³ Above all, you must understand that in the last days^(A) scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.^(B)

⁴ They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised?^(A) Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”^(B)

⁵ But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word^(A) the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water.^(B)