What Are The Elements Destroyed By Fire And Melt In Heat In 2 Peter 3:10-11?

The Greek word for "elements" is "stoicheion."

In the Bible, "stoicheion" are the different parts, components, practices, observances, and requirements of the law during the old covenant age.

Combined together, these elements formed the law.

Exodus-Deuteronomy contain the many different elements of the law the people of Israel were required to follow.

Additionally in the Bible, "stoicheion" are the different parts of the religious practices of the Greco-Roman religious world.

The Jews worshiped God through the elements of the law.

The Gentiles worshiped gods (demons) through the elements of the religious systems throughout The Roman Empire.

Paul, using the Greek word "stoicheion", writes about these law-based and religious-based elements in Galatians 4:1-11 and Colossians 2:6-23.

In Galatians 4:1-11, believers were being pressured to return to the elements of the old-covenant law to gain acceptance, forgiveness, righteousness, and closeness with God.

In Colossians 2:6-23, believers were being pressured to return to both the law-based and religious-based elements in worship of God.

According to Paul in Colossians 2:17 and the writer of Hebrews in Hebrews 10:1, the elements of the old-covenant law were shadows of Jesus.

Jesus established the new covenant of grace in his blood.

Paul and the writer of Hebrews were explaining that the elements of the old covenant law were no longer in effect as the means for relating to God.

These law-based elements had come to an end.

In 2 Peter 3:10-11, Peter, writing around AD 65, explains the elements of the law would soon be destroyed by fire as they melted in heat.

According to Peter, this would occur when Jesus came like a thief in the night in judgment of unbelieving Israel when Jerusalem and the temple would be burned and destroyed with fire.

The elements of the old covenant law melted in heat in in AD 70 when the Roman armies burned Jerusalem and the temple with fire.

This was Jesus coming like a thief in the night on unbelieving Israel.

This coming brought an end to the old covenant heaven and earth temporal age as the new covenant heaven and earth eternal age began.

If you found this blog of interest. you may enjoy Brad’s books on Revelation. CLICK HERE

Also, you may find Brad’s full video teaching and detailed notes on 2 Peter 3 helpful: CLICK HERE