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Beloved, Remember That People Will Come Mocking Christ’s Future Coming

Beloved, I am now writing this second letter to you, in which letters I am arousing your pure mind with a reminder to remember the words having been spoken-beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior from your apostles, knowing this first— that mockers will come with mocking in the last days, proceeding in accordance with their own desires, and saying “Where is the promise[a] of His coming? For from which day the fathers[b] fell-asleep, everything is continuing in-this-manner[c] from the beginning of creation”.

But God Has Destroyed The Ungodly Before, And He Will Do So Again

For this escapes-notice-of those who are willing[d]— that by the word of God there were heavens from-long-ago, and an earth having existence out of water and by water, through which[e] the world at that time was destroyed[f], having been flooded with water. And by the same word the present heavens and earth have been stored-up for fire, being reserved for the day of the judgment and destruction of ungodly people.

He Is Being Patient Now, But The Day of Destruction Will Come Like a Thief

But do not let this one thing be escaping your notice, beloved— that one day with the Lord is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like one day. The Lord is not being slow about[g] the promise as some regard slowness, but He is being patient toward you, not wishing[h] any to perish, but all to make-room[i] for repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief— during which the heavens will pass-away with-a-roar, and the elements will be destroyed while burning, and the earth and the works in it will be found[j]. 11 All these things thus being destroyed, what-kind-of people ought you to be in holy behaviors and acts of godliness, 12 looking-for and hastening[k] the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed, being set-on-fire, and the elements are melted while burning. 13 But in accordance with His promise we are looking-for new heavens and a new earth, in which[l] righteousness dwells.

So Be Diligent To Be Unspotted And Unblemished In This Day of Salvation

14 Therefore beloved, while looking-for these things, be diligent to be found unspotted[m] and unblemished[n] by[o] Him, in peace. 15 And be regarding the patience of our Lord to be salvation, just as also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according-to[p] the wisdom having been given to him, 16 as also he writes in all his letters, speaking in them concerning these things, in which letters are some things hard-to-understand which the untaught and unstable twist[q]— as also the other[r] Scriptures— to their own destruction.

Beloved, Be Guarding Yourselves And Growing In Christ

17 You therefore, beloved, knowing-this-beforehand, be guarding yourselves in order that you may not fall-from your own steadfastness, having been carried-away-by[s] the error of the lawless ones. 18 And be growing 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.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 3:4 That is, the fulfillment of the promise He would come.
  2. 2 Peter 3:4 That is, the ones who wrote of the promise.
  3. 2 Peter 3:4 That is, as it has been.
  4. 2 Peter 3:5 That is, those who willingly ignore what follows.
  5. 2 Peter 3:6 This is plural, referring to the water and the word, or to the waters.
  6. 2 Peter 3:6 Or, perished.
  7. 2 Peter 3:9 about the promise. Or, The Lord of the promise is not being slow.
  8. 2 Peter 3:9 Or, wanting, willing.
  9. 2 Peter 3:9 Or, give-way for, have room for, go forward to, come to.
  10. 2 Peter 3:10 Or, discovered, found out. Some manuscripts say ‘will be burned up’.
  11. 2 Peter 3:12 Or, hurrying, advancing, promoting zealously, seeking eagerly.
  12. 2 Peter 3:13 This is plural.
  13. 2 Peter 3:14 Or, without-stain.
  14. 2 Peter 3:14 Or, without-defect.
  15. 2 Peter 3:14 Or, in.
  16. 2 Peter 3:15 Or, based on, by way of.
  17. 2 Peter 3:16 Or, distort, wrench. For example, they changed grace into sensuality, Jude 4.
  18. 2 Peter 3:16 Or, the rest-of-the Scriptures.That is, the other books in the category of ‘Scriptures.’
  19. 2 Peter 3:17 Or, carried-along-with. In other words, led astray by.

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