The moral work of each individual is not meant consequently, a reference to 1Corinthians 3:13 is misleading. The earth also and the works that are therein.-Equivalent to “the earth and the fulness thereof,” “works” being used in a comprehensive sense for products both of nature and art. In 2Peter 3:12 “melt” is correct, and suits the heavenly bodies better than the four elements. Wiclif has “dissolved,” Rheims “resolved.” This dissolution is the opposite of the consistency spoken of in 2Peter 3:5. Revelation 6:14.) “Shall melt” should rather be, as in the next two verses, shall be dissolved. Bengel (perhaps with more poetry than correctness) ingeniously connects this explanation with the radical signification of the word, viz., “letters of the alphabet,” “for stars in the heaven are as letters on a scroll.” (Comp. v., Trypho, xxiii.), and that in predictions of the last day frequent mention is made of “signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars” ( Matthew 24:29 Mark 13:24 Luke 21:25 Isaiah 13:10 Isaiah 24:23 Joel 2:31, &c), it is possible that the heavenly bodies are meant here, all the more so, as the mention of these “elements” immediately follows that of the heavens. But seeing that Justin Martyr calls the sun, moon, and stars “heavenly elements” ( Apol. More probably, the various forms of matter in the universe are intended, without any thought of indicating what they are precisely. Hence, some take “the elements” to mean water and air, the two remaining elements but this is not very satisfactory. (See Notes on the word in Galatians 4:3 Galatians 4:9.) The difficulty of supposing fire to be destroyed by fire seems to exclude the four elements being intended moreover, the earth is mentioned separately. The elements shall melt with fervent heat.-The meaning of “elements” here is much disputed. The expression occurs nowhere else in the New Testament, but some such idea as that in Isaiah 34:4, Revelation 6:14, is probably indicated-not the roar of flames or the crash of ruins, but the parting and rolling up of the heavens. With a great noise.-Better, with a rushing noise. Peter and three others seem to have heard, may fairly be added to the evidence in favour of the authenticity of the Epistle. This repeated reproduction of words and ideas from one of the most impressive of Christ’s discourses, which only St. Matthew 24:35)-the third such reminiscence in this chapter (see preceding Note, and on 2Peter 3:7). The heavens shall pass away.-Again an apparent reminiscence of the discourse in Matthew 24 (where comp. The words “in the night” are here wanting in authority. Peter certainly heard ( Mark 13:3), or possibly of 1Thessalonians 5:2, which may easily be included in the Epistles referred to below in 2Peter 3:16. The words are an echo of Matthew 24:43, a saying which St.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(10) The certainty and possible nearness of Christ’s coming is the basis of the preceding warning and of the exhortations which follow.Īs a thief in the night.-Suddenly and without warning.

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