2 Peter 3: 10 (Non-exhaustive)

From

2003 The Problem of Evil: Anglican and Baptist Perspectives: MPhil thesis, Bangor University

Statement nineteen: This statement is related. The earth will be perfected only when Christ returns. 

With Anglicans, 70% agreed, 12% were not certain, 18% disagreed. The Baptists were more emphatic as 88% agreed, 8% were not certain, and 4% disagreed.

MPhil 2003

October 21 2019 

In regard to the type of perfection meant in 2 Peter 3...

David F. Payne in his 2 Peter commentary opines that everything on the earth will be 'laid bare' (2 Peter 3: 10), is probably a more correct text than stating everything will be 'burned up'. (1569). This would lead to the theology of eschatological restoration as opposed to eschatological recreation.

There is indeed textual variance with 2 Peter 3: 10: (Non-exhaustive)

εὑρεθήσεται

Galaxie

Cited

A Study of 2 Peter 3:10-13 -- By: R. Larry Overstreet Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra Volume: BSAC 137:548 (Oct 1980) 

Article: A Study of 2 Peter 3:10-13 Author: R. Larry Overstreet BSac 137:548 (Oct 80) p. 354 A Study of 2 Peter 3:10-13 R. Larry Overstreet [R. Larry Overstreet, Professor of Homiletics, Grace Theological Seminary, Winona Lake, Indiana] 

Second Peter 3:10–13 presents two major problems to the interpreter. The first of these is determining the text in the conclusion of verse 10, that is, whether the text reads that the earth and its works “shall be burned up” or “shall be found.” 

The second problem is the actual interpretation of the passage. This study will examine each problem in order to seek to gain a solution that will be in harmony with the Word of God as a whole and in harmony with the immediate context of 2 Peter. The Textual Difficulty The Greek Text Interestingly, Robertson makes no definite decision on the textual problem here, but merely says that “the text is corrupt.”1 

At the conclusion of 2 Peter 3:10 the United Bible Societies’ Greek text gives the word εὑρεθήσεται, a future passive indicative of the verb εὑρίσκω, meaning, in general terms, “to find.” The verb has various shades of meaning, such as, “to find after seeking,” “to find without seeking,” or “to obtain.”2 However, for the present discussion the meaning “to find” is sufficient. The word in the text would thus be translated “shall be found.” Although some dissenting opinion can be found, most modern textual critics would regard this reading as having the strongest manuscript support.

Metzger comments that this reading is the “oldest reading, and the one which best explains the origin of the others that have been preserved….”3 BSac 137:548 (Oct 80) p. 355 

Several variant readings must be noticed and examined before a conclusion can be drawn regarding the text. One of these is a major variation involving the substitution of another word with a complete change of thought while the others are minor variations in comparison with the first.

The Variant Readings The major variation is the substitution of κατακαήσεται for εὑρεθήσεται. The translation would then read, “the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up,” as κατακαίω means “to burn up.”4...
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The footnotes are unfortunately numbered but not presented in this linked version...

If indeed, based on scholarship, the sufficient and stronger, manuscript evidence supports the new heaven and new earth being 'found' and 'obtained', this fits better with an interpretation of 'laid bare' than 'burned up'.

The new heaven and new earth are more likely restored versions of the old, than complete replacements of the old. Based on my reading, I reason that the new heaven and new earth of Isaiah 65-66. 2 Peter 3, Revelation 21-22, are more likely a restored, recapitulated universe and earth, than a completely ex nihilo, second creation.

Similarly to how those in Jesus Christ at the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15) will have new (enhanced) bodies made immortal from their original mortal bodies as did the resurrected Jesus Christ.

In other words, resurrected physical Jesus Christ, was the same physical Jesus Christ, in a sense, although enhanced for everlasting life.

Although resurrected persons have a spiritual body (1 Corinthians 15: 44), they still have physical qualities and live in a physical universe. As resurrected human beings in Christ still have a restored, physical nature and attributes, quite reasonably, the universe and earth should also have restored physical attributes. Perhaps a restored earth will be similar to the pre-fall Garden of Eden? Perhaps it will have more spiritual aspects than at present?

Theologically, this allows God to not have given up on his original creation via Genesis, but to have restored it.
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A Study of 2 Peter 3:10-13 -- By: R. Larry Overstreet: Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra Volume: BSAC 137:548 (Oct 1980) Article: A Study of 2 Peter 3:10-13 Author: R. Larry Overstreet BSac 137:548 (Oct 80) p. 354 A Study of 2 Peter 3:10-13 R. Larry Overstreet [R. Larry Overstreet, Professor of Homiletics, Grace Theological Seminary, Winona Lake, Indiana]

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