The Meaning of 2 Peter 3:3 Explained

2 Peter 3:3

KJV: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

YLT: this first knowing, that there shall come in the latter end of the days scoffers, according to their own desires going on,

Darby: knowing this first, that there shall come at the close of the days mockers with mocking, walking according to their own lusts,

ASV: knowing this first, that in the last days mockers shall come with mockery, walking after their own lusts,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Knowing  this  first,  that  there shall come  in  the last  days  scoffers,  walking  after  their  own  lusts, 

What does 2 Peter 3:3 Mean?

Verse Meaning

"A scoffer is someone who treats lightly that which ought to be taken seriously." [1]

Context Summary

2 Peter 3:1-9 - Longsuffering Delay
Peter does not hesitate to place the commandments of himself and the other Apostles of Jesus on a level with the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and he repeats his admonitions because of the urgency of the crisis then threatening the Church. Apparently there was a well-grounded fear that she would relax her attitude of expectancy and give credence to the materialistic philosophy of the age.
Men argued then from the appearances of things, and especially from the regular routine of cause and effect. They did not realize that, from time to time, there had been the intrusion of the divine personal will into the course of history, introducing a higher set of laws and arresting the ordinary succession of events; as for instance, the Flood and the miracles of Old Testament history. Why, then, should not the ordinary course of nature be broken in upon by the Second Advent, when the Lord shall gather His saints about Him and reign gloriously? What God has done He can do again! There is a person and a will behind the slight veil of the present life. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Peter 3

1  He assures them of the certainty of Christ's coming to judgment;
8  warning the godly, for the long patience of God, to hasten their repentance
10  He describes also the manner how the world shall be destroyed;
11  exhorting them to all holiness of life;
16  and again to think the patience of God to tend to their salvation, as Paul wrote to them in his epistles

Greek Commentary for 2 Peter 3:3

Knowing this first [τουτο πρωτον γινωσκοντες]
Present active participle of γινωσκω — ginōskō See 2 Peter 1:20 for this identical phrase. Nominative absolute here where accusative γινωσκοντας — ginōskontas would be regular. Peter now takes up the παρουσια — parousia (2 Peter 1:16) after having discussed the δυναμις — dunamis of Christ. [source]
In the last days [επ εσχατων των ημερων]
“Upon the last of the days.” Judges 1:18 has it επ εσχατου χρονου — ep' eschatou chronou (upon the last time). In 1 Peter 1:5 it is εν καιρωι εσχατωι — en kairōi eschatōi (in the last time), while 1 Peter 1:20 has επ εσχατου των χρονων — ep' eschatou tōn chronōn (upon the last of the times). John has usually τηι εσχατηι ημεραι — tēi eschatēi hēmerāi (on the last day, John 6:39.). Here εσχατων — eschatōn is a predicate adjective like συμμυς μονς — summus mons (the top of the mountain).Mockers with mockery (εμπαιγμονηι εμπαικται — empaigmonēi empaiktai). Note Peter‘s play on words again, both from εμπαιζω — empaizō (Matthew 2:16), to trifle with, and neither found elsewhere save εμπαικτης — empaiktēs in Judges 1:18; Isaiah 3:4 (playing like children). [source]
Mockers with mockery [εμπαιγμονηι εμπαικται]
Note Peter‘s play on words again, both from εμπαιζω — empaizō (Matthew 2:16), to trifle with, and neither found elsewhere save εμπαικτης — empaiktēs in Judges 1:18; Isaiah 3:4 (playing like children). [source]
Scoffers walking [ἐμπαῖκται πορευόμενοι]
This is the reading followed by A. V. But the later texts have added ἐμπαιγμονῇ , in mockery, occurring only here, though a kindred word for mockings ( ἐμπαιγμῶν ) is found Hebrews 11:36. This addition gives a play upon the words; and so Rev., “Mockers shall come with mockery, walking,” etc. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 2 Peter 3:3

