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RE: 2 Peter 3:9 | ⁹ The LORD is not slow to fulfill HIS promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.

What does it mean that GOD is not willing for any to perish?

The second half of the verse, “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance,” is frequently used to argue against the doctrine of election.

The context of 2 Peter 3:9 is a description of scoffers who doubt that JESUS is going to return to judge the world with fire [2 Peter 3:3-7].

The scoffers mock, “Where is this coming?” [v.4]

In v.5-6 Peter reminds his readers that GOD previously destroyed the world with the flood in Noah’s time.

In v.7, Peter informs his readers that the present heavens & earth will be destroyed with fire.

Peter then responds to a question he knew was on his readers’ minds, namely, “what is taking GOD so long?”

In v.8, Peter tells his readers that GOD is above & beyond the concept of time. It may seem like we have been waiting a long time, but, to GOD, it has been a blink of an eye.

Then, in v.9, Peter explains why GOD has waited so long [in our view of time].

It is GOD’s mercy that delays HIS judgment.

GOD is waiting to give more people the opportunity to repent.

Then, in the verses following v.9, Peter encourages his readers to live holy lives in anticipation of the fact JESUS will return.

Some of the confusion regarding the meaning of 2 Peter 3:9 is the wording of the KJV translation:

“not willing that any should perish.”

Not willing makes it sound as if GOD does not allow any to perish.

However, in 17th-century English, willing carried more of an idea of desire than of volition.

The modern English translations of 2 Peter 3:9 render the same phrase “not wanting” [NIV & CSB], “not wishing” [ESV & NASB], & “does not want” [NLT].

In no sense does 2 Peter 3:9 contradict the idea that GOD elects certain people to salvation.

First, in context, election is not at all what the verse is talking about. Second, to interpret “not willing that any should perish” as “does not allow any to perish” results in the false doctrine of universalism.

But GOD can “not desire” anyone to perish & still only elect some to salvation.

There is nothing incongruous about that.

GOD did not desire for sin to enter the world through the fall of Adam & Eve, yet HE allowed it.

In fact, it was part of HIS sovereign plan.

GOD did not desire HIS only begotten SON to be betrayed, brutally tortured, & murdered, yet HE allowed it.

This, too, was part of GOD’s sovereign plan.

In the same way, GOD does not desire anyone to perish.

He desires all to come to repentance.

At the same time, GOD recognizes that not everyone will come to repentance.

It is undeniable that many will perish [Matthew 7:13–14].

Rather than being a contradiction to 2 Peter 3:9, GOD’s electing & drawing of some to salvation is evidence that HE truly does not desire people to perish.

Were it not for election & the effectual calling of GOD, everyone would perish [John 6:44; Romans 8:29–30].

https://www.gotquestions.org/not-willing-for-any-to-perish.html

Psalm 77:8; Ecclesiastes 8:11; Isaiah 30:18; Ezekiel 33:11; Daniel 4:29; Habakkuk 2:3; Luke 18:7; Romans 2:4; Romans 13:11-12; 1 Timothy 2:4; Hebrews 10:37; 2 Peter 1:4; 2 Peter 3:15; Revelation 2:21; Isaiah 46:1;

● Psalm 77:8 | ⁸ Is HIS loving devotion gone forever? Has HIS promise failed for all time?

● Ecclesiastes 8:11 | ¹¹ When the sentence for a crime is not speedily executed, the hearts of men become fully set on doing evil.

● Isaiah 30:18 | ¹⁸ Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore HE rises to show you compassion, for the LORD is a just GOD. Blessed are all who wait for HIM.

● Ezekiel 33:11 | ¹¹ Say to them: ‘As surely as I live, declares the LORD GOD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked should turn from their ways & live.

Turn! Turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’

● Daniel 4:29-33 | ²⁹ Twelve months later, as he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, ³⁰ the king exclaimed, “Is this not Babylon the Great, which I myself have built by the might of my power as a royal residence & for the glory of my majesty?”

³¹ While the words were still in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven: “It is decreed to you, King Nebuchadnezzar, that the kingdom has departed from you.

³² You will be driven away from mankind to live with the beasts of the field, & you will feed on grass like cattle. And seven times will pass you by, until you acknowledge that the Most High is ruler over the kingdom of men, & HE gives it to whom HE wishes.”

³³ At that moment the sentence against Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled.

He was driven away from mankind.

He ate grass like cattle, & his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle & his nails like the claws of a bird.

