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主再來的應許

親愛的,我現在寫給你們的是第二封信。在這兩封信裏,我都提醒你們,激發你們真誠的心, 要你們記得聖先知預先所說的話和主—救主的命令,就是使徒所傳給你們的。 第一要緊的,你們要知道,在末世必有好譏誚的人隨從自己的私慾出來譏誚, 說:「他要來臨的應許在哪裏呢?因為從列祖長眠以來,萬物與起初創造的時候仍是一樣啊!」 他們故意忘記這事,就是從太古憑 神的話有了天,並由水而出和藉着水而成的地; 藉着水,當時的世界被水淹沒而消滅了。 但現在的天地還是憑着 神的話存留,直留到不敬虔之人受審判遭沉淪的日子,用火焚燒。

親愛的,有一件事你們不可忘記,就是:主看一日如千年,千年如一日。 主沒有遲延他的應許,就如有人以為他是遲延,其實他是寬容你們,不願一人沉淪,而是人人都來悔改。 10 但主的日子要像賊一樣來到;那日,天必在轟然一聲中消失,天體都要被烈火熔化,地和地上的萬物都要燒盡[a] 11 既然這一切都要如此消失,你們[b]處世為人必須聖潔敬虔, 12 等候並催促 神的日子來到。因為在那日,天要被火燒而消滅,天體都要被烈火熔化。 13 但照他的應許,我們等候新天新地,其中有正義常住。

14 所以,親愛的,既然你們等候這些事,就要竭力使自己沒有玷污,無可指責,在主前和睦; 15 並且要以我們主的容忍作為你們得救的機會,就如我們所親愛的弟兄保羅,照着所賜給他的智慧寫信給你們。 16 他一切的信上都談到這事。信中有些難明白的,那無學問、不堅定的人加以曲解,如曲解別的經書一樣,自取滅亡。 17 所以,親愛的,既然你們預先知道這事,就當防備,免得被惡人的錯謬誘惑,從自己穩定的立場上墜落。 18 你們倒要在我們的主和救主耶穌基督的恩典和知識上有長進。願榮耀歸給他,從今直到永遠之日。阿們![c]

Footnotes

  1. 3.10 「燒盡」:有古卷是「暴露無遺」;另有古卷是「消滅」或「消失」。
  2. 3.11 有古卷是「我們」。
  3. 3.18 有古卷沒有「阿們!」

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

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