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Carissimi, questa è già la seconda epistola che vi scrivo; in entrambe cerco di tener desto il vostro genuino modo di pensare facendo appello alla vostra memoria

affinché vi ricordiate delle parole già dette dai santi profeti e del comandamento dello stesso Signore e Salvatore trasmessovi da noi apostoli,

Prima di tutto dovete sapere questo, che negli ultimi giorni verranno degli schernitori, che cammineranno secondo le loro proprie voglie

e diranno: «Dov'è la promessa della sua venuta? Da quando infatti i padri si sono addormentati, tutte le cose continuano come dal principio della creazione».

Ma essi dimenticano volontariamente che per mezzo della parola di Dio i cieli vennero all'esistenza molto tempo fa, e che la terra fu tratta dall'acqua e fu formata mediante l'acqua,

a motivo di cui il mondo di allora, sommerso dall'acqua, perì,

mentre i cieli e la terra attuali sono riservati dalla stessa parola per il fuoco, conservati per il giorno del giudizio e della perdizione degli uomini empi.

Ora, carissimi, non dimenticate quest'unica cosa: che per il Signore un giorno è come mille anni, e mille anni come un giorno.

Il Signore non ritarda l'adempimento della sua promessa, come alcuni credono che egli faccia, ma è paziente verso di noi non volendo che alcuno perisca, ma che tutti vengano a ravvedimento.

10 Ora il giorno del Signore verrà come un ladro di notte; in quel giorno i cieli passeranno stridendo, gli elementi si dissolveranno consumati dal calore e la terra e le opere che sono in essa saranno arse.

11 Poiché dunque tutte queste cose devono essere distrutte, come non dovreste voi avere una condotta santa e pia,

12 mentre aspettate e affrettate la venuta del giorno di Dio, a motivo del quale i cieli infuocati si dissolveranno e gli elementi consumati dal calore si fonderanno?

13 Ma noi, secondo la sua promessa, aspettiamo nuovi cieli e nuova terra nei quali abita la giustizia.

14 Perciò, carissimi, aspettando queste cose, fate in modo di essere trovati da lui immacolati e irreprensibili, in pace.

15 E ricordate che la pazienza del nostro Signore è in funzione della salvezza, come anche il nostro caro fratello Paolo vi ha scritto, secondo la sapienza che gli è stata data;

16 e questo egli fa in tutte le sue epistole, in cui parla di queste cose. In esse vi sono alcune cose difficili da comprendere, che gli uomini ignoranti ed instabili torcono, come fanno con le altre Scritture, a loro propria perdizione.

17 Voi dunque, carissimi, conoscendo già queste cose, state in guardia per non venir meno nella vostra fermezza portati via dall'errore degli empi.

18 Crescete invece nella grazia e nella conoscenza del Signore e Salvatore nostro Gesú Cristo. A lui sia la gloria, ora e in eterno. Amen.

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