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2 Peter 3:9 KJV
2 Peter · chapter 3 · verse 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.2 Peter 3:9 · King James Version
What 2 Peter 3:9 means
Peter is answering people who said the delay proved nothing was coming. His answer reframes it: the waiting is mercy rather than absence. As some men count slackness admits how it looks and denies the conclusion in the same line.
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2 Peter 3:9 in context
7But 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.
8But, 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.
9The 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.
10But 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.
11Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
Commentary
Cross references
- 1 Timothy 2:4
- Romans 2:4
- Habakkuk 2:3
- Psalms 86:15
- Isaiah 30:18
- Revelation 2:21
- 1 Timothy 1:16
- 2 Peter 3:15
Key words (Strong's)
- longsufferingmakrothymeōto be of a long spirit, not to lose heart, to persevere patiently and bravely in enduring…G3114 →
- promiseepangeliaannouncement, promise, the act of promising, a promise given or to be given, a promised…G1860 →
- willingboulomaito will deliberately, have a purpose, be minded, of willing as an affection, to desireG1014 →
- perishapollymito destroy, to put out of the way entirely, abolish, put an end to ruin, render useless…G622 →
- counthēgeomaito lead, to go before, to be a leader, to rule, command, to have authority over, a…G2233 →
- Lordkyrioshe to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding master, lord…G2962 →
Topics
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We are here told that the Lord is not slack - he does not delay beyond the appointed time; as God kept the time that he had appointed for the delivering of Israel out of Egypt, to a day (Exo 12:41), so he will keep to the time appointed in coming to judge the world.
— Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on verses 9-10