The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Peter — Section 94

Yers. 11-18.-...Duty in vieio of second coming. I. REFERF.NCR TO Gon IN OUR CON• DUCT. "Seeing that tbcse things are thus a.11 to be dissolved, what ml\nner of persons ought ye t-0 be in all holy li,ing and godliness?" The e.'\tastrophe that is to nccomp:my the second coming is here put dol\·n in time present in the original, to raise an impres~ion of its certainty: "Seeing that these things are thus all dissolved." If the concluSions of some scientific men are to be accepted, this is literally true, inasmuch as Ibey say that there are processes going on which must end in the material fa.brio being woru out. It is in the condition of a clock that, if not wound up, must run out, The catastrophe thus vividly presented is here made a. reason for our attending to ourselves. '' What manner of persons," Peter exclaims, "ought ye to be in a.II holy livin<> and godli- ness?" Holy living is the living of those who a.re set apart to the service of: holy God. Godliness points to this living a.s based on our relation to God. By the use of the plural in the original there is brought out the manifold workings and forms of a. <>odly life. There is the feeling of dependence on God and of fear toward him, desire fo~ the blessing from God and trust in him for the blessing, the feeling of love toward God for what he is and of gratitude toward him for his mercies, knowledge of God's will and the resolution to do his will,-a.11 this finding expression in worship, self-command, and sacrifice for others. II . .ATl'ITUDE TOWARD THE SECOND COMING. "Looking for and earnestly desiring. the coming of the day of God." This is the only instance of the day being called "the day of God." We must think of the Father ordering the day and its events, that the Son after his mysterious Passion may be magnified. ".As the Father ra.iseth the dead and q uickeneth them, even so the Son also quickeneth whom he will. For neither doth the Father judge any man, but he bath given all judgment unto the Son; that all may honour the Son, even as they honour the Father." Our attitude to the day of God is to be that of expect,ancy. We are to look for its coming or presence, We are to allow it to dwell in our minds, so as to call forth our earnest desire after it. The first Christians looked for it to come in their day. They were nearer the Divine intention than those who, because it may not be for thousands of years, do not think of it a.t all. But our attitude is also to be that of active preparation. The proper translation. is neither "haste unto" nor "earnestly desire," but "hasten on." The idea of hastening on the coming is unwmal; but it .is remarkable that it is elsewhere expressed. by Peter. "Repent ye therefore," he said to the assembly in Solomon's porch, "and turn again, that yonr sins may be blotted out, that so there may come seasons .of refreshing from the presence of the Lord; and that he may send the Christ who hath been appointed for you, even Jesus: whom the heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things." It is thus Petrine and scriptural to think of the coming as an event which may~be accelerated by our repentance and prayers and efforts for the diffusion of the gospel III. WHAT IB NECEBSITATED BY THE SECOND COMING OUTWARDLY. "By reason of which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat." It is said that the heavens are not clean in God's sight. The idea here is that even the heavens have been defiled, by reason of those who have lived under them, and upon the earth. Once Christ did not shrink from dwelling on this earth, being on his saving mission; but when be is to come in his judicial character, he is to be a consuming fire, at his approach, even to material things. It is said in Rev. xx. 11, that from the face of him that sat upon the great white throne the earth and the heaven fled away, and there was found no place for them. So here it is taught that even the heavenly world is to be subjected to fire, not merely to the breaking up of its order, but even to the melting of its elements. IV. WHAT IS LOOKED FOR AT THE SEOOND COMING OUTWARDLY, "But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteous-, ness." Thie is in accordance with Rev. xxi. I, "Aud I saw a new heaven and a. new earth: for the first hea,en and the first earth were passed a.way." The most striking promise is in Isa. lxv.17, "For, behold, I create new heavens a.ud a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered." 'l'he newness does not necessarily refer to the materials of which the present heavens and earth are composed; these may be transformed so as to constitute new heavens and earth, just a.s our bodies are to be transformed so as to con- stitute new bodies. 'l'he new heavens and new earth are to correspond to newness of on. ur. 1-18.] 'l'HE SECOND EPISTLE GENERAL OF PETER.