2 Peter 3:15

Longsuffering. Gr. makrothumia, the related noun form of the verb makrothumed (see on v. 9).

Our Lord. Probably referring to Christ (see on v. 9).

Salvation. Not that Christ’s long-suffering is salvation, but it makes salvation possible. The scoffers were accounting the Lord’s delay as proof that His promises would never be fulfilled, but Peter shows that it is rather an evidence of the Saviour’s merciful patience. He waits that all who will may have the opportunity to accept salvation.

Our beloved brother Paul. If it be assumed that Peter is not using “our” in an editorial sense, then his words imply that Paul was well known and well loved by the readers. Even if “our” is used like the editorial “we,” the words establish Peter’s affection for Paul, in spite of any past difference of opinion (see on Gal. 2:11-14).

Wisdom given. Peter here implies that Paul had no inherent supply of spiritual wisdom but was dependent upon the divine gift, even as were his brethren.

Written unto you. Identification of the particular Pauline epistles to which Peter here refers depends on the answer given to the following question: (1) What subject does Peter have in mind? Is it only the apparent delay in the Lord’s coming, is it the question of moral laxness in the church, or is it the general topic of Christ’s return? (2) To whom was Peter’s epistle written? Commentators venture many answers to the problems thus raised, but no definitive solution seems yet possible. If it be accepted that Peter’s epistle was written to Asiatic Christians (see p. 547), then the Pauline epistles referred to would likely be those to the Galatians, the Ephesians, and the Colossians, or to other letters not now preserved. One thing is clear: Paul’s writings were in circulation, they were accepted as authoritative, and Peter could appeal to them in support of his own instruction.