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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0; maximum-scale=1.0; user-scalable=0;"/><title>2 Peter 3:11 Commentaries: Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newcom.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../vmenus/2_peter/3-11.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmcom/2_peter/3-11.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="http://biblehub.com/commentaries/">Commentaries</a> > 2 Peter 3:11</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../2_peter/3-10.htm" title="2 Peter 3:10">◄</a> 2 Peter 3:11 <a href="../2_peter/3-12.htm" title="2 Peter 3:12">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"><i>Seeing</i> then <i>that</i> all these things shall be dissolved, what manner <i>of persons</i> ought ye to be in <i>all</i> holy conversation and godliness,</div><div id="jump">Jump to: <a href="/commentaries/alford/2_peter/3.htm" title="Henry Alford - Greek Testament Critical Exegetical Commentary">Alford</a> • <a href="/commentaries/barnes/2_peter/3.htm" title="Barnes' Notes">Barnes</a> • <a href="/commentaries/bengel/2_peter/3.htm" title="Bengel's Gnomen">Bengel</a> • <a href="/commentaries/benson/2_peter/3.htm" title="Benson Commentary">Benson</a> • <a href="/commentaries/illustrator/2_peter/3.htm" title="Biblical Illustrator">BI</a> • <a href="/commentaries/calvin/2_peter/3.htm" title="Calvin's Commentaries">Calvin</a> • <a href="/commentaries/cambridge/2_peter/3.htm" title="Cambridge Bible">Cambridge</a> • <a href="/commentaries/clarke/2_peter/3.htm" title="Clarke's Commentary">Clarke</a> • <a href="/commentaries/darby/2_peter/3.htm" title="Darby's Bible Synopsis">Darby</a> • <a href="/commentaries/ellicott/2_peter/3.htm" title="Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers">Ellicott</a> • <a href="/commentaries/expositors/2_peter/3.htm" title="Expositor's Bible">Expositor's</a> • <a href="/commentaries/edt/2_peter/3.htm" title="Expositor's Dictionary">Exp Dct</a> • <a href="/commentaries/egt/2_peter/3.htm" title="Expositor's Greek">Exp Grk</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gaebelein/2_peter/3.htm" title="Gaebelein's Annotated Bible">Gaebelein</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gsb/2_peter/3.htm" title="Geneva Study Bible">GSB</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gill/2_peter/3.htm" title="Gill's Bible Exposition">Gill</a> • <a href="/commentaries/gray/2_peter/3.htm" title="Gray's Concise">Gray</a> • <a href="/commentaries/guzik/2_peter/3.htm" title="Guzik Bible Commentary">Guzik</a> • <a href="/commentaries/haydock/2_peter/3.htm" title="Haydock Catholic Bible Commentary">Haydock</a> • <a href="/commentaries/hastings/2_peter/1-5.htm" title="Hastings Great Texts">Hastings</a> • <a href="/commentaries/homiletics/2_peter/3.htm" title="Pulpit Homiletics">Homiletics</a> • <a href="/commentaries/icc/2_peter/3.htm" title="ICC NT Commentary">ICC</a> • <a href="/commentaries/jfb/2_peter/3.htm" title="Jamieson-Fausset-Brown">JFB</a> • <a href="/commentaries/kelly/2_peter/3.htm" title="Kelly Commentary">Kelly</a> • <a href="/commentaries/king-en/2_peter/3.htm" title="Kingcomments Bible Studies">King</a> • <a href="/commentaries/lange/2_peter/3.htm" title="Lange Commentary">Lange</a> • <a href="/commentaries/maclaren/2_peter/3.htm" title="MacLaren Expositions">MacLaren</a> • <a href="/commentaries/mhc/2_peter/3.htm" title="Matthew Henry Concise">MHC</a> • <a href="/commentaries/mhcw/2_peter/3.htm" title="Matthew Henry Full">MHCW</a> • <a href="/commentaries/meyer/2_peter/3.htm" title="Meyer Commentary">Meyer</a> • <a href="/commentaries/parker/2_peter/3.htm" title="The People's Bible by Joseph Parker">Parker</a> • <a href="/commentaries/pnt/2_peter/3.htm" title="People's New Testament">PNT</a> • <a href="/commentaries/poole/2_peter/3.htm" title="Matthew Poole">Poole</a> • <a href="/commentaries/pulpit/2_peter/3.htm" title="Pulpit Commentary">Pulpit</a> • <a href="/commentaries/sermon/2_peter/3.htm" title="Sermon Bible">Sermon</a> • <a href="/commentaries/sco/2_peter/3.htm" title="Scofield Reference Notes">SCO</a> • <a href="/commentaries/ttb/2_peter/3.htm" title="Through The Bible">TTB</a> • <a href="/commentaries/vws/2_peter/3.htm" title="Vincent's Word Studies">VWS</a> • <a href="/commentaries/wes/2_peter/3.htm" title="Wesley's Notes">WES</a> • <a href="#tsk" title="Treasury of Scripture Knowledge">TSK</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="comtype">EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)</div><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/2_peter/3.