2 Peter 3

1 This letter that I am now writing to you whom I love, is the second [letter] that I have written to you. [In both] these letters I have reminded you [about the things you already know, in order that I may] stimulate/cause you to think sincerely [about those things].

ταυτην ηδη αγαπητοι δευτεραν υμιν γραφω επιστολην εν αισ διεγειρω υμων εν υπομνησει την ειλικρινη διανοιαν

2 [I want you] to remember the words that were spoken by the holy prophets {that the holy prophets spoke} long ago, and also to remember what our Lord and Savior commanded, things that we, your apostles, told you about.

μνησθηναι των προειρημενων ρηματων υπο των αγιων προφητων και τησ των αποστολων υμων εντολησ του κυριου και σωτηροσ

3 It is important for you to understand that in the time [immediately] before Christ comes back, there will be people who will ridicule [the idea of his coming back. Those people will do whatever] evil things they wish to do.

τουτο πρωτον γινωσκοντεσ οτι ελευσονται επ εσχατου των ημερων εμπαικται κατα τασ ιδιασ επιθυμιασ αυτων πορευομενοι

4 They will say, “[Although it was] promised [that Christ] will come back, ([nothing has happened that would indicate] that he is coming back./[what happened to the promise] that he is coming back?) [RHQ] We say that because ever since the [Christian] leaders [who lived] long ago died [EUP], everything [has remained the same]. Things are as [they always have been] since God created [the world!]”

και λεγοντεσ που εστιν η επαγγελια τησ παρουσιασ αυτου αφ ησ γαρ οι πατερεσ εκοιμηθησαν παντα ουτωσ διαμενει απ αρχησ κτισεωσ

5 [They will say that because] they (deliberately overlook [the fact/have decided to ignore what they know]) that God, by commanding [long ago that it should be so], caused the heavens to exist, and he caused the earth to appear out of water and to be separate from the water.

λανθανει γαρ αυτουσ τουτο θελοντασ οτι ουρανοι ησαν εκπαλαι και γη εξ υδατοσ και δι υδατοσ συνεστωσα τω του θεου λογω

6 And God, by [commanding that it should be so], later destroyed the world [that existed] at that time, by causing the earth to be flooded with water {water to flood the earth}.

δι ων ο τοτε κοσμοσ υδατι κατακλυσθεισ απωλετο

7 Furthermore, [God], commanded that the heavens and the earth [that exist] now remain until the time when [he] will judge (ungodly people/people whose lives are not pleasing to him). And at that time [he] will destroy the heavens and the earth by burning them.

οι δε νυν ουρανοι και η γη τω αυτου λογω τεθησαυρισμενοι εισιν πυρι τηρουμενοι εισ ημεραν κρισεωσ και απωλειασ των ασεβων ανθρωπων

8 Dear friends, I want you to understand well that the Lord [God is willing to wait a long time to judge the people in the world! How much time passes before] the Lord God [judges the people in the world does not matter to him! He considers] that one day [passes no more quickly than] 1,000 years, and [he also considers] that 1,000 years [pass as quickly as] one day passes [to us]!

εν δε τουτο μη λανθανετω υμασ αγαπητοι οτι μια ημερα παρα κυριω ωσ χιλια ετη και χιλια ετη ωσ ημερα μια

9 [Therefore, you should not think that because Christ has not yet come back to judge people], the Lord God is (delaying/slow to do) what he promised. Some people think that this is so, [and they say that Christ will never come back]. But [you should understand that the reason why Christ has not yet come back to judge people is that] God is being patient with you, because he does not want anyone to be lost [eternally]. Instead, he wants everyone to turn away from their sinful behavior.

ου βραδυνει ο κυριοσ τησ επαγγελιασ ωσ τινεσ βραδυτητα ηγουνται αλλα μακροθυμει εισ ημασ μη βουλομενοσ τινασ απολεσθαι αλλα παντασ εισ μετανοιαν χωρησαι

10 Although [God is being patient, at] the time [MTY] [that he has chosen], the Lord [Jesus Christ] will [certainly] come back [to judge people]. He will come back [unexpectedly], like a thief [SIM] [comes unexpectedly]. At that time there will be a great roaring sound. The heavens will cease to exist. (The elements/The parts [of which the universe consists]) will be destroyed by fire, and the earth [that God made] and everything on it [that people have made] will disappear (OR, will be burned up).