● Habakkuk 2:3 | ³ For the vision awaits an appointed time; it testifies of the end, & will not lie. Though it lingers, wait for it, since it will surely come & not delay.

● Luke 18:7 | ⁷ Will not GOD bring about justice for HIS elect who cry out to HIM day & night? Will HE continue to defer their help?

● Romans 2:4 | ⁴ Or do you disregard the riches of HIS kindness, tolerance, & patience, not realizing that GOD’s kindness leads you to repentance?

● Romans 13:11-12 | ¹¹ And do this, understanding the occasion. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

¹² The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness & put on the armor of light.

● 1 Timothy 2:4 | ⁴ who desires all men to be saved & to come to the knowledge of the truth.

● Hebrews 10:37 | ³⁷ For, “In just a little while, HE who is coming will come & will not delay.

● 2 Peter 1:4 | ⁴ Through these HE has given us HIS precious & magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

● 2 Peter 3:15 | ¹⁵ Consider also that our LORD's patience brings salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom GOD gave him.

Charles John Ellicott, Theologian [1819–1905] | 2 Peter 3:9

[9] Third Answer—a practical one:

Make good use of what to you seems to be delay.

1.] The LORD is not slack—We are in doubt whether “the LORD” means CHRIST or GOD the FATHER.

In 2 Peter 3:8 “the LORD” certainly means GOD; & this is in favour of the same meaning here.

On the other hand, “concerning HIS promise” naturally refers to CHRIST’s promise that HE will return.

The same doubt recurs with regard to 2 Peter 3:15 [see Note there].

By “is not slack is meant “does not delay beyond the time appointed.” There is no dilatoriness; HE waits, but is never slow, is never late.

2] Concerning his promise—The Greek construction is peculiar formed on the analogy of a comparative adjective—“is not slower than HIS promise.” [Romans 3:23.]

3] But is longsuffering—[2Peter 3:15 & 1Peter 3:20]

As Augustine puts it, GOD is patiens quia aeternus —longsuffering because HE is eternal.

HE who is from everlasting to everlasting can afford to wait.

4] To us-ward—The true reading, beyond all doubt, is towards you.

It is specially natural here that Peter should not include himself among those whom he addresses; for he is writing mainly to Gentile Christians [2 Peter 1:1],

& this longsuffering of GOD had been conspicuous in HIS dealings with the Gentiles [Romans 11:11-36.]

[See second Note on 1 Peter 1:12.]

Joseph Benson, Methodist [1749–1821] | 2 Peter 3:9

1] The LORD is not slack—does not delay, or is not slow; concerning HIS promise—To fulfil it, as if the time fixed for the fulfilment of it were past;

for it shall surely be fulfilled in its season; but is long-suffering,

2] to us-ward—Children of men; not willing that any should perish—Any human being, any soul that HE has made.

That is, HE is not primarily willing; HIS first will, with regard to the whole posterity of Adam, has been & is, that they should be eternally saved;

& as a proof of it HE has given HIS SON a ransom for all; [1 Timothy 2:6; Hebrews 2:9;]

has commanded HIS GOSPEL, that is, the glad tidings of salvation, to be preached to all, to every human creature [Mark 16:15]

&, to help man’s weakness, causes HIS grace, even HIS saving grace, [literally signifies] to appear to, or to visit & strive with, all men, in order to their repentance, faith, & new obedience.

But if they reject HIS counsel against themselves, which they are under no necessity of doing, by continuing impenitent, unbelieving, & disobedient,

Then, secondly, HE wills, & that justly, that they should perish, for they are accountable to HIM, their rightful Lawgiver, Governor, & Judge,

& HE will judge them, & all the world, in righteousness.

Matthew Henry, Nonconformist [1662-1714] | 2 Peter 3:5-10

Had these scoffers considered the dreadful vengeance with which GOD swept away a whole world of ungodly men at once, surely they would not have scoffed at HIS threatening an equally terrible judgment.

The heavens & the earth which now are, by the same word, it is declared, will be destroyed by fire.

This is as sure to come, as the truth & the power of GOD can make it.

Christians are here taught & established in the truth of the coming of the LORD. Though, in the account of men, there is a vast difference between one day & 1K years, yet, in the account of GOD, there is no difference.

All things past, present, & future, are ever before HIM: the delay of 1K years cannot be so much to HIM, as putting off any thing for a day or for an hour is to us.

If men have no knowledge or belief of the eternal GOD, they will be very apt to think HIM such as themselves.