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(11) <span class= "bld">Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved.</span>—For “then” we ought probably to read “thus,” <span class= "ital">seeing that all these things are thus to be dissolved.</span> The original is present in form, but rightly translated by the future, being the prophetic present, <span class= "ital">i.e., </span>the future prophetically regarded as present.<p><span class= "bld">What manner of persons.</span>—Not so much a question as an exclamation. In any case, the sentence should run on to the end of <a href="/2_peter/3-12.htm" title="Looking for and hastening to the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?">2Peter 3:12</a>. To put an interrogation at “to be” or at “godliness,” and make what follows an answer to the question, would be stiff and frigid, and very unlike the fervour of this Epistle.<p><span class= "bld">Ought ye to be.</span>—We might fairly translate, <span class= "ital">ought ye to be found.</span> The Greek implies that the state is one that has continued for some time before the day comes.<p><span class= "bld">In all holy conversation and godliness.</span>—Literally, <span class= "ital">in holy behaviours and godlinesses.</span> (See Notes on <a href="/2_peter/1-3.htm" title="According as his divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that has called us to glory and virtue:">2Peter 1:3</a> and <a href="/2_peter/2-7.htm" title="And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:">2Peter 2:7</a>.) The plurals indicate a variety of acts. They occur in this passage only.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/benson/2_peter/3.htm">Benson Commentary</a></div><span class="bld"><a href="/context/2_peter/3-11.htm" title="Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness,...">2 Peter 3:11-12</a></span>. <span class="ital">Seeing then that all these things — </span>Which our eyes behold; <span class="ital">shall be dissolved </span>— And we shall be spectators of their dissolution, being raised from the dead before, or at the time of, its taking place; <span class="ital">what manner of persons ought ye to be </span>— How serious, how watchful, how free from levity and folly, how disengaged from, and dead to, this lower world, with all it contains; how unmoved by the trifling changes which are now continually occurring, the comparatively insignificant losses and gains, honour and reproach, pleasure and pain! How heavenly-minded, having our thoughts and affections set upon that world, with its riches, glories, and joys, which is durable and eternal; <span class="ital">in all holy conversation </span>— With men; <span class="ital">and godliness </span>— Toward God. <span class="ital">Looking for </span>— Earnestly desiring; <span class="ital">and hasting unto </span>— Or <span class="ital">hasting on, </span>(as <span class="greekheb">σπευδοντας </span>may signify,) namely, by your earnest desires and fervent prayers; <span class="ital">the coming of the day of God </span>— Fitly so called, because God will then make such a display of his glorious perfections as was never made before; of his <span class="ital">power, </span>in raising all the dead, and transforming all the living in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and in destroying the present world, and preparing for his people a new heaven and a new earth; of his <span class="ital">wisdom, </span>in showing that he knew, and will now bring into judgment, all the thoughts, desires, and designs, the dispositions, words, and actions of all the thousands of millions of human beings that had lived on earth in the different ages of the world; of his <span class="ital">justice, </span>in rendering unto every man, with infinite exactness, according to his works, and <span class="ital">recompensing </span>tribulation to those that troubled his saints and servants; of his <span class="ital">mercy </span>and <span class="ital">love </span>in justifying, at his judgment-seat, his believing and obedient people, and in conferring upon them an incorruptible and eternal inheritance; and of his <span class="ital">truth, </span>in punctually fulfilling all his promises and threatenings, and making good all his declarations. <span class="ital">Wherein the heavens being on fire, </span>&c. — The apostle repeats his former testimony, because of its great