1Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.2I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Saviour through your apostles.3Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.4They will say, ‘Where is this “coming” he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.’5But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water.6By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed.7By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.8But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.10But 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 everything done in it will be laid bare.[1]11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives12as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.[2] That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.13But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.14So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.15Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom that God gave him.16He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.17Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position.18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever! Amen.
2 Peter 3
English Standard Version
The Day of the Lord Will Come
1This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, (2Pe 1:13)2that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, (Lu 1:70; Ac 3:21; Jud 1:17)3knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. (2Pe 2:10; Jud 1:18)4They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” (Isa 5:19; Jer 17:15; Eze 11:3; Eze 12:22; Eze 12:27; Mal 2:17; 1Th 2:19)5For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, (Ge 1:6; Ge 1:9; Ps 24:2; Ps 33:6; Ps 136:6; Heb 11:3)6and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. (Ge 7:11; Ge 7:21; 2Pe 2:5)7But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. (2Th 1:9; 2Pe 3:10; 2Pe 3:12)8But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (Ps 90:4)9The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,[1] not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (Ec 8:11; Isa 30:18; Eze 18:23; Eze 18:32; Eze 33:11; Hab 2:3; Lu 18:7; 1Ti 2:4; Heb 10:37; Re 2:21)10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies[2] will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.[3] (Isa 24:19; Isa 34:4; Mic 1:4; Na 1:5; Mt 24:35; Mt 24:43; Re 6:14; Re 20:11; Re 21:1)11Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, (1Pe 1:15)12waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! (Lu 12:36; 1Co 1:7; 1Th 1:10; Tit 2:13; 2Pe 3:10; Jud 1:21)13But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. (Isa 60:21; Isa 65:17; Isa 66:22; Re 21:1; Re 21:27)
Final Words
14Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. (1Co 15:58; Php 1:10; Php 2:15; 1Th 3:13; 1Th 5:23; Jas 1:27)15And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, (Ac 15:25; 1Co 3:10; 2Pe 3:9)16as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. (Isa 28:13; Heb 5:11)17You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. (Mr 13:23; 1Co 10:12; 2Pe 1:10; 2Pe 1:12)18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (Ro 11:36; Eph 4:15; Col 1:10; Col 2:19; 1Pe 2:2; 2Pe 1:5; 2Pe 3:8)