2 Peter 3 - 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)

3 1 He showeth that he writeth the same things again. 2 Because they must often be stirred up, 3 because dangers hang over their heads through certain mockers. 8 Therefore he warneth the godly that they do not after the judgment of the flesh, 12 appoint the day of the Lord, 14 but that they think it always at hand, 15 in which doctrine he showeth that Paul agreeth with him.

¹ This ^[a]second Epistle I now write unto you, beloved, wherewith I stir up, and warn your pure minds,

² To call to remembrance the words, which were told before of the holy Prophets, and also the commandment of us the Apostles of the Lord and Savior.

^{3 (A)[b]}This first understand, that there shall come in the last days, ^[c]mockers, which will walk after their lusts,

^{4 [d]}And say, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the Fathers died, all things continue alike from the beginning of the creation.

^{5 [e]}For this they willingly know not, that the heavens were of old, and the ^[f]earth that was of the water, and by the water, by the word of God.

^{6 [g]}Wherefore the world that then was, perished, overflowed with the ^[h]water.

^{7 [i]}But the heavens and earth, which are now, are kept by the same word in store, and reserved unto fire against the day of condemnation, and of the destruction of ungodly men.

^{8 [j]}Dearly beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord, ^(B)as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

^{9 [k]}The Lord of that promise is not slack (as some men count slackness) ^[l]but is patient toward us, and ^(C)would have no man to perish, but would all men to come to repentance.

^{10 [m]}But the day ^(D)of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in the which the heavens shall pass away with a ^[n]noise, and the elements shall melt with heat, and the earth with the works that are therein shall be burnt up.

^{11 [o]}Seeing therefore that all these things must be dissolved, what manner persons ought ye to be in holy conversation and godliness,

¹² Looking for, and ^[p]hasting unto the coming of that day of God, by the which the heavens being on fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with heat?

¹³ But we look for ^(E)new heavens, and a new earth, according to his promise, ^[q]wherein dwelleth righteousness.

¹⁴ Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in ^[r]peace, without spot and blameless.

^{15 (F)}And suppose that the long suffering of our Lord is salvation, ^[s]even as our beloved brother Paul according to the wisdom given unto him wrote to you.

¹⁶ As one that in all his Epistles speaketh of these things: ^[t]among the ^[u]which, some things are hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable, wrest, as they do also other Scriptures unto their own destruction.

¹⁷ Ye therefore beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware, lest ye be also plucked away with the error of the wicked, and fall from your own steadfastness.

¹⁸ But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: to him be glory both now and for evermore. Amen.

Footnotes

1. 2 Peter 3:1 The remedy against those wicked enemies both of true doctrine and holiness, is to be sought for by the continual meditation of the writings of the Prophets and Apostles.
2. 2 Peter 3:3 He voucheth the second coming of Christ against the Epicureans by name.
3. 2 Peter 3:3 Monstrous men, who will seem wise by their contempt of God, and wicked boldness.
4. 2 Peter 3:4 The reason which these mockers pretend because the course of nature is all one as it was from the beginning: therefore the world is from everlasting, and shall be forever.
5. 2 Peter 3:5 He setteth against them the creation of heaven and earth by the word of God, which these men are willingly ignorant of.
6. 2 Peter 3:5 Which appeared when the waters were gathered together into one place.
7. 2 Peter 3:6 Secondly, he setteth against them the universal flood which was the destruction, as it were of the whole world.
8. 2 Peter 3:6 For the waters returning into their former place this world, that is to say, this beauty of the earth which we see, and all living creatures which live upon the earth perished.
9. 2 Peter 3:7 Thirdly, he pronounceth that it shall not be harder for God to burn heaven and earth with fire in that day which is appointed for the destruction of the wicked, (which thing he will also do) than it was for him in times past to make them with his only word and afterward to overwhelm them with water.
10. 2 Peter 3:8 The taking away of an objection: in that he seemeth to defer this judgment a long season, in respect of us it is true, but not before God with whom there is no time either long or short.
11. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord will surely come, because he hath promised: and that neither sooner nor later than he hath promised.
12. 2 Peter 3:9 A reason why the latter day cometh not out of hand, because God doth patiently wait till the elect are brought to repentance, that none of them may perish.
13. 2 Peter 3:10 A very short description of the least distinction of the world, but in such sort as nothing could be spoken more gravely.
14. 2 Peter 3:10 With the violence as it were of a hissing storm.
15. 2 Peter 3:11 An exhortation to purity of life, setting before us that horrible judgment of God both to bridle our wantonness, and also to comfort us, so that we be found watching and ready to meet him at his coming.
16. 2 Peter 3:12 He requireth patience of us, yet such patience as is not slothful.
17. 2 Peter 3:13 In which heavens.
18. 2 Peter 3:14 That you may try to your profit, how gentle and peaceable he is.
19. 2 Peter 3:15 Paul’s Epistles are allowed by the express testimony of Peter.
20. 2 Peter 3:16 There be certain of these things obscure and dark, whereof the unlearned take occasion to overthrow some men that stand not fast, wrestling the testimonies of the Scripture to their own destruction. But this is the remedy against such deceit, to labor that we may daily more and more grow up and increase in the knowledge of Christ.
21. 2 Peter 3:16 That is to say, among the which things: for he disputeth not here whether Paul’s Epistles be plain or dark, but saith, that amongst those things which Paul hath written of his Epistles, and Peter himself in these two of his own, there are some things which cannot be easily understood, and therefore are of some drawn to their own destruction: and this he saith to make us more attentive and diligent, and not remove us from the reading of holy things, for to what end should they have written vain speculations?

Cross references

1. 2 Peter 3:3 : 1 Tim. 4:1; 1 Tim. 3:1; Jude 18
2. 2 Peter 3:8 : Ps. 90:4
3. 2 Peter 3:9 : Ezek. 8:32; Ezek. 33:11; 1 Tim. 2:4
4. 2 Peter 3:10 : Matt. 24:44; 1 Thess. 5:2; Rev. 3:3; Rev. 16:15
5. 2 Peter 3:13 : Isa. 65:17; Isa. 66:22; Rev. 21:1
6. 2 Peter 3:15 : Rom. 2:4