Petri Ii 3

1 hanc ecce vobis carissimi secundam scribo epistulam in quibus excito vestram in commonitione sinceram mentem

This is now my second letter to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your pure minds by putting you in remembrance.

2 ut memores sitis eorum quae praedixi verborum a sanctis prophetis et apostolorum vestrorum praeceptorum Domini et salvatoris

I want you to recollect the words that were foretold by the holy prophets, and the command of your Lord and Saviour, given you through your apostles.

3 hoc primum scientes quod venient in novissimis diebus in deceptione inlusores iuxta proprias concupiscentias ambulantes

Know this first, that mockers will come in the last days, in their mockery, men who walk the way of their own lusts

4 dicentes ubi est promissio aut adventus eius ex quo enim patres dormierunt omnia sic perseverant ab initio creaturae

and say, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the day that our fathers fell asleep everything continues as it was from the beginning of the creation."

5 latet enim eos hoc volentes quod caeli erant prius et terra de aqua et per aquam consistens Dei verbo

For they willingly ignore the fact that there were heaven, from of old, and an earth formed out of water and through water, by the word of God;

6 per quae ille tunc mundus aqua inundatus periit

and that by the same means the world which then existed was destroyed by a deluge of water.

7 caeli autem qui nunc sunt et terra eodem verbo repositi sunt igni servati in diem iudicii et perditionis impiorum hominum

But the heavens and earth that now are, by the same word of God, have been reserved for fire, and are being kept for the Day of Judgment, and for the destruction of ungodly men.

8 unum vero hoc non lateat vos carissimi quia unus dies apud Dominum sicut mille anni et mille anni sicut dies unus

Do not forget this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

9 non tardat Dominus promissi sed patienter agit propter vos nolens aliquos perire sed omnes ad paenitentiam reverti

The Lord does not loiter over his promise, as some men esteem loitering; but he is longsuffering toward you, not purposing that any should perish, but that all should pass on to repentance.

10 adveniet autem dies Domini ut fur in qua caeli magno impetu transient elementa vero calore solventur

But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief; and on that Day the heavens will vanish with a crash, the heavenly bodies will melt with fervent heat, and the earth and all its works will be burned up.

11 cum haec igitur omnia dissolvenda sint quales oportet esse vos in sanctis conversationibus et pietatibus

Now since all things are in the process of dissolution, what kind of men ought you to be, in all holy living and piety;

12 expectantes et properantes in adventum Dei diei per quam caeli ardentes solventur et elementa ignis ardore tabescent

while you look for and hasten the coming of the Day of God. At its coming the heavens, being on fire, will be dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt with fervent heat.

13 novos vero caelos et novam terram et promissa ipsius expectamus in quibus iustitia habitat

But according to his promise, we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness makes her dwelling.

14 propter quod carissimi haec expectantes satis agite inmaculati et inviolati ei inveniri in pace

And so, beloved, since you are looking for these things, continually give diligence that you may be found in peace, unspotted and blameless in his sight.

15 et Domini nostri longanimitatem salutem arbitramini sicut et carissimus frater noster Paulus secundum datam sibi sapientiam scripsit vobis

Regard our Lord’s longsuffering as salvation; even as our dear brother Paul also wrote to you, according to the wisdom given to him.

16 sicut et in omnibus epistulis loquens in eis de his in quibus sunt quaedam difficilia intellectu quae indocti et instabiles depravant sicut et ceteras scripturas ad suam ipsorum perditionem

It is the same in all his letters when he speaks of these things. There are indeed some things in his letters hard to understand, which the ignorant and the shifty wrest, as also they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.

17 vos igitur fratres praescientes custodite ne insipientium errore transducti excidatis a propria firmitate

Do you therefore, beloved, because you know these things beforehand, be on your guard lest you be led astray by the error of the wicked, and so fall from your own stedfastness.

18 crescite vero in gratia et in cognitione Domini nostri et salvatoris Iesu Christi ipsi gloria et nunc et in die aeternitatis amen (aiōn g165)

But grow continually in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and unto the Day of Eternity, Amen. (aiōn g165)

The World is Destroyed by Water