2 Peter 3:3
Most importantly, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
Most importantly, you must understand

Peter places this warning among the essential truths believers must grasp in order to remain steady in faith. Spiritual understanding receives God’s revealed truth with discernment and lives in light of it, rather than being carried away by persuasive unbelief (Ephesians 1:17–18).

2Ti 3:1 But understand this: In the last days…
1Th 5:1-2 Now about the times and seasons, brothers,…
2Th 2:3 Let no one deceive you in any way, for it will not come…

that in the last days

The last days began with Christ’s saving work and continue until His visible return in glory (Acts 2:17; Hebrews 1:2). God’s promises are being fulfilled during this age, yet opposition to Christ and His people also increases as the final judgment approaches.

Act 2:17 In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit…
Heb 1:2 But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son…
1Jn 2:18 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard…

scoffers will come,

Mockers reject God’s authority and ridicule the hope of His people. Their appearance confirms the warnings given by the prophets and apostles, including Jude’s warning that such people would arise in the last time (Jude 18). Peter will specifically address their contempt for the promise of Christ’s return.

Jud 1:18 In the last times there will be scoffers who will…
Pro 1:22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways?”…
2Ch 36:16 But they mocked the messengers of God, despising His words…

scoffing

Their ridicule is deliberate and persistent, not an honest search for truth. By treating God’s patience as proof that He will not act, they ignore His past judgments, including the flood, and deny the certainty of coming judgment (2 Peter 3:5–7).

Pro 9:7-8 He who corrects a mocker brings shame on himself;…
Pro 21:24 Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man…
2Ki 2:23-24 From there, Elisha went up to Bethel, and as he was walking…

and following their own evil desires.

Their rejection of Christ’s return is joined to a life governed by sinful desires. Denial of judgment removes moral restraint and permits rebellion to appear justified. Scripture repeatedly connects such self-indulgence with rejection of God’s truth and love for pleasure rather than love for God (Romans 1:24–25; 2 Timothy 3:1–4).

Jud 1:16 These men are discontented grumblers…
Rom 1:24-25 Therefore God gave them over to impurity…
Eph 2:3 All of us also lived among them at one time,…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Peter
The apostle and author of this epistle, writing to encourage and warn believers about false teachings and the return of Christ.

2. Scoffers
Individuals who mock or ridicule the truth of the Gospel, particularly concerning the return of Christ.

3. The Last Days
A period often referred to in the New Testament, indicating the time between Christ's ascension and His second coming.

4. Believers
The recipients of Peter's letter, who are being warned and encouraged to remain steadfast in their faith.

5. Evil Desires
The sinful inclinations that drive the scoffers, leading them away from God's truth.
Teaching Points
Understanding the Times
Recognize that the presence of scoffers is a sign of the last days, as foretold in Scripture. This awareness should strengthen our faith and resolve.

Guarding Against Deception
Be vigilant in discerning truth from falsehood, especially in a world where scoffing and skepticism are prevalent.

Living Righteously
Despite the mockery of scoffers, believers are called to live according to God's standards, not following evil desires.

Encouragement in Faith
Take heart that the challenges faced by believers today were anticipated by the apostles, and God’s promises remain true.

Witnessing Boldly
Use the presence of scoffers as an opportunity to witness to the truth of the Gospel, demonstrating love and patience.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding the presence of scoffers in the last days help strengthen your faith in the promises of God?

2. In what ways can you guard yourself against the influence of scoffers and their skepticism?

3. How can the warnings in 2 Peter 3:3 and related scriptures motivate you to live a life that reflects Christ's teachings?

4. What practical steps can you take to ensure that you are not following your own evil desires, as mentioned in the verse?

5. How can you use the knowledge of these warnings to effectively witness to others about the truth of the Gospel?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Jude 1:18
This verse also warns about scoffers in the last days, emphasizing the consistency of this warning across the New Testament.

2 Timothy 3:1-5
Paul describes the perilous times in the last days, highlighting the moral decay and self-centeredness that will characterize people.

Matthew 24:37-39
Jesus speaks about the days of Noah, drawing a parallel to the last days when people will be indifferent to the coming judgment.

Proverbs 1:22
This verse addresses the attitude of scoffers and the consequences of rejecting wisdom.

