2 Peter 3

1 Beloved, this is now my second letter to you. Both of them are reminders to stir you to wholesome thinking

Dear ones, this is now a second letter I am writing to you (in both of which I stir up your sincere mind by way of reminder),

2 by recalling what was foretold by the holy prophets and commanded by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.

so that you remember the words that were spoken before by the holy prophets and the command of the Lord and Savior, through your apostles.

3 Most importantly, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.

Knowing this first: in the last days mockers will come, living according to their own lusts

4 “Where is the promise of His coming?” they will ask. “Ever since our fathers fell asleep, everything continues as it has from the beginning of creation.”

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 creation.”

5 But they deliberately overlook the fact that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water,

This because they deliberately ignore that heavens and land (out of water and through water) had been existing from of old by the word of God,

6 through which the world of that time perished in the flood.

by which word the world that then was perished, being flooded by water.

7 And by that same word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

But the current heavens, and the earth, are being reserved by His word for fire, being preserved until the day of judgment and perdition of godless men.

8 Beloved, do not let this one thing escape your notice: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.

But dear ones, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

9 The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.

The Lord is not delaying the promise, as some consider delay, but rather is patient toward us, not wishing anyone to perish but all to come into repentance.

10 But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.

However, the day of the Lord will come like a thief at night, in which heavens will pass away with a whoosh, while the elements will be dissolved by burning—both the earth and the works in it will be completely consumed.

11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness

Therefore, since all these things will be destroyed, what kind of people ought you to be in holy living and godliness,

12 as you anticipate and hasten the coming of the day of God, when the heavens will be destroyed by fire and the elements will melt in the heat.

expecting and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which heavens, being on fire, will be dissolved, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?

13 But in keeping with God’s promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

Nevertheless, we look for new heavens and a new earth in which dwells righteousness, according to His promise.

14 Therefore, beloved, as you anticipate these things, make every effort to be found at peace—spotless and blameless in His sight.

Therefore, dear ones, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, faultless and blameless;

15 Consider also that our Lord’s patience brings salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom God gave him.

and consider the longsuffering of our Lord to be salvation—just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you, according to the wisdom given to him,

16 He writes this way in all his letters, speaking in them about such matters. Some parts of his letters are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.

as also in all his epistles (speaking in them of these things, about which there are some things hard to understand), which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.

17 Therefore, beloved, since you already know these things, be on your guard so that you will not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure standing.

You therefore, dear ones, being forewarned, be on guard lest, being carried away by the error of the wicked, you fall from your own steadfastness.

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. (aiōn g165)

Rather, may you grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and into the eternal day. Amen. (aiōn g165)

The Great Flood