importance. Macknight, however, thinks that, by <span class="ital">the elements, </span>in this verse, we are not to understand, as in <a href="/2_peter/3-10.htm" title="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.">2 Peter 3:10</a>, the <span class="ital">heavens </span>or <span class="ital">atmosphere, </span>but the elements of which this terraqueous globe is composed; namely, earth and water, and every thing which enters into the composition of these substances, and on which their constitution and form depend. Hence, 1st, In speaking of them, he uses an expression which he did not use in <a href="/2_peter/3-10.htm" title="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.">2 Peter 3:10</a>. There his words were, <span class="ital">The elements, burning, </span><span class="greekheb">λυθησονται</span>, <span class="ital">shall be dissolved; </span>here he says, <span class="ital">The elements, burning, </span><span class="greekheb">τηκεται</span>, (for <span class="greekheb">τακησεται</span>,) <span class="ital">shall melt; </span>a “word which is applied to the melting of metals by fire. Wherefore, as the elements signify the constituent parts of any thing, the expression, <span class="ital">shall melt, </span>applied to the constituent parts of the terraqueous globe, intimates that the whole, by the intense heat of the conflagration, is to be reduced into one homogeneous fluid mass of burning matter. Consequently, that it is not the surface of the earth, with all the things thereon, which is to be burned, as some have imagined, but the whole globe of the earth.” And that he is here speaking of these elements, and consequently of the destruction of this earth, appears still further by the promise made in the next verse.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="mhc" id="mhc"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/mhc/2_peter/3.htm">Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary</a></div>3:11-18 From the doctrine of Christ's second coming, we are exhorted to purity and godliness. This is the effect of real knowledge. Very exact and universal holiness is enjoined, not resting in any low measure or degree. True Christians look for new heavens and a new earth; freed from the vanity to which things present are subject, and the sin they are polluted with. Those only who are clothed with the righteousness of Christ, and sanctified by the Holy Ghost, shall be admitted to dwell in this holy place. He is faithful, who has promised. Those, whose sins are pardoned, and their peace made with God, are the only safe and happy people; therefore follow after peace, and that with all men; follow after holiness as well as peace. Never expect to be found at that day of God in peace, if you are lazy and idle in this your day, in which we must finish the work given us to do. Only the diligent Christian will be the happy Christian in the day of the Lord. Our Lord will suddenly come to us, or shortly call us to him; and shall he find us idle? Learn to make a right use of the patience of our Lord, who as yet delays his coming. Proud, carnal, and corrupt men, seek to wrest some things into a seeming agreement with their wicked doctrines. But this is no reason why St. Paul's epistles, or any other part of the Scriptures, should be laid aside; for men, left to themselves, pervert every gift of God. Then let us seek to have our minds prepared for receiving things hard to be understood, by putting in practice things which are more easy to be understood. But there must be self-denial and suspicion of ourselves, and submission to the authority of Christ Jesus, before we can heartily receive all the truths of the gospel, therefore we are in great danger of rejecting the truth. And whatever opinions and thoughts of men are not according to the law of God, and warranted by it, the believer disclaims and abhors. Those who are led away by error, fall from their own stedfastness. And that we may avoid being led away, we must seek to grow in all grace, in faith, and virtue, and knowledge. Labour to know Christ more clearly, and more fully; to know him so as to be more like him, and to love him better. This is the knowledge of Christ, which the apostle Paul reached after, and desired to attain; and those who taste this effect of the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, will, upon receiving such grace from him, give thanks and praise him, and join in ascribing glory to him now, in the full assurance of doing the same hereafter, for ever.