2 Peter 3:3 kjv

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

2 Peter 3:3 nkjv

knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,

2 Peter 3:3 niv

Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.

2 Peter 3:3 esv

knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.

2 Peter 3:3 nlt

Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires.

2 Peter 3 verses

2 Peter 3 3 Meaning

This verse serves as a foundational warning to believers, emphasizing that a primary characteristic of the "last days" will be the emergence of mockers. These scoffers will actively ridicule the promise of the Lord's return, and their disbelief is intrinsically linked to and motivated by their pursuit of selfish, unrestrained desires rather than a genuine intellectual conviction.

2 Peter 3 3 Context

The second letter of Peter is a farewell address from the apostle, primarily focused on defending the certainty of the Lord's return (the Parousia) and warning against false teachers who deny this foundational truth. Chapter 2 details the characteristics and doom of these false prophets. Chapter 3 specifically addresses the scoffing that will arise concerning Christ's delayed second coming. Verse 3 is Peter's proactive warning, setting the stage for his subsequent refutation of their arguments in verses 4-10. Historically, some in the early church grew impatient awaiting Christ's return, and certain heretical groups might have leveraged this impatience to deny the return altogether, perhaps promoting a more Gnostic, less physical view of spiritual reality, which would align with a disregard for future judgment. Peter is thus preparing his audience for this specific form of skepticism and its underlying moral corruption.

2 Peter 3 3 Word analysis

• knowing this first (τοῦτο πρῶτον γινώσκοντες, touto prōton ginōskontes): "Prōton" signifies "first in importance" or "above all." This is not a temporal "first," but an emphatic warning about a primary, essential truth the believers must understand and acknowledge beforehand. "Ginōskontes" is a present participle, implying continuous or prior knowledge—they should already be discerning this truth. It signals the critical nature of this awareness for discernment.

• that there shall come (ἐλεύσονται, eleusontai): A future indicative verb from erchomai ("to come"). It conveys absolute certainty and an inevitability. Peter declares it as a prophetic given, not a mere possibility.

• in the last days (ἐσχάτων τῶν ἡμερῶν, eschatōn tōn hēmerōn): This phrase refers to the eschatological period—the era stretching from Christ's first coming to His second. It is a time marked by specific events, spiritual conflict, and the unfolding of God's final purposes, indicating an advanced stage of world history leading up to the Lord's return.

• scoffers (ἐμπαῖκται, empaiktai): From empaizō, meaning "to play games with," "to mock," or "to ridicule." These are not merely honest doubters but active, hostile mockers who intentionally scoff at sacred truths, particularly the promise of Christ's return and its implications for accountability. Their attitude is contemptuous and disdainful.

• walking (πορευόμενοι, poreuomenoi): A present participle describing a habitual lifestyle or conduct. It means "to journey," "to live," or "to behave." This indicates that their scoffing is not an isolated act but part of their overall manner of life.

• after their own lusts (κατὰ τὰς ἰδίας ἐπιθυμίας, kata tas idias epithymias):

  • after (κατά, kata): Indicates conformity or adherence. They conduct their lives according to or in agreement with their lusts.
  • their own (ἰδίας, idias): Emphasizes self-centeredness and autonomy. Their desires are peculiar to themselves, independent of God's will or moral standards.
  • lusts (ἐπιθυμίας, epithymias): While it can mean neutral "desire," in the New Testament context, especially with "flesh" or "own," it almost invariably carries a negative connotation—unbridled, carnal, and sinful desires that are contrary to God's holiness. These "lusts" encompass various sinful cravings, passions, and illicit desires.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "knowing this first, that there shall come...": Highlights the divine imperative for discernment. Believers are called to be prepared by understanding God's foretold warnings. It elevates this truth to a primary lesson in Christian eschatology and vigilance.
  • "scoffers, walking after their own lusts": This is a crucial diagnostic pairing. Peter identifies the mockers not primarily by their intellectual arguments but by their moral depravity. Their skepticism regarding the Lord's return is not a genuine theological struggle but a rationalization for their hedonistic, unrepentant lifestyle. They dismiss judgment to justify their self-indulgence.

2 Peter 3 3 Bonus section

The pre-Flood world (Gen 6) served as an example in Peter's argument (2 Pet 3:5-7) where widespread moral corruption and indifference to God's will preceded a swift, divine judgment. The characteristics of the "last days" scoffers, who deny impending judgment because they "walk after their own lusts," directly mirror the condition of the antediluvian world. This emphasizes that human history often repeats patterns of moral decline and the rejection of divine warning before major judgments. Peter wants believers to recognize this recurring pattern, so they are not surprised by similar behaviors in their own time or the future. The very denial of judgment, motivated by lust, is itself a sign of its imminence.

2 Peter 3 3 Commentary

2 Peter 3:3 delivers a stark prophetic warning that the very essence of end-time skepticism about Christ's return is rooted not in intellectual reasoning but in moral compromise. Peter warns believers to expect empaiktai – those who treat sacred things with disdain, specifically the Lord's Parousia. Their sneering question (anticipated in verse 4, "Where is the promise of His coming?") arises from their desire for unhindered self-gratification.

These scoffers exemplify the profound link between a person's doctrine and their daily life. If there is no accountability or imminent judgment, there is no pressing need for repentance or righteous living. Therefore, to deny Christ's return is to effectively sanction a life lived "after their own lusts"—without moral constraint, spiritual discipline, or the fear of God. Peter stresses this point as a foundational truth to recognize. He is preparing believers to understand the motivation behind such denial, arming them against being swayed by what appear to be philosophical objections but are, in reality, self-serving rationalizations for continued sin. This verse thus serves as a powerful call to spiritual discernment, urging believers to judge doctrines not just by their logical appeal, but by the moral fruit they bear and the lifestyle they justify.

Practical application: When faced with skepticism or doubt concerning biblical truths, it's wise to consider not only the stated arguments but also the underlying motivations and lifestyle implications for those who promote such views. Is the disbelief a genuine intellectual inquiry, or a convenient way to avoid personal accountability?