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Interpretation of the Bible / 2 Peter 3:8

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.

2 Peter 3:8 may be confusing to some readers because it compares one day to a thousand years and vice versa. What does this verse actually mean? To better understand it, we must analyze the understanding of time in the Bible.

In Jewish culture, time had a different concept than we do today. It was not seen as a linear process, but rather as a circle. The past, present, and future were all intertwined and influenced each other. Therefore, the length of time was not perceived as we perceive it today. Time was considered something relative.

It is important to understand the context in which this verse occurs. In this chapter, the apostle Peter is discussing the return of Jesus Christ and the coming of the end of the world. In this sense, this verse serves as a reminder that God is not limited by human time. In other words, what may seem like a long wait to us is just a sigh from God’s perspective.

Book: New Testament / 2 Peter
Topics: God, patience, Second coming
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