2 Timothy 3:1 In the last days [ἐπ ' ἐσχάταις ἡμέραις]
The phrase only here in Pastorals, Acts 2:17, James 5:3. Similar expressions are ἐν καιρῷ ἐσχάτῳ inthe last season, 1 Peter 1:5: ἐπ ' ἐσχάτου τῶν χρόνων atthe last of the times, 1 Peter 1:20: ἐπ ' ἐσχάτου χρόνου atthe last time, Judges 1:18: ἐπ ' ἐσχάτων τῶν ἡμερῶν atthe last of the days, 2 Peter 3:3: ἐν ὑστέροις καιροῖς inthe latter seasons, 1 Timothy 4:1. The times immediately preceding Christ's second appearing are meant. Comp. Hebrews 1:2; James 5:3. [source]
Hebrews 11:36 Of cruel mockings [ἐμπαιγμῶν]
N.T.ooClass. Rare in lxx. Cruel is an insertion of A.V. Rend. “of mockings.” Ἐμπαιγμονὴ mockery(olxx, Class.) is found 2 Peter 3:3(note); and ἐμπαίκτης mockeror scoffer, 2 Peter 3:3; Judges 1:18. Ἑμπαίζειν tomock is quite frequent in the Synoptic Gospels, and occurs also in lxx. [source]
1 Peter 1:5 Are guarded [προυρουμενους]
Present (continuous process) passive articular Intermediate agency (δια — dia), the immediate being (εν — en in, by) God‘s power.Unto a salvation Deliverance is the goal Prepared awaiting God‘s will (Galatians 3:23; Romans 8:18).To be revealed First aorist passive infinitive of αποκαλυπτω — apokaluptō to unveil. Cf. Colossians 3:4 for πανεροω — phaneroō (to manifest) in this sense.In the last time (εν καιρωι εσχατωι — en kairōi eschatōi). This precise phrase nowhere else, but similar ones in John 6:39; Acts 2:17; James 5:3; 2 Timothy 3:1; 2 Peter 3:3; Hebrews 1:2; Judges 1:18; 1 John 2:18. Hort translates it here “in a season of extremity,” but it is usually taken to refer to the Day of Judgment. That day no one knows, Jesus said. [source]
1 Peter 1:5 Unto a salvation [εις σωτηριαν]
Deliverance is the goal Prepared awaiting God‘s will (Galatians 3:23; Romans 8:18).To be revealed First aorist passive infinitive of αποκαλυπτω — apokaluptō to unveil. Cf. Colossians 3:4 for πανεροω — phaneroō (to manifest) in this sense.In the last time (εν καιρωι εσχατωι — en kairōi eschatōi). This precise phrase nowhere else, but similar ones in John 6:39; Acts 2:17; James 5:3; 2 Timothy 3:1; 2 Peter 3:3; Hebrews 1:2; Judges 1:18; 1 John 2:18. Hort translates it here “in a season of extremity,” but it is usually taken to refer to the Day of Judgment. That day no one knows, Jesus said. [source]
1 Peter 1:5 To be revealed [αποκαλυπτηναι]
First aorist passive infinitive of αποκαλυπτω — apokaluptō to unveil. Cf. Colossians 3:4 for πανεροω — phaneroō (to manifest) in this sense.In the last time (εν καιρωι εσχατωι — en kairōi eschatōi). This precise phrase nowhere else, but similar ones in John 6:39; Acts 2:17; James 5:3; 2 Timothy 3:1; 2 Peter 3:3; Hebrews 1:2; Judges 1:18; 1 John 2:18. Hort translates it here “in a season of extremity,” but it is usually taken to refer to the Day of Judgment. That day no one knows, Jesus said. [source]
1 Peter 1:5 In the last time [εν καιρωι εσχατωι]
This precise phrase nowhere else, but similar ones in John 6:39; Acts 2:17; James 5:3; 2 Timothy 3:1; 2 Peter 3:3; Hebrews 1:2; Judges 1:18; 1 John 2:18. Hort translates it here “in a season of extremity,” but it is usually taken to refer to the Day of Judgment. That day no one knows, Jesus said. [source]
Jude 1:18 Mockers []
See on 2 Peter 3:3. [source]
Jude 1:16 Complainers [μεμπσιμοιροι]
Rare word (Isocrates, Aristotle, Plutarch) from μεμπομαι — memphomai to complain and μοιρα — moira lot or fate. Here alone in N.T.Lusts (επιτυμιας — epithumias). As in 2 Peter 3:3.Swelling So in 2 Peter 2:18 (big words).Showing respect of persons (ταυμαζοντες προσωπα — thaumazontes prosōpa). Present active participle of ταυμαζω — thaumazō to admire, to wonder at. Nowhere else in N.T. with προσωπα — prosōpa but a Hebraism (in Leviticus 19:15; Job 13:10) like λαμβανειν προσωπον — lambanein prosōpon (Luke 20:21) and βλεπειν προσωπον — blepein prosōpon (Matthew 22:16) and προσοπωλεμπτεω — prosopōlempteō (James 2:9). Cf. James 2:1.For the sake of advantage To themselves. See also Judges 1:11. The covetousness of these Gnostic leaders is plainly shown in 2 Peter 2:3, 2 Peter 2:14. For χαριν — charin as preposition with genitive see Ephesians 3:1, Ephesians 3:14. [source]
Jude 1:16 Lusts [επιτυμιας]
As in 2 Peter 3:3. [source]
Jude 1:18 How that [οτι]
Declarative οτι — hoti as in Judges 1:5. See note on 2 Peter 3:3 for differences, no εν εμπαιγμονηι — en empaigmonēi here and no των ασεβειων — tōn asebeiōn there. [source]

What do the individual words in 2 Peter 3:3 mean?

this first knowing that will come in [the] last of the days with scoffing scoffers according to - own evil desires of them following
τοῦτο πρῶτον γινώσκοντες ὅτι ἐλεύσονται ἐπ’ ἐσχάτων τῶν ἡμερῶν ἐν ἐμπαιγμονῇ ἐμπαῖκται κατὰ τὰς ἰδίας ἐπιθυμίας αὐτῶν πορευόμενοι

τοῦτο  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
πρῶτον  first 
Parse: Adverb, Superlative
Root: πρῶτον 
Sense: first in time or place.
γινώσκοντες  knowing 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: γινώσκω  
Sense: to learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of perceive, feel.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
ἐλεύσονται  will  come 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Middle, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἔρχομαι  
Sense: to come.
ἐσχάτων  [the]  last 
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Feminine Plural
Root: ἔσχατος  
Sense: extreme.
τῶν  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Feminine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἡμερῶν  days 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Plural
Root: ἡμέρα  
Sense: the day, used of the natural day, or the interval between sunrise and sunset, as distinguished from and contrasted with the night.
ἐμπαιγμονῇ  scoffing 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: ἐμπαιγμός  
Sense: a mocking, scoffing.
ἐμπαῖκται  scoffers 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἐμπαίκτης  
Sense: a mocker, a scoffer.
κατὰ  according  to 
Parse: Preposition
Root: κατά 
Sense: down from, through out.
τὰς  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Feminine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἰδίας  own 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Feminine Plural
Root: ἴδιος  
Sense: pertaining to one’s self, one’s own, belonging to one’s self.
ἐπιθυμίας  evil  desires 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Plural
Root: ἐπιθυμία  
Sense: desire, craving, longing, desire for what is forbidden, lust.
αὐτῶν  of  them 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
πορευόμενοι  following 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: πορεύομαι  
Sense: to lead over, carry over, transfer.