Romans 1:18-32
Paul discusses how people suppress the truth in unrighteousness, which aligns with the behavior of scoffers.
The Divine CommandmentU.R. Thomas 2 Peter 3:1-9
Fact of Second Coming, Especially in its AccompanimentsR. Finlayson 2 Peter 3:1-10
Mans External Universe as Read by the Scoffing ScepticD. Thomas, D. D.2 Peter 3:3-4
Miracles are Now Neither Necessary to the Conviction of UnbelieversR. Fiddes, D. D.2 Peter 3:3-4
The Character of the Last DaysJohn Fell, D. D.2 Peter 3:3-4
The Delay of the Advent of ChristR. H. McKim, D. D.2 Peter 3:3-4
The Folly of Scoffing At ReligionAbp. Tillotson.2 Peter 3:3-4
The Nature, Folly, and Danger of Scoring At ReligionJames Foster.2 Peter 3:3-4
The Sin of Scoffing At ReligionJ. A. James.2 Peter 3:3-4
People
Paul, Peter
Places
Asia, Cappadocia, Galatia, Pontus
Topics
Close, Desires, Evil, Governed, Holy, Latter, Lusts, Mock, Mockers, Mockery, Mocking, Passions, Remember, Ruled, Scoffers, Scoffing, Sport, Understand, Walking
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Peter 3:3

     5832   desire

2 Peter 3:1-10

     8670   remembering

2 Peter 3:3-4

     5818   contempt
     8710   atheism
     8816   ridicule, nature of
     8819   scoffing
     8846   ungodliness
     9140   last days

2 Peter 3:3-9

     2565   Christ, second coming

2 Peter 3:3-10

     5467   promises, divine

Library
Twenty Seventh Sunday after Trinity to the Reader.
Text: 2 Peter 3, 3-7. TO THE READER. When the year has twenty-seven Sundays after Trinity, which seldom occurs, substitute the text of 2 Peter 3, 3-7 for the twenty-sixth Sunday and use the text of the twenty-sixth Sunday for the twenty-seventh Sunday.
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III

Be Diligent
'Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless.'--2 Peter iii. 14. As we pass the conventional boundary of another year, most of us, I suppose, cast glances into the darkness ahead. To those of us who have the greater part of our lives probably before us, the onward look will disclose glad possibilities. To some of us, who have life mostly behind us, the prospect will take 'a sober colouring from an eye that
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

Growth
'But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ....'--2 Peter iii. 18. These are the last words of an old man, written down as his legacy to us. He was himself a striking example of his own precept. It would be an interesting study to examine these two letters of the Apostle Peter, in order to construct from them a picture of what he became, and to contrast it with his own earlier self when full of self-confidence, rashness, and instability. It took a lifetime for Simon,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

Thirty-First Day. Holiness and Heaven.
Seeing that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of men ought ye to be in all holy living and godliness?'--2 Pet. iii. 11. 'Follow after the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord.'--Heb. xii. 14. 'He that is holy, let him be made holy still.... The grace of the Lord Jesus be with the holy ones. Amen.'--Rev. xxii. 11, 21. O my brother, we are on our way to see God. We have been invited to meet the Holy One face to face. The infinite mystery of holiness, the
Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ

How to Make Use of Christ as the Truth, for Growth in Knowledge.
It is a commanded duty, that we grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, 2 Pet. iii. 18; and the knowledge of him being life eternal, John xvii. 3, and our measure of knowledge of him here being but imperfect, for we know but in part, it cannot but be an useful duty, and a desirable thing, to be growing in this knowledge. This is to walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, to be increasing in the knowledge of God, Col. i. 10. Knowledge must be added to virtue; and it layeth a ground for other Christian
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

How Christ is to be Made Use Of, in Reference to Growing in Grace.
I come now to speak a little to the other part of sanctification, which concerneth the change of our nature and frame, and is called vivification, or quickening of the new man of grace; which is called the new man, as having all its several members and parts, as well as the old man; and called new, because posterior to the other; and after regeneration is upon the growing hand, this duty of growing in grace, as it is called, 2 Pet. iii. &c. is variously expressed and held forth to us in Scripture;
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

The Properties of Sanctifying Grace
By a property (proprium, {GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA WITH PSILI AND OXIA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER DELTA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER OMICRON}{GREEK SMALL LETTER NU}) we understand a quality which, though not part of the essence of a thing, necessarily flows from that essence by some sort of causation and is consequently found in all individuals of the same species.(1155) A property, as such, is opposed to an accident (accidens, {GREEK SMALL LETTER SIGMA}{GREEK SMALL LETTER UPSILON}{GREEK
Joseph Pohle—Grace, Actual and Habitual

Growth in Grace.
Text--But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.--2 Pet. iii. 18. I MUST conclude this Course of Lectures by giving converts instructions on the subject of growth in grace. I shall pursue the following method: I. What is grace, as the term is here used? II. What the injunction "to grow in grace" does not mean. III. What it does mean. IV. Conditions of growth in grace. V. What is not proof of growth in grace. VI. What is proof of growth in grace. VII How to grow in
Charles Grandison Finney—Lectures on Revivals of Religion

