2 Peter 3:5-6
For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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What's easy to miss here is the deliberate choice of these doubters to ignore how God's very creation, the solid earth and the vast heavens, came into being. They conveniently forget that the same powerful Word that spoke the cosmos into existence, separating land from water, is still very much in charge.
Peter is addressing people who are mocking the promise of Christ's return, claiming that nothing has changed since creation. He's reminding them that God actively brought the world into being and later judged it with a flood, demonstrating His power and willingness to intervene in history. This sets up his argument that God will act again to bring judgment and establish new heavens and a new earth.
Some people just don't want to know the truth. Peter calls out those who 'deliberately overlook' God's reality. What does this wilful blindness look like in our lives?
Peter uses a strong phrase here: 'deliberately overlook.' It's not about accidental forgetting, but a conscious choice to disregard what is evident. These false teachers weren't just ignorant; they were actively pushing away the truth about God's creative power and presence. This kind of willful ignorance is dangerous because it allows sin and error to take root. When we decide not to see what God has clearly shown us, we open ourselves up to deception and drift away from truth. It’s a crucial warning for all believers: keep your eyes wide open to God’s truth, even when it’s inconvenient or challenges your assumptions.
The ancient world, like ours, was filled with wonders. Peter points to the heavens and the earth not just as facts, but as a testament to God's powerful word. What can the very structure of our universe tell us about its Creator?
Peter grounds his argument in the undeniable reality of creation. He reminds his readers that the universe wasn't an accident. It was 'formed out of water and through water by the word of God.' This wasn't a casual process; it was a deliberate act of God's power. The elements of water, crucial for life, and the vastness of the heavens were brought into being by His spoken command. This serves as a powerful reminder that our world is not godless or random. It bears the distinct signature of a sovereign Creator whose Word brought everything into existence and continues to sustain it.
Understand the original words
rhēma · Greek Noun
The spoken decree of God, which possesses inherent power to create, sustain, govern, and transform reality.
kataklystheis · Greek Verb (participle)
Refers to the historic flood in the days of Noah, serving as a prototype of divine judgment upon a sinful world. It signifies God's sovereign authority to cleanse the earth through watery judgment.
This passage describes the very beginning of creation, where God's Spirit hovered over the waters, setting the stage for the earth being formed from water as mentioned in 2 Peter.
Psalm 33:6This Psalm echoes the creation account, attributing the heavens and their host to God's breath, directly aligning with the 'word of God' that formed the earth from water in 2 Peter.
Job 38:4-11In this chapter, God challenges Job by recounting His power in creation, including His actions of establishing the boundaries of the sea and forming the earth, illustrating His authority over the waters.
Hebrews 1:3This verse speaks of Jesus upholding all things by His word of power, connecting the creative power of God's word mentioned in 2 Peter to the ongoing sustaining power of Christ.
What's easy to miss here is the deliberate choice of these doubters to ignore how God's very creation, the solid earth and the vast heavens, came into being. They conveniently forget that the same powerful Word that spoke the cosmos into existence, separating land from water, is still very much in charge.
Peter is addressing people who are mocking the promise of Christ's return, claiming that nothing has changed since creation. He's reminding them that God actively brought the world into being and later judged it with a flood, demonstrating His power and willingness to intervene in history. This sets up his argument that God will act again to bring judgment and establish new heavens and a new earth.
Peter is addressing people who are mocking the promise of Christ's return, claiming that nothing has changed since creation. He's reminding them that God actively brought the world into being and later judged it with a flood, demonstrating His power and willingness to intervene in history. This sets up his argument that God act again to bring judgment and establish new heavens and a new earth.
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"For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and peri…" — What's easy to miss here is the deliberate choice of these doubters to ignore how God's very creation, the solid earth and the vast heavens, came into being. They conveniently forget that the same po…