<a name="bar" id="bar"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/barnes/2_peter/3.htm">Barnes' Notes on the Bible</a></div>Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved - Since this is an undoubted truth.<p>What manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness - In holy conduct and piety. That is, this fact ought to be allowed to exert a deep and abiding influence on us, to induce us to lead holy lives. We should feel that there is nothing permanent on the earth that this is not our abiding home; and that our great interests are in another world. We should be serious, humble, and prayerful; and should make it our great object to be prepared for the solemn scenes through which we are soon to pass. An habitual contemplation of the truth, that all that we see is soon to pass away, would produce a most salutary effect on the mind. It would make us serious. It would repress ambition. It would lead us not to desire to accumulate what must so soon be destroyed. It would prompt us to lay up our treasures in heaven. It would cause us to ask with deep earnestness whether we are prepared for these amazing scenes, should they suddenly burst upon us. <a name="jfb" id="jfb"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/jfb/2_peter/3.htm">Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary</a></div>11. Your duty, seeing that this is so, is to be ever eagerly expecting the day of God.<p>then—Some oldest manuscripts substitute "thus" for "then": a happy refutation of the "thus" of the scoffers, 2Pe 3:4 (English Version, "As they were," Greek, "thus").<p>shall be—Greek, "are being (in God's appointment, soon to be fulfilled) dissolved"; the present tense implying the certainty as though it were actually present.<p>what manner of men—exclamatory. How watchful, prayerful, zealous!<p>to be—not the mere Greek substantive verb of existence (einai), but (huparchein) denoting a state or condition in which one is supposed to be [Tittmann]. What holy men ye ought to be found to be, when the event comes! This is "the holy commandment" mentioned in 2Pe 3:2.<p>conversation … godliness—Greek, plural: behaviors (towards men), godlinesses (or pieties towards God) in their manifold modes of manifestation.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/poole/2_peter/3.htm">Matthew Poole's Commentary</a></div> <span class="bld">Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved; </span> seeing the coming of the Lord will be so terrible, as to bring with it the consumption of the world, and the destruction of these things here below, upon which we are so apt to set our affections. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">What manner of persons ought ye to be; </span> how prudent, accurate, diligent, zealous, and every way excellent persons! The Greek word is often used by way of admiration of some singular excellency in persons or things, <span class="bld"><a href="/matthew/8-27.htm" title="But the men marveled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!">Matthew 8:27</a> <a href="/mark/13-1.htm" title="And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!">Mark 13:1</a> <a href="/luke/1-29.htm" title="And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.">Luke 1:29</a></span>. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">In all holy conversation and godliness:</span> the words in the Greek are both in the plural number, and may imply not only a continued course of holy walking throughout our whole time, but likewise diligence in the performance of all sorts of duties, and exercise of all those various graces wherewith the Spirit of God furnisheth believers in order thereto. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="gil" id="gil"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/gill/2_peter/3.htm">Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible</a></div>Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved,.... By fire; the heaven with all its host, sun, moon, and stars, clouds, meteors, and fowls of the air; the earth, and all that is upon it, whether of nature, or art; and, since nothing is more certain than such a dissolution of all things, <p>what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness? not as the scoffers and profane sinners, who put away this evil day far from them, but as men, who have their loins girt, and their lights burning, waiting for their Lord's coming; being continually in the exercise of grace, and in the discharge of their religious duties, watching, praying, hearing, reading; living