2 Peter 3
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Promise of the Lord’s Coming
3 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 2 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. 3 First of all you must understand this, that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and indulging their own lusts(A) 4 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) 5 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) 6 through which the world of that time was deluged with water and perished.(D) 7 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)
8 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) 9 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]
2 Peter 3
English Standard Version
The Day of the Lord Will Come
3 This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them (A)I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2 (B)that you should remember the predictions of (C)the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, 3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come (D)in the last days with scoffing, (E)following their own sinful desires. 4 (F)They will say, “Where is the promise of (G)his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth (H)was formed out of water and through water (I)by the word of God, 6 and that by means of these the world that then existed (J)was deluged with water and (K)perished. 7 But by the same word (L)the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and (M)destruction of the ungodly.
8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and (N)a thousand years as one day. 9 (O)The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise (P)as some count slowness, but (Q)is patient toward you,[a] (R)not wishing that any should perish, but (S)that all should reach repentance. 10 But (T)the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then (U)the heavens will pass away with a roar, and (V)the heavenly bodies[b] will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.[c]
11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, (W)what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 (X)waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and (Y)the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for (Z)new heavens and a new earth (AA)in which righteousness dwells.
Final Words
14 (AB)Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him (AC)without spot or (AD)blemish, and (AE)at peace. 15 And count (AF)the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as (AG)our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you (AH)according to the wisdom given him, 16 as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. (AI)There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, (AJ)as they do the other Scriptures. 17 You therefore, beloved, (AK)knowing this beforehand, (AL)take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. 18 But (AM)grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (AN)To him be the glory both now and to the day of (AO)eternity. Amen.
Footnotes
- 2 Peter 3:9 Some manuscripts on your account
- 2 Peter 3:10 Or elements; also verse 12
- 2 Peter 3:10 Greek found; some manuscripts will be burned up
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
