Beloved, Remember That People Will Come Mocking Christ’s Future Coming
3 Beloved, I am now writing this second letter to you, in which letters I am arousing your pure mind with a reminder 2 to remember the words having been spoken-beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior from your apostles, 3 knowing this first— that mockers will come with mocking in the last days, proceeding in accordance with their own desires, 4 and saying “Where is the promise[a] of His coming? For from which day the fathers[b] fell-asleep, everything is continuing in-this-manner[c] from the beginning of creation”.
But God Has Destroyed The Ungodly Before, And He Will Do So Again
5 For this escapes-notice-of those who are willing[d]— that by the word of God there were heavens from-long-ago, and an earth having existence out of water and by water, 6 through which[e] the world at that time was destroyed[f], having been flooded with water. 7 And by the same word the present heavens and earth have been stored-up for fire, being reserved for the day of the judgment and destruction of ungodly people.
He Is Being Patient Now, But The Day of Destruction Will Come Like a Thief
8 But do not let this one thing be escaping your notice, beloved— that one day with the Lord is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like one day. 9 The Lord is not being slow about[g] the promise as some regard slowness, but He is being patient toward you, not wishing[h] any to perish, but all to make-room[i] for repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief— during which the heavens will pass-away with-a-roar, and the elements will be destroyed while burning, and the earth and the works in it will be found[j]. 11 All these things thus being destroyed, what-kind-of people ought you to be in holy behaviors and acts of godliness, 12 looking-for and hastening[k] the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed, being set-on-fire, and the elements are melted while burning. 13 But in accordance with His promise we are looking-for new heavens and a new earth, in which[l] righteousness dwells.
So Be Diligent To Be Unspotted And Unblemished In This Day of Salvation
14 Therefore beloved, while looking-for these things, be diligent to be found unspotted[m] and unblemished[n] by[o] Him, in peace. 15 And be regarding the patience of our Lord to be salvation, just as also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according-to[p] the wisdom having been given to him, 16 as also he writes in all his letters, speaking in them concerning these things, in which letters are some things hard-to-understand which the untaught and unstable twist[q]— as also the other[r] Scriptures— to their own destruction.
Beloved, Be Guarding Yourselves And Growing In Christ
17 You therefore, beloved, knowing-this-beforehand, be guarding yourselves in order that you may not fall-from your own steadfastness, having been carried-away-by[s] the error of the lawless ones. 18 And be growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now, and to the day of eternity. Amen.
Footnotes
- 2 Peter 3:4 That is, the fulfillment of the promise He would come.
- 2 Peter 3:4 That is, the ones who wrote of the promise.
- 2 Peter 3:4 That is, as it has been.
- 2 Peter 3:5 That is, those who willingly ignore what follows.
- 2 Peter 3:6 This is plural, referring to the water and the word, or to the waters.
- 2 Peter 3:6 Or, perished.
- 2 Peter 3:9 about the promise. Or, The Lord of the promise is not being slow.
- 2 Peter 3:9 Or, wanting, willing.
- 2 Peter 3:9 Or, give-way for, have room for, go forward to, come to.
- 2 Peter 3:10 Or, discovered, found out. Some manuscripts say ‘will be burned up’.
- 2 Peter 3:12 Or, hurrying, advancing, promoting zealously, seeking eagerly.
- 2 Peter 3:13 This is plural.
- 2 Peter 3:14 Or, without-stain.
- 2 Peter 3:14 Or, without-defect.
- 2 Peter 3:14 Or, in.
- 2 Peter 3:15 Or, based on, by way of.
- 2 Peter 3:16 Or, distort, wrench. For example, they changed grace into sensuality, Jude 4.
- 2 Peter 3:16 Or, the rest-of-the Scriptures.That is, the other books in the category of ‘Scriptures.’
- 2 Peter 3:17 Or, carried-along-with. In other words, led astray by.