Πετρου Β΄ 3
1 ταυτην ηδη αγαπητοι δευτεραν υμιν γραφω επιστολην εν αις διεγειρω υμων εν υπομνησει την ειλικρινη διανοιαν
My friends, this is my second letter to you. In both of them I've tried to stir you up and remind you to think clearly with pure minds.
2 μνησθηναι των προειρημενων ρηματων υπο των αγιων προφητων και της των αποστολων ημων εντολης του κυριου και σωτηρος
Remember the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets, and what the Lord and Savior commanded through your apostles.
3 τουτο πρωτον γινωσκοντες οτι ελευσονται επ εσχατου των ημερων εμπαικται κατα τας ιδιας αυτων επιθυμιας πορευομενοι
Above all you should know that derisive people will come in the last days, full of mockery and following their own evil desires.
4 και λεγοντες που εστιν η επαγγελια της παρουσιας αυτου αφ ης γαρ οι πατερες εκοιμηθησαν παντα ουτως διαμενει απ αρχης κτισεως
“So what happened to this coming he promised?” they ask. “Right from the time our ancestors died, everything's continued as it always has, ever since creation began.”
5 λανθανει γαρ αυτους τουτο θελοντας οτι ουρανοι ησαν εκπαλαι και γη εξ υδατος και δι υδατος συνεστωσα τω του θεου λογω
But they deliberately ignore the fact that by God's command the heavens were created long ago. The earth came into existence from the water, and was surrounded by water.
6 δι ων ο τοτε κοσμος υδατι κατακλυσθεις απωλετο
It was through water that the world that then existed was destroyed—through being flooded by water.
7 οι δε νυν ουρανοι και η γη αυτου λογω τεθησαυρισμενοι εισιν πυρι τηρουμενοι εις ημεραν κρισεως και απωλειας των ασεβων ανθρωπων
But by means of that same divine command the heavens and the earth that now exist are reserved for destruction by fire at the day of judgment when the wicked will be destroyed.
8 εν δε τουτο μη λανθανετω υμας αγαπητοι οτι μια ημερα παρα κυριω ως χιλια ετη και χιλια ετη ως ημερα μια
However, my friends, don't forget this one thing: that for the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a day.
9 ου βραδυνει ο κυριος της επαγγελιας ως τινες βραδυτητα ηγουνται αλλα μακροθυμει εις ημας μη βουλομενος τινας απολεσθαι αλλα παντας εις μετανοιαν χωρησαι
The Lord is not delaying the fulfillment of his promise, as some define delay, but he is being very patient with you. He doesn't want anyone to be lost, but everyone to come and repent.
10 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
However, the day of the Lord will come, unexpectedly like a thief. The heavens will explode with a thunderous roar, and the elements will be destroyed as they are burned up. The earth and everything in it will vanish.
11 τουτων ουν παντων λυομενων ποταπους δει υπαρχειν υμας εν αγιαις αναστροφαις και ευσεβειαις
Since everything is going to be destroyed in this way, what kind of people should you be? You should be living lives that are pure, dedicated to God,
12 προσδοκωντας και σπευδοντας την παρουσιαν της του θεου ημερας δι ην ουρανοι πυρουμενοι λυθησονται και στοιχεια καυσουμενα τηκεται
waiting expectantly and being eager for the coming of the day of God. That day the heavens will catch fire and be destroyed, and the elements will melt in the heat.
13 καινους δε ουρανους και γην καινην κατα το επαγγελμα αυτου προσδοκωμεν εν οις δικαιοσυνη κατοικει
But as for us, we are looking for new heavens and a new earth that God has promised where everything is good and right.
14 διο αγαπητοι ταυτα προσδοκωντες σπουδασατε ασπιλοι και αμωμητοι αυτω ευρεθηναι εν ειρηνη
So, my friends, since you're anticipating these things, make sure you'll be found pure and blameless, and at peace with God.
15 και την του κυριου ημων μακροθυμιαν σωτηριαν ηγεισθε καθως και ο αγαπητος ημων αδελφος παυλος κατα την αυτω δοθεισαν σοφιαν εγραψεν υμιν
Remember that it is our Lord's patience that gives the opportunity for salvation. That's what our dear brother Paul was explaining to you in all his letters with the wisdom given to him by God.
16 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
He spoke about these things, though some of what he wrote is certainly hard to understand. Some ignorant and unbalanced people have twisted what he wrote to their own loss—just as they do other scriptures.
17 υμεις ουν αγαπητοι προγινωσκοντες φυλασσεσθε ινα μη τη των αθεσμων πλανη συναπαχθεντες εκπεσητε του ιδιου στηριγμου
My friends, since you already know this, make sure that these errors of the wicked don't lead you astray, and you don't fall from your firm position.
The World is Destroyed by Water
