2 Peter 3:5
“For this they willfully forget, that there were heavens from of old, and an earth formed out of water and amid water, by the word of God;”
What does 2 Peter 3:5 mean?
Peter is reminding his readers that they already know God created the world and sustains it—yet some are choosing to ignore this basic truth. He's speaking to people who have become skeptical about God's promises, particularly about Christ's return, and he's pointing out that their doubt isn't really about lack of evidence. God's creative power is written into creation itself: the earth formed from water, the sky above, all held together by God's word. When we willfully forget these foundational truths, we make ourselves vulnerable to despair and false thinking. Peter is gently saying that returning to this simple certainty (God made everything, God keeps his word) is the antidote to whatever has shaken our faith.