soberly, righteously, and godly; guarding against intemperance and worldly mindedness, and every worldly and hurtful lust. <a name="gsb" id="gsb"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/gsb/2_peter/3.htm">Geneva Study Bible</a></div><span class="cverse2"><span class="cverse3">{11}</span> <i>Seeing</i> then <i>that</i> all these things shall be dissolved, what manner <i>of persons</i> ought ye to be in <i>all</i> holy conversation and godliness,</span><p>(11) An exhortation to purity of life, setting before us that horrible judgment of God, both to bridle our wantonness, and also to comfort us, so that we are found watching and ready to meet him at his coming.</div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><div class="comtype">EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)</div><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/meyer/2_peter/3.htm">Meyer's NT Commentary</a></div><a href="/context/2_peter/3-11.htm" title="Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness,...">2 Peter 3:11-12</a>. <span class="greekheb">τούτων οὖν πάντων λυομένων</span>] <span class="greekheb">τούτων πάντων</span> refers to all the things before mentioned, and not only, as Hofmann thinks, to the immediately preceding <span class="greekheb">ἔργα</span>. As regards the reading <span class="greekheb">οὕτως</span>, instead of the <span class="ital">Rec.</span> <span class="greekheb">οὖν</span>, it is indeed not supported by the preponderance of authorities; it deserves, however, the preference because it (equivalent to: “as has before been stated”) is more significant than the reading <span class="greekheb">οὖν</span>. The present <span class="greekheb">λυομένων</span> is explained by Winer, p. 321 [E. T. 430]: “since all this is in its nature destined to dissolution; the lot of dissolution is, as it were, already inherent in those things” (thus also Dietlein, de Wette-Brückner, Wiesinger); but it is more correct to find expressed in the present the certainty of the event, which is, no doubt, as yet future (similarly Schott), especially as the passing away of all things, as it is formerly described, is in consequence not of their nature, but of the will of God as Judge. Hofmann denies, indeed, any reference to the future, remarking: the present participial clause brings out that this is the fate of the subject; but this fate is one which is realized only in the future.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="greekheb">ποταποὺς δεῖ κ</span>.<span class="greekheb">τ</span>.<span class="greekheb">λ</span>.] As regards its arrangement, this period, as far as the end of <a href="/2_peter/3-12.htm" title="Looking for and hastening to the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?">2 Peter 3:12</a>, is divided by many into two portions, of which the first closes either with <span class="greekheb">ὑμᾶς</span> (Pott, Meyer in his translation) or with <span class="greekheb">εὐσεβείαις</span> (Griesbach, Fronmüller), and forms a question to which the second half supplies the answer. But opposed to this construction is the word: <span class="greekheb">ποταπούς</span>, which in the N. T. is never used as indirect interrogation, but always in exclamation. Consequently the whole forms <span class="ital">one</span> clause, which has a hortative sense (so, too, Hofmann),[100] and before which may be supplied for the sake of clearness: “consider therefore.” The sense is: “since all that passes away, consider what manner of persons you ought to be;” Gerhard: quam pie, quam prudenter vos oportet conservari; yet <span class="greekheb"><span class="bld"><span class="ital">ΠΟΤΑΠΌς</span></span></span> (in classical writers generally <span class="greekheb"><span class="bld"><span class="ital">ΠΟΔΑΠΌς</span></span></span>) is not equivalent to quantus (Bretschneider, de Wette-Brückner), but to qualis.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="greekheb"><span class="bld"><span class="ital">ἘΝ ἉΓΊΑΙς ἈΝΑΣΤΡΟΦΑῖς ΚΑῚ ΕὐΣΕΒΕΊΑΙς</span></span></span>] The plural marks the holy behaviour and the piety in their different tendencies and forms of manifestation. These words may be taken either with what precedes (so most commentators) or with what follows (thus Steinfass); the latter is to be preferred, since the force of <span class="greekheb"><span class="bld"><span class="ital">ΠΟΤΑΠΟΎς</span></span></span> would only be weakened by this adjunct.