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Selected Verse: 2 Peter 3:12 - King James
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
2Pe 3:12 |
King James |
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? |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
hasting unto--with the utmost eagerness desiring [WAHL], praying for, and contemplating, the coming Saviour as at hand. The Greek may mean "hastening (that is, urging onward [ALFORD]) the day of God"; not that God's eternal appointment of the time is changeable, but God appoints us as instruments of accomplishing those events which must be first before the day of God can come. By praying for His coming, furthering the preaching of the Gospel for a witness to all nations, and bringing in those whom "the long-suffering of God" waits to save, we hasten the coming of the day of God. The Greek verb is always in New Testament used as neuter (as English Version here), not active; but the Septuagint uses it actively. Christ says, "Surely I come quickly. Amen." Our part is to speed forward this consummation by praying, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Rev 22:20).
the coming--Greek, "presence" of a person: usually, of the Saviour.
the day of God--God has given many myriads of days to men: one shall be the great "day of God" Himself.
wherein--rather as Greek, "on account of (or owing to) which" day.
heavens--the upper and lower regions of the sky.
melt--Our igneous rocks show that they were once in a liquid state. |
Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Looking for - Not knowing when this may occur, the mind should be in that state which constitutes "expectation;" that is, a belief that it will occur, and a condition of mind in which we would not be taken by surprise should it happen at any moment. See the notes at Tit 2:13.
And hasting unto the coming - Margin, as in Greek: ""hasting the coming."" The Greek word rendered "hasting," (σπεύδω speudō,) means to urge on, to hasten; and then to hasten after anything, to await with eager desire. This is evidently the sense here - Wetstein and Robinson. The state of mind which is indicated by the word is that when we are anxiously desirous that anything should occur, and when we would hasten or accelerate it if we could. The true Christian does not dread the coming of that day. He looks forward to it as the period of his redemption, and would welcome, at any time, the return of his Lord and Saviour. While he is willing to wait as long as it shall please God for the advent of His Redeemer, yet to Him the brightest prospect in the future is that hour when he shall come to take him to Himself.
The coming of the day of God - Called "the day of God," because God will then be manifested in his power and glory. |
Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Looking for (προσδοκῶντας)
The same verb as in Luk 1:21, of waiting for Zacharias. Cornelius waited (Act 10:24); the cripple expecting to receive something (Act 3:5).
Hasting unto (σπεύδοντας)
Wrong. Rev., earnestly desiring, for which there is authority. I am inclined to adopt, with Alford, Huther, Salmond, and Trench, the transitive meaning, hastening on; i.e., "causing the day of the Lord to come more quickly by helping to fulfil those conditions without which it cannot come; that day being no day inexorably fixed, but one the arrival of which it is free to the church to hasten on by faith and by prayer" (Trench, on "The Authorized Version of the New Testament"). See Mat 24:14 : the gospel shall be preached in the whole world, "and then shall the end come." Compare the words of Peter, Act 3:19 : "Repent and be converted," etc., "that so there may come seasons of refreshing" (so Rev., rightly); and the prayer," Thy kingdom come." Salmond quotes a rabbinical saying, "If thou keepest this precept thou hastenest the day of Messiah." This meaning is given in margin of Rev.
Wherein (δι' ἣν)
Wrong. Rev., correctly, by reason of which.
Melt (τήκεται)
Literal. Stronger than the word in Pe2 3:10, Pe2 3:11. Not only the resolving, but the wasting away of nature. Only here in New Testament. |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
Hastening on - As it were by your earnest desires and fervent prayers. The coming of the day of God - Many myriads of days he grants to men: one, the last, is the day of God himself. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
The heavens being on fire - See on Pe2 3:10. (note). It was an ancient opinion among the heathens that the earth should be burnt up with fire; so Ovid, Met., lib. i. v. 256.
Esse quoque in fatis reminiscitur, adfore tempus,
Quo mare, quo tellus, correptaque regia coeli
Ardeat; et mundi moles operosa laboret.
"Remembering in the fates a time when fire
Should to the battlements of heaven aspire,
And all his blazing world above should burn,
And all the inferior globe to cinders turn."
Dryden.
Minucius Felix tells us, xxxiv. 2, that it was a common opinion of the Stoics that, the moisture of the earth being consumed, the whole world would catch fire. The Epicureans held the same sentiment; and indeed it appears in various authors, which proves that a tradition of this kind has pretty generally prevailed in the world. But it is remarkable that none have fancied that it will be destroyed by water. The tradition, founded on the declaration of God, was against this; therefore it was not received. |
20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
10 But 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.
19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
24 And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.
21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.
10 But 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.