2 Peter 3:13
“We according to his promise look for a new heaven and earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.”
καινοὺς δὲ οὐρανοὺς καὶ γῆν καινὴν κατὰ τὸ ἐπάγγελμα αὐτοῦ προσδοκῶμεν ἐν οἷς δικαιοσύνη κατοικεῖ
δικαιοσύνη, dikaiosuné — “integrity, virtue, purity of life, uprightness, correctness in thinking, feeling, and acting:” Here, dwelleth in that coming world as its essential feature, all pollutions having been removed.[1]
John Murray, in Redemption Accomplished and Applied, describes glorification as:
the final phase of the application of redemption. It is that which brings to completion the process which begins in effectual calling. Indeed it is the completion of the whole process of redemption. For glorification means the attainment of the goal to which the elect of God were predestined in the eternal purpose of the Father and it involves the consummation of the redemption secured and procured by the vicarious work of Christ.[2]
Murray cites 2 Peter 3:13 to highlight that the eternal state is characterized by righteousness, a cosmos devoid of sin and corruption: “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for a new heaven and earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” The righteousness, the result of the eradication of the curse from the cosmos, aligns itself with the righteous character inherent in Scripture.[3]
The case for the eschatological grounding of Scripture is derived from continuity between the state of being glorified and the nature of immediately inspired Scripture. The context for the saint’s glorification is the cosmic sphere “wherein dwelleth righteousness.” The Word of God, as an eschatological precursor to the eschaton self-attests to its righteousness. Christ, as “the Righteous One” (1 John 2:1), asserts His righteous authority in Scripture, anticipating its ultimate fulfillment in glorification. Furthermore, because Christ Himself is “the righteous,” with the inspiration of Scripture, Jesus Christ asserts His righteous Kingdom authority as King already in the world fully anticipating the consummation of that Kingdom authority in glorification and the end of the redemptive historical trajectory.
[1] https://biblehub.com/commentaries/2_peter/3-13.htm
[2] John Murray, Redemption Accomplished and Applied (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1955), 174.
[3] Psalm 19:9, “The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous (צָדֵק) altogether.” Psalm 119:7, “I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous (צֶדֶק) judgments.” Psalm 119:62, “At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous (צֶדֶק) judgments.” Psalm 119:106, “I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous (צֶדֶק) judgments.” Psalm 119:138, “Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous (צֶדֶק) and very faithful.” Psalm 119:144, “The righteousness (צֶדֶק) of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live. Psalm 119:160, “Thy Word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous (צֶדֶק) judgments endureth for ever.” Psalm 119:164, “Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous (צֶדֶק) judgments.” Isaiah 45:19 “I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the Lord speak righteousness (צֶ֔דֶק) I declare things that are right.” Revelation 16:7, “And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous (δίκαιαι) are thy judgments.” Revelation 19:2, “For true and righteous (δίκαιαι) are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.”
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