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NASB | 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord does not delay [as though He were unable to act] and is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is [extraordinarily] patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. |
Bible Question:
2 Peter 3:9 (NET Bible) The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish for any[4] to perish but for all to come to repentance. Footnote 4. "He does not wish for any to perish." '...the literary context seems to be against the Arminian view, while the historical context seems to be against (one representation of) the Calvinist view. The answer to this conundrum is found in the term "wish" (a participle in Greek from the verb boulomai). It often represents a mere wish, or one's desiderative will, rather than one's resolve. Unless God's will is viewed on the two planes of his desiderative and decretive will (what he desires and what he decrees), hopeless confusion will result. The scriptures amply illustrate both that God sometimes decrees things that he does not desire and desires things that he does not decree. It is not that his will can be thwarted, nor that he has limited his sovereignty. But the mystery of God's dealings with humanity is best seen if this tension is preserved. Otherwise, either God will be perceived as good but impotent or as a sovereign taskmaster. Here the idea that God does not wish for any to perish speaks only of God's desiderative will, without comment on his decretive will.' (http://www.bible.org/cgi-bin/netbible.pl#note_3) * * * * * * * * * * * * * (Although this post is not a question, I have chosen to post it under the heading of Questions for this reason: Often a person will not respond to a Note unless it is addressed specifically to that person. However, the same person may respond to a post that is labeled as a Question. In other words, I posted this as a question in hopes that it will not be ignored or overlooked.) Radioman2 |
Bible Answer: Watchman Nee gives a good illustration about God's will and man's actions. "Let us use some Old Testament examples to illustrate how earth governs heaven. When Moses on the top of the hill held up his hand, Israel prevailed; but when he let down his hand, Amelek prevailed (see Ex. 17.9-11). Who decided the victory or defeat at the the foot of the hill? Was it God who willed it of was it Moses? Here we see the principle of God's working, the secret of His action: whatever He wills to do, if man does not will it, He WILL not do it. We cannot make God do what He does not want to do, but we can hinder Him from doing what He does wish to do. In heaven God wants the Children of Israel to win; yet on earth, if Moses does not hold up his hand Israel will be defeated, but if indeed he holds up his hand Israel will win. The earth governs heaven." The Prayer Ministry of the Church p10. We see this as well with the story of Balaam in Numbers. Three times he unwillingly prophesied God's blessing of the children of Israel which was fixed in heaven. "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither a son of man, that he should repent. Shall he say and not do? and shall he speak and not make it good? Behold, I have received mission to bless; and he hath blessed, and I cannot reverse it. He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath he seen wrong in Israel; Jehovah his God is with him, and the shout of a king is in his midst. God brought him out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of a buffalo. For there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel. At this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought! (Numbers 23:19-23 Darby) and yet he was able to cause Israel to sin and rouse God to anger. "And Israel joined himself to Baal-Peor; and the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel. " (Numbers 25:3 Darby) It was Eleazar's actions that stayed God's anger. Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, in that he was jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy. (Numbers 25:11 Darby) |