2 Peter 3:9 – God Wants All to Repent?
Does God truly desire everyone to be saved—or just the elect?
The verse:
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
— 2 Peter 3:9, KJV
This verse seems simple:
God doesn’t want anyone to perish. He wants everyone to repent.
But Calvinists teach something very different.
Let’s take a closer look at what they claim—and what this verse really says when we let the Bible speak plainly.
What Calvinists Claim It Means
Calvinists often say:
“This verse doesn’t mean God wants all people to repent—only the ‘elect.’”
They interpret “any” and “all” to mean:
Any of us (the elect)
All of God’s chosen ones
In other words, they believe:
God only desires the salvation of those He has already predestined
If you’re not elect, God is not willing for you to repent
But does that fit the plain reading of the verse—or the heart of God revealed throughout Scripture?
Let’s explore the context and let the Bible interpret itself.
What Does “Any” and “All” Mean Here?
Let’s read the full verse again:
“…not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
There is no hint in the verse that “any” means only “some.”
No language that restricts “all” to “only the elect.”
The most natural, common-sense reading is:
God doesn’t want anyone to perish
God wants everyone to come to repentance
And this matches many other verses in the Bible.
Other Scriptures Say the Same Thing
“Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”
— 1 Timothy 2:4“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.”
— Titus 2:11“Jesus Christ… gave himself a ransom for all…”
— 1 Timothy 2:6“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”
— John 12:32
Clearly, the gospel is not a limited offer. God desires everyone to be saved.
What About the “Us-ward” in the Verse?
Some Calvinists try to twist the phrase:
“…longsuffering to us-ward…”
They say that limits the scope of the verse only to believers.
But Peter was writing to all professing believers (including false teachers in chapter 2). He was warning them about:
Scoffers
Judgment
The coming of the Lord
His message is this:
“God is being patient with mankind. He’s delaying judgment because He wants all to repent.”
It’s not a secret message to the elect. It’s a universal invitation to everyone who reads or hears the gospel.
What This Verse Does Not Say
It does not say God only wants a small, chosen group to repent
It does not restrict God’s desire to the elect
It does not suggest that God causes people to repent while denying others the chance
Instead, it plainly says:
God wants all to repent.
God is patient because He desires none to perish.
But Not Everyone Repents — Why?
Because God gave us a choice.
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem… how often would I have gathered thy children together… and ye would not!”
— Matthew 23:37“Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.”
— John 5:40“Ye do always resist the Holy Ghost…”
— Acts 7:51
God desires repentance.
But people still reject His offer.
That doesn’t mean His desire isn’t real. It means He honors the free will He gave us.
A Simple Analogy
Imagine a teacher who wants all her students to pass.
She gives them everything they need:
Books, time, help, and a fair test.
Some choose to study. Some don’t.
If some fail, it doesn’t mean the teacher wanted them to.
It means they rejected the opportunity.
That’s what 2 Peter 3:9 is saying about God.
A Final Word
Don’t let Calvinism rewrite the plain truth.
God is not willing that any should perish.
He desires that all should come to repentance.
He gave His Son for the world — not just the elect.
“Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” – Revelation 22:17
That’s the heart of God. That’s the gospel.
………………………………………………………
Table of Contents