2 Peter 3:10

2 Peter 3:8:

"Now, dear friends, do not let this one thing escape your notice, that a single day is as a thousand years with the Lord and a thousand years are as a single day."

Why would Peter be talking about any number of cycles of time EXCEPT a thousand years if he did not mean a thousand years? Why would he not have used the plural form of "thousand" ("With God one day is as THOUSANDS of years") if he were indeed only saying that God does not measure time the way mankind does (as many assert)? 

Why would those who assert that Peter was only saying that God does not measure time the way mankind does, of necessity have to EXCLUDE only one unit of time - a thousand years - out of any number of cycles of time, if their premise isn't faulty?

The same principle that their argument is based on, were it a valid argument, would apply to other passages of scripture using the same unit of time also. For example Solomon wrote,

"Though the stillborn child came into the world for no reason and departed into darkness, though its name is shrouded in darkness, though it never saw the light of day nor knew anything, 

yet it has more rest than a man if he should live a thousand years twice, yet does not enjoy his prosperity. For both of them die!" (Ecclesiastes 6:4-6).

Though Solomon was talking hypothetically, it's nevertheless clear that he means his reference to "a thousand years twice" just as literally as he's talking about a still-born child. It's a specific unit of time being used in a hypothetical example by Solomon.

"For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night." (Psalm 90:4).

Again, a specific unit of time mentioned. Does it mean any number of years, or any number of cycles of time EXCEPT a thousand years? Why not use the plural of "thousand" in that case?

2 Peter 3:5-7

For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens (ouranós) were of old, and the earth [gē] standing out of the water and in the water: 

Whereby the world (o kósmos) that then was, being overflowed with water, perished." 

Peter used different words for "the earth" and "the world" when he mentioned the fact that the world perished. So this leads to the question: Was it the heavens [οὐρανός ouranós] and the earth [γῆ gē] that perished in the flood, or was it the world [O kósmos] and all flesh in it that perished?

Can the meaning of Greek words be the same in every verse except one where the same word is used?

BURNING UP OF THE RUDIMENTS OF THE WORLD AND THE WORKS OF DARKNESS 2 Peter 3:10: "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away [parérchomai] with a great noise, and the elements [stoicheîon] shall be dissolved [lýō] with fervent heat, the earth also and the works [érgon] that are therein shall be burned up."  THE SENSE IN WHICH THE ABOVE GREEK WORDS ARE USED WHEREVER ELSE THEY APPEAR IN THE NEW TESTAMENT 1. stoicheîon: The word is referring either to the rudiments or principles of this world, or to the principles of the oracles of God in each of the other five verses where the same word is used, for example: Colossians 2:8: Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments [stoicheîon] of the world, and not after Christ. Hebrews 5:12: For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles [stoicheîon] of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. The word stoicheîon is also used in the same sense as above in Galatians 4:3; Galatians 4:9; and Colossians 2:20.  2. lýō (or luo): Always refers to something that was bound or restrained, being loosed (i.e loosed from having been bound), for example: Revelation of John 20:7: "And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed [lýō] out of his prison." 3. parérchomai: Used variously:- Used for "passing by", "passing closeby", "coming near"; OR "seizing upon or to come upon" (at times suddenly).  OR in reference to a time that has passed. (See list of verses and quotes below). In the context of the Day of the LORD coming as a thief in the night,  the word parérchomai could be carrying the idea of "seizing upon, suddenly". If not, then 2 Peter 3:10 is the only verse where the word carries an entirely different meaning than in any other verse where the word is used. 4. érgon ("the earth and the works [érgon] that are therein"):- (i) In an extremely long list of verses, érgon refers to the works of men. At times it's referring to the works of Satan, and often it's referring to the works of God (verse references all given below).  2 Peter 3:7: "But the present heavens (ouranós) and the earth [gē] being kept in store by the same word, are being kept for fire until the day of judgment and DESTRUCTION OF UNGODLY MEN"  The burning up of the rudiments and principles [stoicheîon] of this world, and the works [érgon] of darkness (the works of men and of Satan) goes with the context of the destruction of ungodly men (2 Peter 3:7). How likely is it that Peter was referring to the burning up of the chemical elements of the earth and of the universe, and of God's works of creation? "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire [pyro] shall be dissolved [lýō], and the elements [stoicheion] shall melt with fervent heat?" (2 Peter 3:11-12). Pyro: πυρόω pyro (Strongs Greek Dictionary 4448):  to kindle, i.e. (passively) to be ignited, glow (literally), be refined,  (by implication), or (figuratively) to be inflamed (with anger, grief, lust):--burn, fiery, be on fire, try. "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." (2 Peter 3:13).  "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." (Colossians 1:16-17). All things were made by him;  and without him was not any thing made that was made.  In him was life [zoe]; and the life [zoe] was the light of men."  (John 1:3-4) "And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful." (Revelation 21:5).