God's Call
What manner of persons ought ye to be?' (2 Peter iii. 11.) 'As He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.' (1 Peter i. 15, 16.) When we set up standards for life and character we must be quite clear that our teaching fits in with God's purpose as revealed towards His people. Therefore, when we enforce the doctrine of personal Holiness, there is no reason more weighty than that which Peter gives us in the verses
T. H. Howard—Standards of Life and Service

Growth in Grace
'But grow in grace.' 2 Pet 3:38. True grace is progressive, of a spreading and growing nature. It is with grace as with light; first, there is the crepusculum, or daybreak; then it shines brighter to the full meridian. A good Christian is like the crocodile. Quamdiu vivet crescit; he has never done growing. The saints are not only compared to stars for their light, but to trees for their growth. Isa 61:1, and Hos 14:4. A good Christian is not like Hezekiah's sun that went backwards, nor Joshua's
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

On Predestination
"Whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son: -- Whom he did predestinate, them he also called. And whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." Romans 8:29, 30. Our beloved brother Paul," says St. Peter, "according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; as also in all his Epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

Spiritual Growth
Thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring whose waters fail not.' (Isaiah lviii. 11.) 'Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.' (2 Peter iii. 18.) The truths of the Bible exist in counterpart, having at least two aspects, each of which must be considered in relation to the other, if their full meaning is to be understood. That is a very necessary statement in regard to the aspect of truth which we emphasize under the general heading of 'Spiritual
T. H. Howard—Standards of Life and Service

The Work of God in Our Work.
"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ."--1 Thess. v. 23. The difference between sanctification and good works should be well understood. Many confound the two, and believe that sanctification means to lead an honorable and virtuous life; and, since this is equal to good works, sanctification, without which no man shall see God, is made to consist in the earnest and diligent
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

The New Testament Canon in the First Three Centuries.
The first Christians relied on the Old Testament as their chief religious book. To them it was of divine origin and authority. The New Testament writings came into gradual use, by the side of the older Jewish documents, according to the times in which they appeared and the names of their reputed authors. The Epistles of Paul were the earliest written; after which came the Apocalypse, the Epistle to the Hebrews, and other documents, all in the first century. After the first gospel had undergone a
Samuel Davidson—The Canon of the Bible

God Rejoicing in the New Creation
THIS PASSAGE, like the rest of Isaiah's closing chapters, will have completest fulfillment in the latter days when Christ shall come, when the whole company of his elect ones shall have been gathered out from the world, when the whole creation shall have been renewed, when new heavens and a new earth shall be the product of the Savior's power, when, for ever and for ever, perfected saints of God shall behold his face, and joy and rejoice in him. I hope and believe that the following verses will actually
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 37: 1891

Fourth Sunday after Trinity Consolation in Suffering, and Patience.
Text: Romans 8, 18-22. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us-ward. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to vanity not of its own will, but by reason of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of God.
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III

The Resurrection of the Dead, and Eternal Judgment:
OR, THE TRUTH OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODIES, BOTH OF GOOD AND BAD AT THE LAST DAY: ASSERTED, AND PROVED BY GOD'S WORD. ALSO, THE MANNER AND ORDER OF THEIR COMING FORTH OF THEIR GRAVES; AS ALSO, WITH WHAT BODIES THEY DO ARISE. TOGETHER, WITH A DISCOURSE OF THE LAST JUDGMENT, AND THE FINAL CONCLUSION OF THE WHOLE WORLD. BY JOHN BUNYAN, A SERVANT OF THE LORD'S CHRIST. "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Fourth Sunday after Trinity Redemption of the Creatures.
Second Sermon. Text: Romans 8, 18-22. REDEMPTION OF THE CREATURES. 1. We have heard how Paul comforts the Christians in their sufferings, pointing them to the future inconceivable and eternal glory to be revealed in us in the world to come; and how he has, for our greater consolation, reminded us that the whole creation as one being suffers in company with the Christian Church. We have noted how he sees, with the clear, keen eye of an apostle, the holy cross in every creature. He brings out this
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III

Twenty-Fifth Day. Holy and Blameless.
Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe.--The Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, to the end He may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His holy ones.'--1 Thess. ii. 10, iii. 12, 13. 'He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before Him
Andrew Murray—Holy in Christ

That Gospel Sermon on the Blessed Hope
In 2 Timothy, 3:16, Paul declares: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness;" but there are some people who tell us when we take up prophecy that it is all very well to be believed, but that there is no use in one trying to understand it; these future events are things that the church does not agree about, and it is better to let them alone, and deal only with those prophecies which have already been
Dwight L. Moody—That Gospel Sermon on the Blessed Hope

The Recovery and Revival of the Blessed Hope Itself.
In Daniel 12:4, 9, 10 we read--"But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. ** And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the Time of the End. Many shall be purified, and made white and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand." [9] As we shall yet seek to show this prophecy is a composite one
Arthur W. Pink—The Redeemer's Return

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