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wait for an answer but themselves supply it: "For since the fathers fell asleep, all things
continue as they were from the beginning of the creation" (II Pet. 3: 4).
The words supplied by the A.V. "as they were", houtos, "thus", would be better
paraphrased "as they are" or "as we now see them".
(1)
The time from which waiting for the fulfillment of the promise dates is from the
death of the fathers, to whom these promises were originally made, and
(2)
These promises imply a violent interference with the course of nature, which is
unscientific, for since the beginning of the creation until this same time no such
interference has been experienced.
Peter takes up this challenge and in the first place reveals that the real reason for the
rejection of the promise of the second coming is the condition of heart; the wish to have
it so. That is why he prefaced this section with a reference to the believers' "pure", or
"honest", minds (II Pet. 3: 1), and why he said these scoffers were "walking after their
own lusts (or desires)" (II Pet. 3: 3). They were not honest doubters who could not make
prophecy square with science or philosophy.
"For this they willingly are ignorant of" (II Pet. 3: 5, A.V.).
"For this they willingly forget" (R.V.).
"For this purposely escapes them" (Diaglott).
"For they are willfully blind to the fact" (Weymouth).
"They willfully ignore the fact" (Moffatt).
"For this hidden from them through their own willfulness" (Darby).
"For this they willfully forget" (Rotherham).
Here are seven different renderings, but each preserves the true meaning of the
Apostle. Perhaps Alford's translation and notes are as near as the English idiom will
permit.
"For (i.e. they speak thus, because) this (viz., this fact which follows) escapes them
(passes unnoticed by them) of their own will (i.e., they shut their eyes to the fact)."
As the wisdom of the world has put it, "There is none so blind as he that will not see".
What these scoffers willfully ignored was the testimony of the Scriptures, the observation
and findings of philosophy, and the traditions of their own faith.
In reading these few verses of II Pet. 3:--the references to the heavens of old; the
complicated statement regarding "the earth standing out of the water and in the water"--
many questions are started and many problems suggested, with the result that we may
easily miss Peter's intention. Perhaps the following paraphrase will help.
"Instead of it being true that `since the beginning of the creation' things have
continued without interruption and interference, such a statement is palpably false. The
surface of the earth bears evidence of the disintegration that has gone on for ages, and
amongst the most active agents has been water. Gen. 1: 1, 2, the findings of the earliest
philosophers (Thales for example), and the very tradition preserved among us of the
prophetic utterance of Adam himself, should make men pause before uttering so
obviously untenable a statement. Further, observe this. The world that has passed away