If the word stoicheîon refers to the chemical elements of the planet earth and of the universe in 2 Peter 3:10 (that are to be "burned up and will melt with fervent heat"), then it's the only verse out of six verses in the New Testament where that's what the word is referring to. Likewise, if érgon refers to God's works of creation in 2 Peter 3:10 (i.e the "works in the earth" that are to be burned up), then 2 Peter 3:10 is the only verse in the entire long list of New Testament verses using the same word where that's what the word refers to: Peter had said, "But the present heavens (ouranós) and the earth [gē] being kept in store by the same word, are being kept for fire until the day of judgment and DESTRUCTION OF UNGODLY MEN" (2 Peter 3:7). The destruction of the works of ungodly men is the context of the passage. "Every man’s work [ergon] shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is." (1 Corinthians 3:13).

In an extremely long list of verses (all the verses below), érgon refers to the works of men:- 

Matthew 5:16; Matthew 23:3; Matthew 23:5; Matthew 26:10; Mark 13:34; Mark 14:6; Luke 11:48; John 3:19; John 3:20; John 3:21; John 7:7; John 8:39; John 8:41; Acts 5:38; Acts 7:22; Acts 7:41; Acts 9:36; Acts 13:2; Acts 14:26; Acts 15:38; Acts 26:20; Titus 2:14; Romans 2:6; Romans 2:7; Romans 2:15; Romans 3:20; Romans 3:27; Romans 3:28; Romans 4:2; Romans 4:6; Romans 9:11; Romans 9:32; Romans 11:6; Romans 13:3; Romans 15:18; I Corinthians 3:13; I Corinthians 3:14; I Corinthians 3:15; I Corinthians 5:2; I Corinthians 9:1; I Corinthians 15:58; I Corinthians 16:10; II Corinthians 9:8; II Corinthians 10:11; Galatians 2:16; Galatians 3:2; Galatians 3:5; Galatians 3:10; Galatians 5:19; Galatians 6:4; Ephesians 2:9; Ephesians 2:10; Ephesians 4:12; Philippians 1:22; Philippians 2:30; Colossians 1:10; Colossians 1:21; Colossians 3:17; I Thess 1:3; I Thess 5:13; II Thess 1:11; II Thess 2:17; I Timothy 2:10; I Timothy 3:1; I Timothy 5:10; I Timothy 5:25; I Timothy 6:18; II Timothy 1:9; II Timothy 2:21; II Timothy 3:17; II Timothy 4:5; II Timothy 4:14; II Timothy 4:18; Titus 1:16; Titus 2:7; Titus 3:1; Titus 3:5; Titus 3:8; Titus 3:14; Hebrews 4:10; Hebrews 6:1; Hebrews 6:10; Hebrews 9:14; Hebrews 10:24; Hebrews 13:21; James 1:4; James 1:25; James 2:14; James 2:17; James 2:18; James 2:20; James 2:21; James 2:22; James 2:24; James 2:25; James 2:26; James 3:13; I Peter 1:17; I Peter 2:12; II Peter 2:8; I John 3:12; I John 3:18; II John 1:11; III John 1:10; Jude 1:15; Revelation 2:2; Revelation 2:5; Revelation 2:6; Revelation 2:9; Revelation 2:13; Revelation 2:22; Revelation 2:23; Revelation 2:26; Revelation 2:19; Revelation 3:1; Revelation 3:2; Revelation 3:8; Revelation 3:15; Revelation 9:20; Revelation 14:13; Revelation 16:11; Revelation 18:6; Revelation 20:12; Revelation 20:13; Revelation 22:12). 

