“They deliberately
Ignore this.
By the word of God,
Heavens existed
Long ago.
An earth
Was formed
Out of water
And by means of water.”
λανθάνει γὰρ αὐτοὺς τοῦτο θέλοντας ὅτι οὐρανοὶ ἦσαν ἔκπαλαι καὶ γῆ ἐξ ὕδατος καὶ δι’ ὕδατος συνεστῶσα τῷ τοῦ Θεοῦ λόγῳ,
This author said, “They (γὰρ αὐτοὺς) deliberately (θέλοντας) ignore (λανθάνει) this (τοῦτο). By the word of God (τῷ τοῦ Θεοῦ λόγῳ), heavens existed (ὅτι οὐρανοὶ ἦσαν) long ago (ἔκπαλαι). An earth (καὶ γῆ) was formed (συνεστῶσα) out of water (ἐξ ὕδατος) and by means of water (δι’ ὕδατος).” Among the canonical Greek New Testament writings, this is the only time that this word appeared in 2 Peter, the word ἔκπαλαι, that means long ago, for a long while, or from of old. This author went on to explain the creation of heaven and earth. These mocking scoffers willingly ignored reality. The word of God created heaven and the earth a long time ago. Earth was formed out of water as in chapter 1:1-10 in the first story of creation in Genesis and also through water as in the flood story in Genesis, chapters 6-9 also. This author believed that what was written in Genesis was considered reality. What do you believe about creation?
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 