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="greekheb"><span class="bld"><span class="ital">ΠΡΟΣΔΟΚῶΝΤΑς ΚΑῚ ΣΠΕΥΔΟΝΤΑς ΤῊΝ ΠΑΡΟΥΣΊΑΝ Τῆς ΤΟῦ ΘΕΟῦ ἩΜΈΡΑς</span></span></span>] not: “so that,” but: “<span class="ital">since ye … in holy walk … look for</span>.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span>Most of the earlier interpreters arbitrarily supply <span class="greekheb">εἰς</span> to <span class="greekheb"><span class="bld"><span class="ital">ΣΠΕΎΔΟΝΤΑς</span></span></span>; Vulg.: exspectantes et properantes in adventum; Luther: “hasten to the day.” Others attribute to the word the meaning: “to expect with longing,” but this force it never has; in the passages quoted in support of it the word rather means: “to prosecute anything with zeal,” <span class="ital">e.g.</span> Pind. <span class="ital">Isthm.</span> v. 22: <span class="greekheb">σπεύδειν ἀρετάν</span>; <a href="/isaiah/16-5.htm" title="And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit on it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hastening righteousness.">Isaiah 16:5</a>, LXX.: <span class="greekheb"><span class="bld"><span class="ital">ΣΠ</span>. <span class="greekheb">ΔΙΚΑΙΟΣΎΝΗΝ</span></span></span>; but then the object is always something which is effected by the action of the <span class="greekheb"><span class="bld"><span class="ital">ΣΠΕΎΔΟΝΤΟς</span></span></span>; the original signification of hastening, hurrying, is to be kept hold of here. That by which this hastening is to be accomplished is to be gathered from <a href="/2_peter/3-11.htm" title="Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness,">2 Peter 3:11</a>, namely, by an holy walk and piety. The context nowhere hints that it is to be accomplished <span class="ital">only</span> by prayer[101] (Hofmann, following Bengel).<span class="p"><br /><br /></span>The expression: <span class="greekheb">τὴν παρουσίαν τῆς τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμέρας</span>, occurs nowhere else; with <span class="greekheb">ἡ τ</span>. <span class="greekheb">Θεοῦ ἡμ</span>., cf. <a href="/2_peter/3-10.htm" title="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.">2 Peter 3:10</a> and <a href="/titus/2-13.htm" title="Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;">Titus 2:13</a>; to <span class="greekheb">παρουσίαν</span> Steinfass arbitrarily supplies “<span class="greekheb">τοῦ Χριστοῦ</span>.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="greekheb">διʼ ἣν οὐρανοὶ κ</span>.<span class="greekheb">τ</span>.<span class="greekheb">λ</span>.] A resumption of what is said in <a href="/2_peter/3-10.htm" title="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.">2 Peter 3:10</a>.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="greekheb">διʼ ἥν</span> may be referred either to <span class="greekheb">τὴν παρουσίαν</span> (Steinfass, Hofmann) or to <span class="greekheb">τῆς τ</span>. <span class="greekheb">Θ</span>. <span class="greekheb">ἡμέρας</span>; in both cases the sense remains substantially the same. It is to be taken neither as equivalent to per (like <span class="greekheb">διά</span>, c. gen.), nor in a temporal sense (Luther: “in which”); but it denotes here, as it always does, the <span class="ital">occasioning</span> cause, equal to “on account of” (Brückner, Wiesinger, Schott; cf. Winer, p. 373 [E. T. 498]). Dietlein translates correctly, but arbitrarily explains the phrase by: “in whose honour as it were.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="greekheb">πυρούμενοι</span>] cf. <a href="/ephesians/6-16.htm" title="Above all, taking the shield of faith, with which you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.">Ephesians 6:16</a>; Dietlein falsely: “in that they <span class="ital">will</span> burn;” the part. is present, not future.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="greekheb">τήκεται</span>] de Wette: “<span class="greekheb">τήκεται</span> must not be taken strictly as meaning <span class="ital">to be melted</span>, as if <span class="greekheb">στοιχ</span>. were to be conceived of as a solid mass, it can be regarded as synonymous with <span class="greekheb">λύεσθαι</span>;” the reference to <a href="/isaiah/34-4.htm" title="And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falls off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.">Isaiah 34:4</a>, LXX.: <span class="greekheb">καὶ τακήσονται πᾶσαι αἱ δυνάμεις τῶν οὐρανῶν</span> (cf. <a href="/micah/1-4.htm" title="And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a steep place.">Micah 1:4</a>), cannot fail to be recognised.