主再来的应许

亲爱的弟兄姊妹,我现在写给你们的是第二封信。这两封信都是为了提醒你们,激励你们保持真诚的心, 叫你们记得从前圣先知们说的预言,以及我们的主和救主借着派到你们那里的使徒所传给你们的诫命。

最重要的是,你们要知道在末世的时候必出现喜欢冷嘲热讽、为所欲为的人。他们说: “主要降临的应许在哪里?从我们的祖先长眠地下直到现在,万物依旧与创世之初一样。” 他们故意忽略:太初,上帝凭口中的话语创造了诸天,并借着水从水中造出了地; 后来,那个世界被水淹没而毁灭了。 同样,现在的天地要凭上帝的话语存留到不敬虔的人被审判和毁灭的日子,那时天地要被火焚烧。

亲爱的弟兄姊妹,有一件事你们不可忽略,就是主看一日如千年,千年如一日。 主的应许还未实现,有人以为祂拖延,其实祂不是拖延,而是在宽容你们。祂不愿任何人灭亡,愿意人人悔改。 10 不过,主再来的日子要像贼一样突然临到。那日,诸天必在一声巨响中消失,有形有质的都要被烈火焚毁,大地和其中的一切将不复存在。

11-12 一切都要这样被焚毁,你们在热切等候上帝来临的日子期间,该怎样过圣洁、敬虔的生活啊!因为到那日,天要被火焚毁,有形有质的都要被烈火熔化烧尽。 13 但我们等候的是上帝应许的新天新地,有公义住在其中。

14 所以,亲爱的弟兄姊妹,你们既然盼望这些事,就当努力使自己在主面前毫无瑕疵,无可指责,安然无惧。 15 你们要把耶稣的宽容看作是让众人得救的机会,正如我们亲爱的弟兄保罗按着上帝赐给他的智慧写信告诉你们的。 16 他所有的书信都谈到这些事。一些不学无术、反复无常的人曲解了信中一些难懂的地方,就像曲解其他经文一样,他们是自取灭亡。

17 因此,亲爱的弟兄姊妹,你们既然预先知道了这些事,就应该提防,不要让那些不法之徒用错谬的理论引诱你们,使你们失去原本坚固的立场。 18 相反,你们要在我们的主和救主耶稣基督的恩典中不断长进,越来越认识祂。

愿荣耀归给祂,从现在直到永远。阿们!

This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:

That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after 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 the creation.

For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

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

15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

The Promise of the Lord’s Coming

This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you; in them I am trying to arouse your sincere intention by reminding you that you should remember the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken through your apostles. First of all you must understand this, that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and indulging their own lusts(A) and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since our ancestors died,[a] all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation!”(B) They deliberately ignore this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago and an earth was formed out of water and by means of water,(C) through which the world of that time was deluged with water and perished.(D) But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the godless.(E)

But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day.(F) The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you,[b] not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.(G) 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be destroyed with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.[c](H)

11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening[d] the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and destroyed and the elements will melt with fire? 13 But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.(I)

Final Exhortation and Doxology

14 Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish,(J) 15 and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation. So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,(K) 16 speaking of this as he does in all his letters. There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist[e] to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures. 17 You therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned, beware that you are not carried away with the error of the lawless and lose your own stability.(L) 18 But grow 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.[f]

Footnotes

  1. 3.4 Gk our fathers fell asleep
  2. 3.9 Other ancient authorities read on your account
  3. 3.10 Other ancient authorities read will not be found or will be burned up
  4. 3.12 Or earnestly desiring
  5. 3.16 Other ancient authorities read will twist
  6. 3.18 Other ancient authorities lack Amen