2 Peter 3:4
What does 2 Peter 3:4 mean?
A plain-English look at 2 Peter 3:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 2 Peter 3:4 means
The scoffers argue that the promised coming has failed, since the world appears unchanged from the beginning; generations have died, yet nothing happens. They infer from apparent stability that God will never intervene. This is the error of assuming uniformity equals certainty. They use delay as denial and normality as proof. But their reasoning ignores God’s past acts and His sovereign timing. Their question reveals impatience and unbelief rather than careful theology. The faith does not rest on immediate fulfillment but on God’s trustworthy word. A steady creation today does not negate the promise of Christ’s return; it shows God’s sustaining mercy while the appointed day draws nearer.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Saying, Where is the hope of his coming? From the death of the fathers till now everything has gone on as it was from the making of the world.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and saying, `Where is the promise of his presence? for since the fathers did fall asleep, all things so remain from the beginning of the creation;'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Saying: Where is his promise or his coming? For since the time that the fathers slept, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for from the time the fathers fell asleep all things remain thus from [the] beginning of [the] creation.
Context
Verse 4 gives the mockers’ thesis: no visible change implies no future coming. This sets up Peter’s rebuttal. In verses 5–6 he will show that they have forgotten creation and the flood—decisive moments when God’s word altered the course of the world. In verse 7 he will assert that the present world is preserved by that same word for a coming judgment by fire. Thus the scoffing claim of unbroken continuity is historically and theologically false.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Isaiah 5:18
Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of falsehood, and sin as it were with a cart rope;
- Malachi 2:17
Ye have wearied Jehovah with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? In that ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of Jehovah, and he delighteth in them; or where is the God of justice?
- Genesis 19:14
And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons-in-law, who married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for Jehovah will destroy the city. But he seemed unto his sons-in-law as one that mocked.
- Mark 10:6
But from the beginning of the creation, Male and female made he them.
- Mark 13:19
For those days shall be tribulation, such as there hath not been the like from the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never shall be.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:19
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of glorying? Are not even ye, before our Lord Jesus at his coming?
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