[102] Gerhard: cum tota mundi machina, coelum, terra et omnia quae sunt in ea sint aliquando peritura, ideo ab inordinata mundi dilectione cor nostrum abstrahentes coelestium bonorum desiderio et amore flagremus.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span>[100] Hofmann, however, does not urge the N. T. usage of <span class="greekheb">ποταπούς</span> in favour of this construction, but “the want of purpose and coldness of dividing the thought into question and answer.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span>[101] De Wette gives substantially the correct interpretation: “They hasten the coming of the day, in that by repentance and holiness they accomplish the work of salvation, and render the <span class="greekheb">μακροθυμία</span>, ver. 9, unnecessary;” and Wiesinger further adds: “and positively bring it on by their prayers” (<a href="/revelation/22-17.htm" title="And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is thirsty come. And whoever will, let him take the water of life freely.">Revelation 22:17</a>).<span class="p"><br /><br /></span>[102] Although this passage does not finally settle the dispute, whether an entire destruction, an annihilation, or only a transformation of the state of the world is to be looked for, whether the world is to be destroyed by fire, quoad substantiam suam, or quoad qualitates suas, still it gives more support to the second than the first idea, since, in spite of the strong expressions which the writer makes use of, it is not decidedly stated that the world will be dissolved into nothing.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/egt/2_peter/3.htm">Expositor's Greek Testament</a></div><a href="/context/2_peter/3-11.htm" title="Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness,...">2 Peter 3:11-16</a>. <span class="ital">The ethical value of the Parousia expectation</span>. “Seeing then that all these things are to be dissolved, how great an effect it ought to exercise on our whole moral and religious life, as we look forward to and hasten the coming of the day of God. The skies shall be set on fire and dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fiercest heat, but we look for new skies and a new earth according to His promise, in which righteousness shall find a home. Wherefore, beloved, with such expectations, endeavour to be found in peace, spotless and blameless. Do not reckon the long-suffering of our Lord as an opportunity for licence, but as a means of salvation, as our beloved brother Paul wrote you in the wisdom granted to him. He indeed spoke in all his letters of these things, in which there are some things hard to be understood, which ignorant and unstable persons wrest, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/cambridge/2_peter/3.htm">Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges</a></div><span class="bld">11</span>. <span class="ital">Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved</span>] Literally, <span class="bld">Seeing therefore that all these things are being dissolved</span>. The Greek participle is in the present tense, and is probably used to convey the thought that even now the fabric of the earth is on its way to the final dissolution. If with some of the better MSS. we read “shall <span class="bld">thus</span> be dissolved,” instead of “then,” the participle must be taken as more definitely future, being coupled, as in that case it must be, with the manner as well as the fact of the dissolution.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="ital">ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness</span>] It should be noted, though it cannot well be expressed in English, that both the Greek nouns are in the plural, as expressing all the manifold forms in which <span class="bld">holy living</span> (see note on <a href="/1_peter/1-15.htm" title="But as he which has called you is holy, so be you holy in all manner of conversation;">1 Peter 1:15</a>) and “godliness” shew themselves. The verb for “be” is that which emphatically expresses a permanent and continuous state. The thought implied is that the belief in the transitoriness of all that seems most enduring upon earth should lead, as a necessary consequence, to a life resting on the eternal realities of truth and holiness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/bengel/2_peter/3.htm">Bengel's Gnomen</a></div><a href="/2_peter/3-11.htm" title="Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness,">2 Peter 3:11</a>. <span