How hard is it to form any thoughts of eternity!

What men count slackness, is long-suffering, & that to us-ward; it is giving more time to HIS own people, to advance in knowledge & holiness, & in the exercise of faith & patience,

to abound in good works, doing & suffering what they are called to, that they may bring glory to GOD.

Settle therefore in your hearts that you shall certainly be called to give an account of all things done in the body, whether good or evil.

And let a humble & diligent walking before GOD, & a frequent judging of yourselves, show a firm belief of the future judgment, though many live as if they were never to give any account at all.

This day will come, when men are secure, & have no expectation of the day of the LORD.

The stately palaces, & all the desirable things wherein wordly-minded men seek & place their happiness, shall be burned up; all sorts of creatures GOD has made,

& all the works of men, must pass through the fire, which shall be a consuming fire to all that sin has brought into the world, though a refining fire to the works of GOD's hand.

What will become of us, if we set our affections on this earth, & make it our portion, seeing all these things shall be burned up?

● Revelation 18:7-9 | ⁷ As much as she has glorified herself & lived in luxury, give her the same measure of torment & grief. In her heart she says, ‘I sit as queen; I am not a widow & will never see grief.’

⁸ Therefore her plagues will come in one day—death & misery & famine—& she will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the LORD GOD who judges her.”

⁹ Then the kings of the earth who committed sexual immorality & lived in luxury with her will weep & wail at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her.

● James 5:1-6 | ¹ Come now, you who are rich, weep & wail for the misery to come upon you.

² Your riches have rotted & moths have eaten your clothes. ³ Your gold & silver are corroded.

Their corrosion will testify against you & consume your flesh like fire. You have hoarded treasure in the last days.

⁴ Look, the wages you withheld from the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you.

The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the LORD of Hosts. ⁵ You have lived on earth in luxury & self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in the day of slaughter. ⁶ You have condemned & murdered the righteous, who did not resist you.

Therefore make sure of happiness beyond this visible world.

Albert Barnes, American Theologian [1798-1870] | 2 Peter 3:9

1] The LORD is not slack concerning HIS promise—That is, it should not be inferred because HIS promise seems to be long delayed that therefore it will fail.

When people, after a considerable lapse of time, fail to fulfil their engagements, we infer that it is because they have changed their plans, or because they have forgotten their promises, or because they have no ability to perform them, or because there is a lack of principle which makes them fail, regardless of their obligations.

But no such inference can be drawn from the apparent delay of the fulfillment of the divine purposes.

Whatever may be the reasons why they seem to be deferred, with GOD, we may be sure that it is from no such causes as these.

2] As some men count slackness—It is probable that the apostle here had his eye on some professing Christians who had become disheartened & impatient,

& who, from the delay in regard to the coming of the LORD JESUS, & from the representations of those who denied the truth of the Christian religion, arguing from that delay that it was false,

began to fear that HIS promised coming would indeed never occur.

To such he says that it should not be inferred from HIS delay that HE would not return, but that the delay should be regarded as an evidence of HIS desire that men should have space for repentance,

& an opportunity to secure their salvation.

[See the notes at 2 Peter 3:15]

3] But is long-suffering to us-ward—Toward us.

The delay should be regarded as a proof of HIS forbearance, & of HIS desire that all human beings should be saved.

Every sinner should consider the fact that he is not cut down in his sins, not as a proof that GOD will not punish the wicked,

but as a demonstration that HE is now forbearing, & is willing that he should have an ample opportunity to obtain eternal life.

No one should infer that GOD will not execute HIS threats, unless he can look into the most distant parts of a coming eternity, & demonstrate that there is no suffering appointed for the sinner there;

anyone who sins, & who is spared even for a moment, should regard the respite as only a proof that GOD is merciful & forbearing now.

4] Not willing that any should perish—That is, HE does not desire it or wish it.

HIS nature is benevolent, & HE sincerely desires the eternal happiness of all, & HIS patience toward sinners "proves" that HE is willing that they should be saved.

If HE were not willing, it would be easy for HIM to cut them off, & exclude them from hope immediately.

This passage, however, should not be adduced to prove:

[1] that sinners never will in fact perish; because:

[a] the passage does not refer to what GOD will do as the final Judge of mankind, but to what are HIS feelings & desires now toward men.

[b] One may have a sincere desire that others should not perish, & yet it may be that, in entire consistency with that, they will perish.

A parent has a sincere wish that his children should not be punished, & yet he himself may be under a moral necessity to punish them.

