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

耶稣将重返

亲爱的朋友们,这是我写给你们的第二封信。在这两封信中,我都提醒你们这些事,以便激发起你们纯洁的心。 我要你们记住神圣先知说过的话,以及我们的主-救世主通过使徒赐予你们的命令。 对于你们,理解在最后的日子里要发生的事情是非常重要的。那时,那些放纵罪恶欲望的人会嘲笑你们。 他们会说∶“他(耶稣)许诺过要再次降临,他在那里呢?自从我们的祖先长眠以来,一切照常,和创世之初没有区别。” 他们假装忘记了在很久以前诸天和大地就存在了。它们是凭着上帝的话,从水中,并借着水创造了大地。 后来那个世界遭受了洪水,并被毁灭。 但是,又凭着上帝同样的话,现在的天地得以存在,它们将被保留到不虔诚的人受审判并被毁灭为止,那时天地将被火焚毁。

但是,亲爱的朋友们,不要忘了这件事∶对于主来说,一日如千年,千年如一日。 主并不像某些人所想的那样,迟迟不去实现他的诺言,而是在宽容你们,上帝不想要任何人毁灭。相反,他希望所有的人都能够悔改。

10 但是,主再来临的那天就像窃贼一样降临。诸天将随着一声巨响而消失,天体被焚毁;大地和其中的一切都遭毁。 [a] 11 既然一切都会如此毁灭,那么你们应该成为什么样的人呢?你们应该过圣洁的生活,为上帝服务。

12 你们应该期待、并且加速上帝到来的日子。当那天来临时,诸天将在火焰中焚毁,其中的一切会在灼热中熔化。 13 但是,按照上帝的诺言,我们期待着新天地,在那里是正义生存的地方。

14 所以,亲爱的朋们,你们既然盼望着这些事,就应当竭尽全力使自己在上帝面前毫无瑕疵,无可指责,并与他和睦相处。 15 要在心里牢记:我们得救,是因为主的耐心。正如我们亲爱的兄弟保罗,根据上帝赐给他的智慧,曾写信告诉过你们的那样。 16 在他所有的信中,他都谈到了这些事情。他的信中有些难懂的地方,受到一些无知的、信仰不坚定的人的歪曲,就像他们他们歪曲其它经文一样,他们这么做是自取灭亡。

17 因此,亲爱的朋友们,既然你们已经预先知道了这些事情,就应该防备,不要让不法之人的错误行为引诱你们误入歧途;不要丧失坚定的立场。 18 你们要在我主-救世主耶稣基督的恩典中,对他的认识上不断长进。愿荣耀现在、永远属于他!阿们。

Footnotes

  1. 彼 得 後 書 3:10 一些希腊原本为“被烧毁”或“消逝”。

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 Will Come

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, (B)that you should remember the predictions of (C)the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come (D)in the last days with scoffing, (E)following their own sinful desires. (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.” 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, and that by means of these the world that then existed (J)was deluged with water and (K)perished. 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.

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. (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

  1. 2 Peter 3:9 Some manuscripts on your account
  2. 2 Peter 3:10 Or elements; also verse 12
  3. 2 Peter 3:10 Greek found; some manuscripts will be burned up