Shared conversation · June 10, 2026
How am I supposed to understand the words “all” and “any” in this passage? “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” - 2 Peter 3:9 ESV
You should understand the "any" and "all" in this passage in the context of God’s patient purpose for the elect and the provision of space for repentance. Rather than indicating a universal frustration of God's will, these verses describe His long-suffering character, which refuses to hasten judgment so that His intended work of grace can reach its completion [, ].
When Peter writes that God is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance," he is explaining why the Lord’s return appears delayed to human eyes [, ]. Because God exists outside our measurement of time—where a day is as a thousand years—His apparent delay is not "slackness" or "slowness," but a deliberate extension of time [, , ]. Thomas Manton points out that this patience is specifically directed "to us-ward," highlighting that God’s restraint is the mechanism by which the number of the elect is brought to completion [, ].
In this sense, the "all" refers to the body of those whom He has chosen to save, and the "any" refers to those whom He is currently calling [, ]. Far from suggesting that God is frustrated in His end, this passage serves as an invitation to view God’s timing through the lens of His mercy, which grants the necessary space for repentance to those who will receive it [, ]. I hope this helps you consider the depth of God's patience as you meditate on Peter's letter.
But language like “patient” and “should reach repentance” sounds as if he’s speaking to non-believers, doesn’t it?
It is natural to read that language as being addressed to the world at large, but the context of the passage suggests it is actually describing God's patient purpose toward His own people. While the language of "repentance" and "not perishing" certainly describes the state of someone who does not yet believe, Peter is writing to believers—the "us-ward"—to explain why the Lord has not yet returned [, ].
The "patience" mentioned is not a description of God waiting helplessly for the world to decide, but rather the sovereign constraint of His timing to ensure that every one of the elect is brought to repentance [, ]. In this light, God is not "slow" as we count time, but is actively working to gather His people, extending the present age specifically so that His promises to the church might be fully realized [, , ].
Because God’s perspective on time is entirely different from ours, His delay is simply the unfolding of His perfect plan [, ]. When Peter speaks of God not wishing that any should perish, he is highlighting the divine mercy that secures the salvation of all whom He has called, providing the necessary space for that repentance to occur in their lives [, ]. I hope this helps you see how these words, while inclusive in tone, are anchored in the Lord’s faithfulness to those He has chosen.