(ii) In a number of verses érgon refers to the works of God or of Christ:- 

Matthew 11:2; Luke 24:19; John 4:34; John 5:20; John 5:36; John 6:28; John 6:29; John 7:3; John 7:21; John 9:3; John 9:4; John 10:25; John 10:32; John 10:33; John 10:37; John 10:38; John 14:10; John 14:11; John 14:12; John 15:24; John 17:4; Acts 13:41; Acts 15:18; Romans 14:20; Philippians 1:6; Hebrews 1:10; Hebrews 2:7; Hebrews 3:9; Hebrews 4:3; Hebrews 4:4. 

(iii) In some verses érgon refers to the works of Satan:- 

Romans 13:12; II Corinthians 11:15; Ephesians 5:11; I John 3:8.

Regeneration:

Romans 8:21-23:

  "The creation itself shall also be delivered from the bondage of corruption (decay) into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 

  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body."

Matthew 19:28:

  "And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."

MAKING ALL THINGS NEW [kaínōsis]

Strongs Greek 02537 καινός kainós

of uncertain affinity; new (especially in freshness).

Strongs Greek 00342 ἀνακαίνωσις anakaínōsis

from 341 (anakainóō); renovation:--renewing.

Strongs Greek 00341 ἀνακαινόω anakainóō

from 303 and a derivative of 2537; to renovate:--renew.

kainós

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing (anakaínōsis) of your mind, in order to prove by you what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:2).

"So that if any one is in Christ, that one is a new (kainós) creature; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new (kainós)." (2 Corinthians 5:17).

"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision has any strength, nor uncircumcision, but a new (kainós) creation." (Galatians 6:15).

NEW HEAVENS AND NEW EARTH

--- And I saw a new (kainós) heaven and a new (kainós) earth. For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. And the sea no longer is.

  And I, John, saw the holy city, New (kainós) Jerusalem, coming down from God out of Heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her Husband. --- Revelation 21:1-2

"And He sitting on the throne said, Behold, I make (poiéō) all things new (kainós). And He said to me, Write, for these words are true and faithful" (Revelation 21:5).

The word poiéō (Strongs Greek 04160) does not mean to create. It means to do or perform something.

lýō

[*StrongsGreek*] 03089 λύω lýō, loo'-o a primary verb; to "loosen" (literally or figuratively):--break (up), destroy, dissolve, (un-)loose, melt, put off. Compare 4486.

It always refers to something that was bound being loosed, for example: 

Luke 13:15-6 

And the Lord answered him and said, Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the sabbath loosen [lýō] his ox or ass from the stall and lead it away, to give it drink? And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham whom Satan has bound, lo these eighteen years, be loosened [lýō] from this bond on the Sabbath day?

The Greek word lýō is found in all these verses, and more:-

Matthew 16:19:

And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose [lýō] on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Acts 22:30:

On the morrow, because he would have known the certainty wherefore he was accused of the Jews, he loosed [lýō] him from his bands, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down, and set him before them.

Matthew 21:2:

Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose [lýō] them, and bring them unto me.

Acts 2:24:

Whom God hath raised up, having loosed [lýō] the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

Mark 1:7:

And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose [lýō].

Mark 7:35:

And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed [lýō], and he spake plain.

Revelation of John 5:2:

And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose [lýō] the seals thereof?

Revelation of John 9:15:

And the four angels were loosed [lýō], which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.

Revelation of John 20:7:

And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed [lýō] out of his prison.