ηξει δε η ημερα κυριου ωσ κλεπτησ εν νυκτι εν η οι ουρανοι ροιζηδον παρελευσονται στοιχεια δε καυσουμενα λυθησονται και γη και τα εν αυτη εργα κατακαησεται

11 Because God will certainly destroy all these things like [I just said], you certainly know how you should behave. [RHQ] You should behave (in a [godly manner/] a [manner that pleases God])

τουτων ουν παντων λυομενων ποταπουσ δει υπαρχειν υμασ εν αγιαισ αναστροφαισ και ευσεβειαισ

12 while you [eagerly/expectantly] wait for [Christ] to return on the day that God [has chosen] [MTY], and you should try to make that day come soon. Because of what [God] [PRS] [will do on that day], the heavens will be destroyed. (The elements/The parts of which the universe consist) will melt and burn up.

προσδοκωντασ και σπευδοντασ την παρουσιαν τησ του θεου ημερασ δι ην ουρανοι πυρουμενοι λυθησονται και στοιχεια καυσουμενα τηκεται

13 Although [all those events/things will happen, we rejoice because] we are waiting for the new heavens and new earth that [God] has promised. The [only people who will be] in the new heavens and on this new earth will be [people who are] [PRS] righteous.

καινουσ δε ουρανουσ και γην καινην κατα το επαγγελμα αυτου προσδοκωμεν εν οισ δικαιοσυνη κατοικει

14 Therefore, dear friends, because you are waiting for these things [to happen], do all that you can [live] (in a [godly manner/] a [manner that pleases God]), [in order that Christ] will see that you [are] completely pure [DOU] [and that you are living] peacefully [with each other].

διο αγαπητοι ταυτα προσδοκωντεσ σπουδασατε ασπιλοι και αμωμητοι αυτω ευρεθηναι εν ειρηνη

15 And think about this: Our Lord [Jesus Christ is] patient [because he wants] people to be saved. Our dear (brother/fellow believer) Paul also wrote wise words to you [about these same matters], because God enabled him to understand [these] ([events/things that will happen]).

και την του κυριου ημων μακροθυμιαν σωτηριαν ηγεισθε καθωσ και ο αγαπητοσ ημων αδελφοσ παυλοσ κατα την αυτω δοθεισαν σοφιαν εγραψεν υμιν

16 In the [letters] that Paul wrote there are certain things that are difficult for people to understand. People [who are spiritually] ignorant and (unstable/do not believe firmly in Christ) interpret these things wrongly, as they also (interpret/explain the meaning of) the other parts of the Scriptures wrongly. The result is that they will destroy themselves [spiritually], and [God] will punish them.

ωσ και εν πασαισ ταισ επιστολαισ λαλων εν αυταισ περι τουτων εν οισ εστιν δυσνοητα τινα α οι αμαθεισ και αστηρικτοι στρεβλουσιν ωσ και τασ λοιπασ γραφασ προσ την ιδιαν αυτων απωλειαν

17 Therefore, dear friends, [since you already know about those who teach what is false], (guard against them/beware). Do not let those wicked people deceive you by telling you things that are wrong, with the result that you yourselves begin to doubt [what you now firmly believe].

υμεισ ουν αγαπητοι προγινωσκοντεσ φυλασσεσθε ινα μη τη των αθεσμων πλανη συναπαχθεντεσ εκπεσητε του ιδιου στηριγμου

18 [Instead, live in such a manner that you] experience more and more our Savior Jesus Christ being kind [to you], and that you get to know him [better and better]. 2 Peter 3:18b [I pray/desire that Jesus Christ] will be honored both now and forever! (aiōn g165)

αυξανετε δε εν χαριτι και γνωσει του κυριου ημων και σωτηροσ ιησου χριστου αυτω η δοξα και νυν και εισ ημεραν αιωνοσ αμην (aiōn g165)

The Great Flood