class="greekheb">Λυομένων</span>, <span class="ital">since they are being dissolved</span>) The present tense; as though it were now taking place: thus in <a href="/2_peter/3-12.htm" title="Looking for and hastening to the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?">2 Peter 3:12</a>, <span class="greekheb">τήκεται</span>, <span class="ital">are melting</span>. On the fourth of the six days of creation, the stars also were made, <a href="/genesis/1-16.htm" title="And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.">Genesis 1:16</a>. They also shall be dissolved together with the earth. They are mistaken, who restrict the history of the creation and the description of this destruction only to the earth and to the quarter of the heaven which is nearer to the earth, but feign that the stars are more ancient than the earth, and that they will survive the earth. It is not to the heaven only which surrounds the earth, but <span class="ital">to the heavens</span>, that both dissolution and restoration are ascribed, <a href="/2_peter/3-10.htm" title="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.">2 Peter 3:10</a>; <a href="/2_peter/3-13.htm" title="Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness.">2 Peter 3:13</a>.—<span class="greekheb">δεῖ</span>, <span class="ital">ought</span> you to be) This is <span class="ital">the commandment</span> mentioned in <a href="/2_peter/3-2.htm" title="That you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Savior:">2 Peter 3:2</a>. Others thus place the stops—<span class="greekheb">ὑμᾶς</span>;—<span class="greekheb">εὐσεβείαις προσδοκῶντας</span>.[22]—<span class="greekheb">ἀναστροφαῖς</span>, <span class="ital">in your conversations</span>) [<span class="ital">i.e.</span> dealings and whole walk] as regards the affairs of men.—<span class="greekheb">εὐσεβείαις</span>, <span class="ital">in all godliness</span>) as regards divine things.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span>[22] Tisch. and Lachm. read no interrogation.—E.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="pul" id="pul"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/2_peter/3.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 11.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved;</span> rather, <span class="accented">seeing that all these things are being dissolved.</span> The participle is present, and implies the certainty of the event foretold, and, perhaps, also that the germs of that coming dissolution are already in being, that the forces which are ultimately to bring about the final catastrophe are even now at work. Some of the better manuscripts read, instead of <span class="greek">οϋν</span>, then, <span class="greek">οὕτως</span>, thus: "seeing that all these things are thus being dissolved." <span class="cmt_word">What manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness?</span> The Greek word for "what manner of persons" means literally, "of what country;" it seems to point to the great truth that God's people are fellow-citizens of the saints, that the commonwealth of which they are citizens is in heaven. The word for "to be" is the emphatic <span class="greek">ὑπάρχειν</span>, which denotes original, essential, continuous being. (On the word for "conversation" (<span class="greek">ἀναστροφαῖς</span>, behaviour, conduct), see note on 1 Peter 1:15.) Both this noun and the following are plural in the Greek, and therefore mean "in all aspects and forms of holy conduct and godliness." Some commentators connect these last words, "in all holy conversation and godliness," with the next verse: "looking in all holy conversation," etc. Some, again, understand this verse as asking a question, which is answered in the next; but the Greek word for "what manner of persons" (<span class="greek">ποταπός</span>) seems to be used in the New Testament as an exclamation only, not interrogatively. 2 Peter 3:11<a name="vws" id="vws"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/vws/2_peter/3.htm">Vincent's Word Studies</a></div>To be dissolved (λυομένων)<p>So Rev. But the participle is present; and the idea is rather, are in process of dissolution. The world and all therein is essentially transitory.<p>Ought ye to be (ὑπάρχειν)<p>See on <a href="/2_peter/1-8.htm">2 Peter 1:8</a>.<p>Conversation (ἀναστροφαῖς)<p>See on <a href="/1_peter/1-15.htm">1 Peter 1:15</a>. Rev., living.<p>Godliness (εὐσεβείαις)<p>See on <a href="/2_peter/1-3.htm">2 Peter 1:3</a>. 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