2 Peter 3:5

New Testament Epistle (General) ASV (1901)

What does 2 Peter 3:5 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “For this they willfully forget, that there were heavens from of old, and an earth compacted out of water and amidst water, by the word of God;” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

For this they willfully forget, that there were heavens from of old, and an earth compacted out of water and amidst water, by the word of God;
2 Peter 3:5 — American Standard Version

Context — 2 Peter 3

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
5For this they willfully forget, that there were heavens from of old, and an earth compacted out of water and amidst water, by the word of God;

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“For this they willingly are ignorant of, etc.] Namely, what follows; for as these men were such as had professed Christianity, and had the advantage of revelation, and had the opportunity of reading the Scriptures, they might have known that the heavens and the earth were from the beginning; and that they were made by the word of God; and that the earth was originally in such a position and situation as to be overflowed with a flood, and that it did perish by a general inundation; and that the present heavens and earth are kept and reserved for a general burning; and it might be discerned in nature, that there are preparations making for an universal conflagration; but all this they chose…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Refutation of their scoffing from Scripture history. willingly--wilfully; they do not wish to know. Their ignorance is voluntary. they . . . are ignorant of--in contrast to Pe2 3:8, "Be not ignorant of this." Literally, in both verses, "This escapes THEIR notice (sagacious philosophers though they think themselves)"; "let this not escape YOUR notice." They obstinately shut their eyes to the Scripture record of the creation and the deluge; the latter is the very parallel to the coming judgment by fire, which Jesus mentions, as Peter doubtless remembered. by the word of God--not by a fortuitous concurrence of atoms [ALFORD]. of old--Greek, "from of old"; from the first beginning of all things.…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“For this they willingly are ignorant of - Λαιθάνει γὰρ αὐτοὺς τοῦτο θέλοντας Laithanei gar autous touto thelontas. There is some considerable variety in the translation of this passage. In our common version the Greek word (θέλοντας thelontas) is rendered as if it were an adverb, or as if it referred to their “ignorance” in regard to the event; meaning, that while they might have known this fact, they took no pains to do it, or that they preferred to have its recollection far from their minds. So Beza and Luther render it. Others, however, take it as referring to what follows, meaning, “being so minded; being of that opinion; or affirming.” So Bloomfield, Robinson (Lexicon), Mede,…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“For this they are willingly ignorant of - They do not care to know or consider. That by the almighty word of God - Which bounds the duration of all things, so that it cannot be either longer or shorter. Of old - Before the flood. The aerial heavens were, and the earth - Not as it is now, but standing out of the water and in the water - Perhaps the interior globe of earth was fixed in the midst of the great deep, the abyss of water; the shell or exterior globe standing out of the water, covering the great deep. This, or some other great and manifest difference between the original and present constitution of the terraqueous globe, seems then to have been so generally known, that St. Peter…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“3:5 Creation is the first evidence that the false teachers were wrong: Change does happen. If God made the world, he certainly can destroy it. • brought the earth out from the water: See Gen 1:2, 6-10.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“they willingly: Pro 17:16; Joh 3:19, Joh 3:20; Rom 1:28; Th2 2:10-12 by the word: Gen 1:6, Gen 1:9; Psa 24:2, Psa 33:6, Psa 136:6; Heb 11:3 standing: Gr. consisting, Col 1:17 2 Peter 3:6”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification