their repenting: see 1 Tim. 2:4.

Matthew Poole, Annotations upon the Holy Bible, vol. 3 (New York: Robert Carter and Brothers, 1853), 926.

v.9 –“Not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” We are wont to connect statements like this with the gracious messages of the New Testament. Yet some saints of earlier time felt all that St. Peter here teaches. The writer of Ecclesiasticus has some striking words. He is connecting God’s mercy with the shortness of man’s life, and his language anticipates in the main this teaching of the Apostle: “The number of a man’s days at the most are a hundred years. As a drop of water unto the sea, so are a thousand years to the days of eternity. Therefore is God patient with them, and poureth forth His mercy upon them. The mercy of man is toward his neighbour, but the mercy of God is upon all flesh; He reproveth, and nurtureth, and teacheth, and bringeth again as a shepherd his flock” (Ecclus. 18:9–14). In such wise had some who waited for the consolation of Israel grasped God’s promises by anticipation, seeing them afar off, and being persuaded of them. Such men owned themselves, equally with the Apostle, to be strangers and pilgrims, and sought for that inheritance which Christ sent him to preach.

The word “wishing” (βουλόμενος) implies deliberate consent. This God does not give to the death of any sinner. If any perish it is not because God so desired or designed. But some will ask, “Why, then, should any perish?” St. Peter in this sentence, full of grace, supplies the answer. They continue in sin, and repent not. Even offers of mercy are of no avail. But why does not the Almighty Father drive them to repentance by His judgments? Because He has made His children free, and asks from them a willing service. They are to come to repentance. The invitation is full and free. Christ says, “Come unto Me, all ye that labour.” Nay, God makes at times a less demand: “Look unto Me and be ye saved, all ye ends of the earth.” Could words breathe more of mercy? To come, to look—that is the sole demand. God bestows all besides. Let men but manifest a desire, and His grace is poured forth. He wisheth not that any should perish.

And Christ, too, when He speaks of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, has the same lesson. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost all conspire to further the work of man’s salvation. “All things,” said our Lord, “whatsoever the Father hath, are Mine. Therefore said I, He shall take of Mine, and shall show” (R. V. declare) “it unto you.” But the eye to see what He shows, the ear to hear His declarations—these He asks from men. He willeth that they should come to repentance, and through that gate should come to Him.

J. Rawson Lumby, “The Epistle of St. Peter,” in The Expositor’s Bible: Ephesians to Revelation, ed. W. Robertson Nicoll, vol. 6, Expositor’s Bible (Hartford, CT: S.S. Scranton Co., 1903), 749–750.

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DEVOTIONS

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