Problem: Peter writes, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9). This passage seems to deny Calvinism, because it claims that God desires “all” people to come to Christ. However, Calvinist James Montgomery Boice writes,
2 Peter 3:9 is not talking about the salvation of all men and women, but only of the elect. The issue is the delay of Christ’s return, and Peter is explaining that God has delayed it, not out of indifference to us and what we may be suffering, but because he wants to bring to repentance all whom he has determined in advance will be gathered in.[1]
Does this passage describe the desire of God to save the elect, or all people?
Solution: The grammar of the passage refers to all people. Nothing in the passage directs us to the “elect.” This is being imported into the passage by Calvinistic thinkers (see “Limited Atonement: A Critique”).
[1] Boice, James Montgomery, and Philip Graham Ryken. The Doctrines of Grace: Rediscovering the Evangelical Gospel. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2002. 127.
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Pet 3:9)”
