Chapter 3
1 This is already, beloved, the second epistle I am
writing to you in which I am rousing your sincere comprehension by a reminder
2 to remind you of the declarations which have been
declared before by the holy prophets, and of the precept of your apostles of the Lord and
Saviour,
3 knowing this first, that in the last days scoffers will
be coming with scoffing, going according to their own desires
4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His presence?
For since the fathers were put to repose, all is continuing thus from the beginning of
creation."
5 For they want to be oblivious of this, that there were
heavens of old, and an earth cohering out of water and through water, by the word of God;
6 through which the then world, being deluged by water,
perished.
7 Yet the heavens now, and the earth, by the same word,
are stored with fire, being kept for the day of the judging and destruction of irreverent
men.
8 Now of this one thing you are not to be oblivious,
beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years and a thousand years as one
day.
9 The Lord is not tardy as to the promise, as some are
deeming tardiness, but is patient because of you, not intending any to perish, but all to
make room for repentance.
10 Now the day of the Lord will be arriving as a thief,
in which the heavens shall be passing by with a booming noise, yet the elements shall be
dissolved by combustion, and the earth and the works in it shall be found.
11 At these all, then, dissolving, to what manner of men
must you belong in holy behavior and devoutness,
12 hoping for and hurrying the presence of God's day,
because of which the heavens, being on fire, will be dissolved, and the elements decompose
by combustion!
13 Yet we, according to His promises, are hoping for new
heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness is dwelling.
14 Wherefore, beloved, hoping for these things, endeavor
to be found by Him in peace, unspotted and flawless.
15 And be deeming the patience of our Lord salvation,
according as our beloved brother Paul also writes to you, according to the wisdom given to
him,
16 as also in all the epistles, speaking in them
concerning these things, in which are some things hard to apprehend, which the unlearned
and unstable are twisting, as the rest of the scriptures also, to their own destruction.
17 You, then, beloved, knowing this before, be on your
guard lest, being led away with the deception of the dissolute, you should be falling from
your own steadfastness.
18 Yet be growing in grace and in the knowledge of our
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory now, as well as for the day of the eon.
Amen! |