| 1 | Beloved, I am now writing you this second letter. In [both of] them I have stirred up your unsullied (sincere) mind by way of remembrance, |
| 2 | That you should recall the predictions of the holy (consecrated, dedicated) prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior [given] through your apostles (His special messengers). |
| 3 | To begin with, you must know
and
understand this, that scoffers (mockers) will come in the last days with scoffing, [people who] walk after their own fleshly desires |
| 4 | And say, Where is the promise of His coming? For since the forefathers fell asleep, all things have continued exactly as they did from the beginning of creation. |
| 5 | For they willfully overlook
and
forget this [fact], that the heavens [came into] existence long ago by the word of God, and the earth also which was formed out of water and by means of water, |
| 6 | Through which the world that then [existed] was deluged with water and perished. |
| 7 | But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been stored up (reserved) for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly people. |
| 8 | Nevertheless, do not let this one fact escape you, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. |
| 9 | The Lord does not delay
and
is not tardy
or
slow about what He promises, according to some people’s conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance. |
| 10 | But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will vanish (pass away) with a thunderous crash, and the [
[a]material] elements [of the universe] will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up. |
| 11 | Since all these things are thus
[b]in the process of being dissolved, what kind of person ought [each of] you to be [in the meanwhile] in consecrated
and
holy behavior and devout
and
godly qualities, |
| 12 | While you wait and earnestly long for (expect and hasten) the coming of the day of God by reason of which the flaming heavens will be dissolved, and the [
[c]material] elements [of the universe] will flare
and
melt with fire? |
| 13 | But we look for new heavens and a new earth according to His promise, in which righteousness (uprightness, freedom from sin, and right standing with God) is to abide. |
| 14 | So, beloved, since you are expecting these things, be eager to be found by Him [at His coming] without spot or blemish and at peace [in serene confidence,
[d]free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts]. |
| 15 | And consider that the long-suffering of our Lord [
[e]His slowness in avenging wrongs and judging the world] is salvation (
[f]that which is conducive to the soul’s safety), even as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the spiritual insight given him, |
| 16 | Speaking of this as he does in all of his letters. There are some things in those [epistles of Paul] that are difficult to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist
and
misconstrue to their own
[g]utter destruction, just as [they distort and misinterpret] the rest of the Scriptures. |
| 17 | Let me warn you therefore, beloved, that knowing these things beforehand, you should be on your guard, lest you be carried away by the error of lawless
and
wicked [persons and] fall from your own [present] firm condition [your own steadfastness of mind]. |
| 18 | But grow in grace (undeserved favor, spiritual strength) and
[h]recognition
and
knowledge
and
understanding of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (the Messiah). To Him [be] glory (honor, majesty, and splendor) both now and to the day of eternity. Amen (so be it)! |
Cross references:
-
2 Peter 3:6 : Gen. 1:6-8; 7:11.
-
2 Peter 3:8 : Ps. 90:4.
-
2 Peter 3:12 : Isa. 34:4.
-
2 Peter 3:13 : Isa. 65:17; 66:22.
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