A lawgiver may have a sincere wish that no one should ever break the laws, or be punished, & yet he himself may build a prison, & construct a gallows, & cause the law to be executed in a most rigorous manner.

A judge on the bench may have a sincere desire that no man should be executed, & that everyone arraigned before him should be found to be innocent, & yet even he, in entire accordance with that wish, & with a most benevolent heart, even with tears in his eyes, may pronounce the sentence of the law.

[c] It cannot be inferred that all that the heart of infinite benevolence would desire will be accomplished by HIS mere will.

It is evidently as much in accordance with the benevolence of GOD that no one should be miserable in this world, as it is that no one should suffer in the next, since the difficulty is not in the question Where one shall suffer,

but in the fact itself that any should suffer; & it is just as much in accordance with HIS nature that all should be happy here, as that they should be happy hereafter.

And yet no man can maintain that the fact that GOD is benevolent proves that no one will suffer here.

As little will that fact prove that none will suffer in the world to come.

[2] the passage should not be adduced to prove that GOD has no purpose, & has formed no plan, in regard to the destruction of the wicked; because:

[a] the word here used has reference rather to HIS disposition, or to HIS nature, than to any act or plan.

[b] There is a sense, as is admitted by all, in which HE does will the destruction of the wicked—to wit, if they do not repent—that is, if they deserve it.

[c] Such an act is as inconsistent with HIS general benevolence as an eternal purpose in the matter, since HIS eternal purpose can only have been to do what HE actually does;

& if it be consistent with a sincere desire that sinners should be saved to do this, then it is consistent to determine beforehand to do it

—for to determine beforehand to do what is in fact right, can only be a lovely trait in the character of anyone.

[3] The passage then proves:

[a] that GOD has a sincere desire that people should be saved;

continued...

Matthew Poole, Nonconformist [1624-1679] | 2 Peter 3:9

The LORD is not slack concerning his promise; i.e. doth not defer the fulfilling of it beyond the appointed time, Isaiah 60:22.

As some men count slackness; either the scoffers here mentioned, who, because of CHRIST’s not yet coming, questioned whether he would come at all, as if GOD had changed his purpose, or would not fulfil it: or believers themselves, who, through the weakness of their faith, & greatness of their sufferings, might grow into some degree of impatience, & think CHRIST slow in coming to avenge their cause, & give them their reward. So much may be gathered from Revelation 6:10.

But is long-suffering to usward; to us believers, or us elect.

Not willing that any should perish; any that he hath ordained to life, though not yet called.

But that all should come to repentance; all whom he hath elected; he would have the whole number of them filled up, & defers the day of judgment till it be so: or this may be meant not of GOD’s secret & effectual will, but of his revealed will, whereby he calls all to repentance promiscuously that hear the GOSPEL preached, hath made it their duty, approves of it, hath prescribed it as the way of salvation, commanded them to seek salvation in that way, & is ready to receive & save them upon their repenting: see 1 Timothy 2:4.

John Gill, Baptist & Calvinist [1697-1771] | 2 Peter 3:9

The LORD is not slack concerning his promise—The Syriac version reads in the plural, "his promises", any of his promises; though the words seem rather to regard the particular promise of CHRIST's coming, either to take vengeance on the Jewish nation, of which coming there was a promise made, & is often referred to by CHRIST, & his apostles; see Mark 9:1 Hebrews 10:37; & it now being upwards of thirty years since it was given out, some men began to charge GOD with slackness & dilatoriness; whereas the true reason of the delay of it was, that there might be time for the gathering in of his elect among them by his angels, or apostles & ministers, sent into the several parts of Judea, that so none of them might perish, but be brought to faith & repentance; & thus as the time of CHRIST's coming was prolonged more than was thought it would, so when the days of afflictions were come, they were shortened also for these elect's sake: or this promise regards the second coming of CHRIST, to judge the quick & dead at the last day, of which the former was a prelude, presage, & pledge; that CHRIST would come again, & appear a second time in person, was promised by himself, & often spoken of by his apostles; & many of the primitive Christians thought it would be very soon, & which might be occasioned by the hints that were given of his coming in the other sense. Now this being deferred longer than was expected, the scoffers or mockers take upon them to charge the LORD with slackness in the fulfilment of his promise: as some men count slackness; as if he had either changed his purpose, or had prolonged it beyond the appointed time, or was unmindful of his promise, & would never fulfil it; whereas he is in one mind, & none can turn him, nor will he delay the fulfilment of his promise beyond the set time; he has fixed a day for his coming, in which he will judge the world in righteousness, & he will keep it: he is not dilatory,