Matthew 5:19:

Whosoever therefore shall break [lýō] one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

John 5:18:

Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken [lýō] the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

-- But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away [parérchomai] with a great noise, and the 1. elements [stoicheîon] shall be 2. dissolved [lýō] with fervent heat, the earth also and the 3. works [érgon] that are therein shall be burned up. -- 2 Peter 3:10.

parérchomai

"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall [parerchomai] with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up."

3928 parerchomai

from 3844 and 2064; to come near or aside, i.e. to approach (arrive), go by (or away), (figuratively) perish or neglect, (causative) avert:--come (forth), go, pass (away, by, over), past, transgress.

see GREEK for 3844. See GREEK for 2064.

3844 para

a primary preposition; properly, near; i.e. (with genitive case) from beside (literally or figuratively), (with dative case) at (or in) the vicinity of (objectively or subjectively), (with accusative case) to the proximity with (local (especially beyond or opposed to) or causal (on account of) ..

2 Thessalonians 2:8

".. and then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will destroy by the breath of his mouth and wipe out by the manifestation of his arrival [3952 parousia].

3952 parousia (appearance of Christ):

from the present participle of 3918; a being near, i.e. advent (often, return; specially, of Christ to punish Jerusalem, or finally the wicked); (by implication) physically, aspect:--coming, presence. see GREEK for 3918

3918 pareimi 

from 3844 and 1510 (including its various forms); to be near, i.e. at hand; neuter present participle (singular) time being, or (plural) property:--come, X have, be here, + lack, (be here) present. See GREEK for 3844.

Matthew 8:28:

And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by [parérchomai] that way. 

Matthew 14:15: And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past [parérchomai]; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. 

Matthew 26:39: And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass [parérchomai] from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. 

Mark 6:48: And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by [parérchomai] them.

Luke 11:42: But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over [parérchomai] judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. 

Luke 12:37: Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come near [parérchomai] and serve them.

Luke 15:29:

And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed [parérchomai] I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

Luke 18:37: And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth [parérchomai] by. 

Acts 16:8: And they passing by [parérchomai] Mysia came down to Troas.

Acts 24:7: But the chief captain Lysias came upon [parérchomai] us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands,

Acts 27:9: Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past [parérchomai], Paul admonished them, 

2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away [parérchomai]; behold, all things are become new.

James 1:10: But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away [parérchomai]. 

1 Peter 4:3: For the time past [parérchomai] of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: 

Matthew 24:34-35: Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass [parérchomai], till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away [parérchomai], but my words shall not pass away [parérchomai].

2 Peter 3:10-12:

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away [parérchomai] with a great noise, and the elements [stoicheîon] shall be dissolved [lýō] with fervent heat [kausóō], the earth also and the works [érgon] that are therein shall be burned up [katakaíō].

katakaíō

[Strongs Greek 02618] κατακαίω katakaíō, kat-ak-ah'-ee-o: 

to burn down (to the ground), i.e. consume wholly:--burn (up, utterly).

Luke 3:17:

  Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn [katakaíō] with fire unquenchable.

Matthew 13:30: 

  Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn [katakaíō] them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

1 Corinthians 3:15: 

  If any man’s work shall be burned [katakaíō], he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Revelation of John 17:16: 

  And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn [katakaíō] her with fire.

Revelation of John 18:8: 

  Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned [katakaíō] with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

pyróō

-- Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire [pyróō] shall dissolve, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat. -- 2 Peter 3:12.

[Strongs Greek 04448] πυρόω pyróō, poo-ro'-o:

to kindle, i.e. (passively) to be ignited, glow (literally), be refined (by implication), or (figuratively) to be inflamed (with anger, grief, lust):--burn, fiery, be on fire, try.

2 Peter 3:10 is referring to the Day of the LORD's wrath in which He will burn up the rudiments of the world produced by the works of men. It doesn't mean the elements of the heavens and earth (universe and planet) will be burned up, and an entirely new creation come into being. It means that after this, all things will be made (not created) new again.

---  ---