The Day of the Lord

Dear friends,(A) this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders(B) to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets(C) and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.(D)

Above all, you must understand that in the last days(E) scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.(F) They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised?(G) Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”(H) But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word(I) the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water.(J) By these waters also the world of that time(K) was deluged and destroyed.(L) By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire,(M) being kept for the day of judgment(N) and destruction of the ungodly.

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.(O) The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise,(P) as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient(Q) with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.(R)

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.(S) The heavens will disappear with a roar;(T) the elements will be destroyed by fire,(U) and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.[a](V)

11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward(W) to the day of God and speed its coming.[b](X) That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.(Y) 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth,(Z) where righteousness dwells.

14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless(AA) and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience(AB) means salvation,(AC) just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.(AD) 16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable(AE) people distort,(AF) as they do the other Scriptures,(AG) to their own destruction.

17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard(AH) so that you may not be carried away by the error(AI) of the lawless(AJ) and fall from your secure position.(AK) 18 But grow in the grace(AL) and knowledge(AM) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.(AN) To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.(AO)

Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 3:10 Some manuscripts be burned up
  2. 2 Peter 3:12 Or as you wait eagerly for the day of God to come

God’s Promise Is Not Slack(A)

Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which (B)I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words (C)which were spoken before by the holy prophets, (D)and of the commandment of [a]us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, (E)walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of (F)creation.” For this they willfully forget: that (G)by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth (H)standing out of water and in the water, (I)by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But (J)the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for (K)fire until the day of judgment and [b]perdition of ungodly men.

But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and (L)a thousand years as one day. (M)The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but (N)is longsuffering toward [c]us, (O)not willing that any should perish but (P)that all should come to repentance.

The Day of the Lord

10 But (Q)the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which (R)the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be [d]burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be (S)in holy conduct and godliness, 12 (T)looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will (U)be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will (V)melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for (W)new heavens and a (X)new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Be Steadfast

14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent (Y)to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that (Z)the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his (AA)epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the (AB)rest of the Scriptures.

17 You therefore, beloved, (AC)since you know this beforehand, (AD)beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 (AE)but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

(AF)To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 3:2 NU, M the apostles of your Lord and Savior or your apostles of the Lord and Savior
  2. 2 Peter 3:7 destruction
  3. 2 Peter 3:9 NU you
  4. 2 Peter 3:10 NU laid bare, lit. found

O Dia do Senhor

Amados, esta é agora a segunda carta que lhes escrevo. Em ambas quero despertar com estas lembranças a sua mente sincera para que vocês se recordem das palavras proferidas no passado pelos santos profetas, e do mandamento de nosso Senhor e Salvador que os apóstolos de vocês lhes ensinaram.

Antes de tudo saibam que, nos últimos dias, surgirão escarnecedores zombando e seguindo suas próprias paixões. Eles dirão: “O que houve com a promessa da sua vinda? Desde que os antepassados morreram, tudo continua como desde o princípio da criação”. Mas eles deliberadamente se esquecem de que há muito tempo, pela palavra de Deus, existem céus e terra, esta formada da água e pela água. E pela água o mundo daquele tempo foi submerso e destruído. Pela mesma palavra os céus e a terra que agora existem estão reservados para o fogo, guardados para o dia do juízo e para a destruição dos ímpios.

Não se esqueçam disto, amados: para o Senhor um dia é como mil anos, e mil anos como um dia. O Senhor não demora em cumprir a sua promessa, como julgam alguns. Ao contrário, ele é paciente com vocês[a], não querendo que ninguém pereça, mas que todos cheguem ao arrependimento.

10 O dia do Senhor, porém, virá como ladrão. Os céus desaparecerão com um grande estrondo, os elementos serão desfeitos pelo calor, e a terra, e tudo o que nela há, será desnudada[b].

11 Visto que tudo será assim desfeito, que tipo de pessoas é necessário que vocês sejam? Vivam de maneira santa e piedosa, 12 esperando o dia de Deus e apressando a sua vinda[c]. Naquele dia os céus serão desfeitos pelo fogo, e os elementos se derreterão pelo calor. 13 Todavia, de acordo com a sua promessa, esperamos novos céus e nova terra, onde habita a justiça.

14 Portanto, amados, enquanto esperam estas coisas, empenhem-se para serem encontrados por ele em paz, imaculados e inculpáveis. 15 Tenham em mente que a paciência de nosso Senhor significa salvação, como também o nosso amado irmão Paulo lhes escreveu, com a sabedoria que Deus lhe deu. 16 Ele escreve da mesma forma em todas as suas cartas, falando nelas destes assuntos. Suas cartas contêm algumas coisas difíceis de entender, as quais os ignorantes e instáveis torcem, como também o fazem com as demais Escrituras, para a própria destruição deles.

17 Portanto, amados, sabendo disso, guardem-se para que não sejam levados pelo erro dos que não têm princípios morais, nem percam a sua firmeza e caiam. 18 Cresçam, porém, na graça e no conhecimento de nosso Senhor e Salvador Jesus Cristo. A ele seja a glória, agora e para sempre! Amém.

Footnotes

  1. 3.9 Alguns manuscritos dizem por causa de vocês.
  2. 3.10 Alguns manuscritos antigos dizem será queimada.
  3. 3.12 Ou aguardando com ansiedade a vinda do dia de Deus