but is longsuffering to us-ward: not to all the individuals of human nature, for the persons intended by us are manifestly distinguished from "some men" in the text, & from scoffers, mocking at the promise of CHRIST's coming, in the context, 2 Peter 3:3; & are expressly called beloved, 2 Peter 3:1; & GOD's longsuffering towards them is their salvation, 2 Peter 3:15, nor is it true of all men, that GOD is not willing that any of them should perish, & that everyone of them should come to repentance, since many of them do perish in their sins, & do not come to repentance, which would not be the case, if his determining will was otherwise; besides, a society or company of men are designed, to which the apostle himself belonged, & of which he was a part; & who are described, in his epistles, as the elect of GOD, called out of darkness, into marvellous light, & having obtained like precious faith with the apostles; & must be understood either of GOD's elect among the Jews, for Peter was a Jew, & they were Jews he wrote to; & then the sense is, that the delay of CHRIST's coming is not owing to any slackness in him, but to his longsuffering to his elect among the Jews, being unwilling that any of that number among them should perish, but that all of them repent of their sins, & believe in him; & therefore he waits till their conversion is over, when a nation shall be born at once, & they that have pierced him look on him & mourn, & so all Israel shall be saved; or rather of the elect in general, whether among Jews or Gentiles, upon whom the LORD waits to be gracious, & whose longsuffering issues in their conversion & salvation. And upon account of these the LORD stays his coming till their number is complete in the effectual calling; & for their sakes he is longsuffering to others, & bears with a wicked world, with the idolatry, superstition, heresy, profaneness, & impiety, with which it abounds; but when the last man that belongs to that number is called, he will quickly descend in flames of fire, & burn the world, & the wicked in it, & take his chosen ones to himself. The Alexandrian copy reads, "for you", or your sakes; & so the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, & Ethiopic versions. A passage somewhat like to this is met with in a Book of the Jews [f], esteemed by them very ancient.

GOD prolongs or defers his anger with men; & one day, which is a thousand years, is fixed, besides the seventy years he delivered to David the king—And he does not judge man by his evil works which he continually does, for if so, the world would not stand; but the holy blessed GOD defers his anger with the righteous, & the wicked, that they may return, by perfect repentance, & be established in this world, & in the world to come.''

And it is an observation of theirs [g], that when GOD is said to be longsuffering", it is not written , but , intimating, that he is longsuffering both to the righteous & the wicked; but then he bears with the latter, for the sake of the former: compare with this passage Revelation 6:9;

not willing that any should perish; not any of the us, whom he has loved with an everlasting love, whom he has chosen in his SON, & given to him, & for whom he has died, & who are brought to believe in him. These, though they were lost in Adam, did not perish; & though in their own apprehensions, when awakened & convinced, are ready to perish; & though their peace, joy, & comfort, may perish for a while, & they may fear a final & total perishing; yet they shall never perish as others do, or be punished with everlasting destruction: & that this is the will of GOD, appears by his choice of them to salvation; by the provisions of grace for them in an everlasting covenant; by the security of their persons in the hands of CHRIST; by sending his Son to obtain salvation for them, & HIS SPIRIT to apply it to them; & by his keeping them by his power, through faith, unto salvation.

But that all should come to repentance; not legal, but evangelical, without which all must perish; & which all GOD's elect stand in need of, as well as others, being equally sinners; & which they cannot come to of themselves, & therefore he not only calls them to it, in his word, & by HIS SPIRIT & grace, but bestows it upon them; he has exalted CHRIST at his own right hand, to give it to them; & repentance is a grant from him, a free gift of his grace; & the SPIRIT is sent down into their hearts to work it in them, to take away the stony heart, & give an heart of flesh; without which, whatever time & space may be given, or means afforded, even the most awful judgments, the greatest mercies, & the most powerful ministry, will be of no avail.

Geneva Study BIBLE, ‎Protestant Affiliation [1557-1560] | 2 Peter 3:9

[8] The LORD is not slack concerning HIS promise, as some men count slackness; [9] but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

[8] The LORD will surely come, because HE has promised: & neither sooner nor later than HE has promised.

[9] A reason why the last day does not come too soon, because GOD patiently waits until all the elect are brought to repentance, that none of them may perish.

https://biblehub.com/commentaries/2_peter/3-9.htm

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