2 Peter 3:1-16

2 Peter 3:1-16

[1] second  epistle,  beloved,  now  write  in  both which  I stir up  pure  minds  by way  of remembrance:  [2] of the words  by  the holy  prophets,  and  of the commandment  the apostles  of the Lord  and  Saviour:  [3] Knowing  first,  that  there shall come  in  the last  days  scoffers,  walking  after  their  own  lusts,  [4] And  saying,  Where  the promise  of his  coming?  for  since  the fathers  fell asleep,  all things  continue  as they were from  the beginning  of the creation.  [5] For  they  willingly  are ignorant of,  that  by the word  of God  the heavens  of old,  and  the earth  standing out  of  the water  and  in  the water:  [6] Whereby  the world  that then was,  being overflowed  with water,  perished:  [7] But  the heavens  and  the earth,  which are now,  by the same  word  kept in store,  reserved  unto fire  against  the day  of judgment  and  perdition  of ungodly  men.  [8] But,  beloved,  not  ignorant  of this one  that  day  is with  the Lord  as  a thousand  years,  and  a thousand  years  as  day.  [9] The Lord  not  slack  concerning his promise,  as  some men  count  slackness;  but  is longsuffering  to  not  willing  that any  should perish,  but  that all  should come  to  repentance.  [10] But  the day  of the Lord  will come  as  a thief  in  the which  the heavens  shall pass away  with a great noise,  and  the elements  shall melt  with fervent heat,  the earth  also  the works  that are therein  [11] that all  shall be dissolved,  what manner  of persons ought  to be  in  all holy  conversation  and  godliness,  [12] 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?  [13] Nevertheless  according to  his  promise,  look for  new  heavens  and  a new  earth,  wherein  dwelleth  righteousness.  [14] Wherefore,  beloved,  seeing that ye look for  be diligent  that ye may be found  of him  in  peace,  without spot,  and  blameless.  [15] And  account  that the longsuffering  Lord  is salvation;  even as  beloved  brother  Paul  also  according to  the wisdom  given  unto him  hath written  [16] As  also  in  all  his epistles,  speaking  in  them  of  in  which  some things  hard to be understood,  which  they that are unlearned  and  unstable  wrest,  as  they do also  the other  scriptures,  unto  their  own  destruction. 

What does 2 Peter 3:1-16 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Peter turned from a negative warning against false teachers to make a positive declaration of the apostles" message to help his readers understand why he wrote this letter. His language had been strong and confrontational, but now he spoke with love and encouragement in gentle and endearing terms.
"While in chapter2the writer delivered a fervid denunciation of the false teachers and their immorality, in this section he renews his pastoral concern to fortify his readers in regard to another aspect of the danger facing them, namely, the heretical denial of Christ"s return." [1]
"In the third chapter Peter refutes the mockers" denial of Christ"s return ( 2 Peter 3:1-7), presents the correct view concerning Christ"s return ( 2 Peter 3:8-13), and concludes with timely exhortations to his readers in view of the dark and dangerous days facing them ( 2 Peter 3:14-18)." [2]
I like to think if the Book of2Peter as a bologna sandwich. Chapters1,3are the bread, the positive pastoral exhortations, and the middle chapter, 2 , is the bologna of the false teachers.