ONE OF THE MOST MISUNDERSTOOD AND MISQUOTED VERSES IN THE BIBLE: 2 PETER 3:9

Here is how I often hear this verse quoted, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, for it is not God's will that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." and when I hear somebody say that, they will also say that it is God's will that every person in the world will be saved. 

But here is how the verse is actually given to us in the King James Version. 2 Peter 3:9 (KJV) — 9 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. [Underlining added] Maybe you read the English Standard Version like we do. If so, your Bible says this, 2 Peter 3:9 (ESV) — 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. And if you prefer the KJV over the ESV, you might even use this verse as one of the reasons by saying "The KJV talks about God's will but the ESV only talks about wishing." Or does it?

When you look at the original word for "will" in this verse, you will discover that Peter used the word "βούλομαι [boulomai /boo·lom·ahee/]" which means to have a purpose or to desire. So instead of the ESV saying "not wishing that any should perish", it could have said "not desiring that any should perish". And that is the same intent in the King James Version when it says "not willing that any should perish". 

If this word meant "God's will", it would have been "θέλημα [thelema /thel·ay·mah/]" which deals with the purpose of God which is to bless mankind through Christ; what God commands or chooses as shown in John 7:17 (ESV) — 17 If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. [Underlining added]

So here is the next question. Does God wish or desire that all people will be saved? If you look at this passage by itself, you might think so but you must look at the context that surrounds this passage. 

2 Peter 3:1–7 (ESV) — 1 This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2 that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, 3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, 6 and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. 7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

Let me point you to a few phrases from the those seven verses...
Verse 3 "...that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires."
Verse 4 "4 They will say..."
Verse 5 "5 For they deliberately overlook this fact..."
And all of verse 7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
In the first section of chapter 3, we read about scoffers and the ungodly. We see the pronouns "they" and we see "the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly" at the end of that section of scripture. Before anyone was born, God knew who was going to heaven and who was going to hell. 

But look at the change of direction in the next few verses...

2 Peter 3:8–10 (ESV) — 8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then 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.

God is not limited by time as we are. We live minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day and so on. We should always praise God with much gratitude because He is all-knowing, all-powerful and all-present. God does not make mistakes. Everything He does is perfect. He is the creator and sustainer of life.

And then you see the section that answers our question about the meaning of "not willing that any should perish". 
1. Look at the word "promise". Who are God's promises for? God's people, right? God keeps His promises no matter how long it takes for them to come to pass.
2. Look at the phrase "patient toward you" and you will recognize a difference in the use of pronouns. Peter used "they" in the first section to refer to the scoffers and the ungodly but here he used "you" which refers to those who are the elect, those chosen by God.
3. So when you see the phrase "not wishing that any should perish", Peter was saying "not wishing that any [of you] should perish".
4. Which means that "all [of you or all of the elect] should reach repentance".
5. And then Peter finished that section with another statement concerning the end times when he wrote "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then 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." 

So hopefully this will help you see the intention of verses 8-10. Keep sharing your faith. Tell everyone about Jesus because we don't know who is and who is not part of the elect. And keep thanking God for your salvation.