The day of eternity (2 Peter 3:18)

2 Peter 3:18 (last verse) Complutensian Polyglot)

 

I came across an odd reading at 2 Peter 3:18 where the word “day” (Greek: ἡμέραν, Latin: diem) is missing from the King James Version.

The ESV, NASB, CSB, HCSB, have “day” whereas the NIV and the NLT do not, and read like the KJV (see: https://biblehub.com/2_peter/3-18.htm}.

“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen” (King James Version)

αὐξάνετε δὲ ἐν χάριτι καὶ γνώσει τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν καὶ σωτῆρος Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ αὐτῷ ἡ δόξα καὶ νῦν καὶ εἰς ἡμέραν αἰῶνος ἀμήν (Stephanus 1550).

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and unto the day of eternity. Amen (Douay-Rheims).

crescite vero in gratia, et in cognitione Domini nostri, et Salvatoris Jesu Christi. Ipsi gloria et nunc, et in diem aeternitatis. Amen (Clementine Vulgate).

“The Greek phrase for “for ever” (literally, for the day of the æon, or eternity) is a peculiar one, and expresses the thought that ‘the day’ of which the Apostle had spoken in 2 Peter 3:10; 2 Peter 3:12 would be one which should last through the new æon that would then open, and to which no time-limits could be assigned” (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges).

“ἡμέραν αἰῶνος, the day of eternity) This title agrees with that sense, in which the apostle employed it, through the whole of this chapter. Eternity is a day, without night, unmixed and perpetual” (Bengel’s Gnomen).

“‘For ever is, literally, ‘for the day of the age or of eternity (εἰς ἡμερὰν αἰῶνος).’ This remarkable expression is found only here, and is variously interpreted. Bengel explains it as, ‘dies sine nocte, morus et perpetuus;’ Huther as, ‘the day on which eternity begins as contrasted with time, but which day is likewise all eternity itself.’ Fronmuller quotes St. Augustine: ‘It is only one day, but an everlasting day, without yesterday to precede it, and without tomorrow to follow it; not brought forth by the natural sun, which shall exist no more, but by Christ, the Sun of Righteousness.” (Pulpit Commentary).

Link to commentaries above: https://biblehub.com/commentaries/2_peter/3-18.htm