2 Peter 3
1 Beloved, this is now the second letter that I have written to you; and in both of them they are reminders to stir up your sincere mind,
Beloved, this is now my second letter to you. Both of them are reminders to stir you to wholesome thinking
2 so that you will recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command of our Lord and Savior given through your apostles.
by recalling what was foretold by the holy prophets and commanded by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.
3 Know this first, that mockers will come in the last days. They will mock and proceed according to their own desires.
Most importantly, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his return? From when our fathers fell asleep, all things have stayed the same, since the beginning of creation.”
“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.”
5 They willfully forget that the heavens and the earth came to exist out of water and through water, long ago, by God's command,
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,
6 and that through these things, the world of that time was destroyed, being flooded with water.
through which the world of that time perished in the flood.
7 But now the heavens and the earth are reserved for fire by that same command. They are reserved for the day of judgment and the destruction of the ungodly people.
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.
8 It should not escape your notice, beloved, that one day with the Lord is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day.
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.
9 The Lord does not move slowly concerning his promises, as some consider slowness to be. Instead, he is patient toward you. He does not desire for any of you to perish, but for everyone to make room for repentance.
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.
10 However, the day of the Lord will come as a thief: The heavens will pass away with a loud noise. The elements will be burned with fire, and the earth and the deeds in it will be revealed.
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.
11 Since all these things will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people should you be? You should live holy and godly lives.
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
12 You should expect and hasten the coming of the day of God. On that day, the heavens will be destroyed by fire, and the elements will be melted in great heat.
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.
13 But according to his promise, we are waiting for the new heavens and the new earth, where righteousness will dwell.
But in keeping with God’s promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
14 Therefore, beloved, since you expect these things, do your best to be found spotless and blameless before him, in peace.
Therefore, beloved, as you anticipate these things, make every effort to be found at peace—spotless and blameless in His sight.
15 Also, consider the patience of our Lord to be salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul wrote to you, according to the wisdom that was given to him.
Consider also that our Lord’s patience brings salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom God gave him.
16 Paul speaks of these things in all his letters, in which there are things that are difficult to understand. Ignorant and unstable men distort these things, as they also do the other scriptures, to their own destruction.
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.
17 Therefore, beloved, since you know about these things beforehand, guard yourselves so that you are not led astray by the deceit of lawless people and you lose your own faithfulness.
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.
The World is Destroyed by Water
