In 2 Peter 3, Peter talks about:
“The heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved… and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.” (2 Peter 3:10)
He also refers to Paul:
“Just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him...” (2 Peter 3:15)
Yet, Paul never explicitly mentions a literal burning of the earth. Instead, his writings often speak of the fading away of the Old Covenant.
Paul's Language of Transition
- 2 Corinthians 3:11 — “For if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!”
- Galatians 4:24–26 — Paul contrasts the two covenants using Hagar and Sarah.
- Hebrews 8:13 — “By calling this covenant 'new,' he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.”
A Covenant-Based Interpretation
This leads to the interpretation that Peter's fiery imagery could be symbolic — describing the judgment and end of the Old Covenant age, possibly linked to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. This view aligns with Paul's theological emphasis on the covenantal transition.
This approach is often called preterism or a covenantal framework. While not the only view, it harmonizes well with Scripture and historical context.