The Second Epistle General of Peter

⭑ Literal Standard Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

⮜ Back | Contents | Next ⮞

- Chapter 3 -

(Genesis 7:1–24; Jude 1:17–23)

This [is] now, beloved, a second letter I write to you, in both which I stir up your pure mind in reminding [you]

to be mindful of the sayings said before by the holy prophets, and of the command of us the apostles of the LORD and Savior,

knowing this first, that there will come scoffers in the last days, going on according to their own desires,

and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things so remain from the beginning of the creation”;

for this they willingly conceal, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth having been established by the word of God out of water and through water,

through which the world then, having been flooded by water, was destroyed;

and by the same word, the present heavens and earth, having been stored up for fire, are being preserved until [the] day of judgment and destruction of impious men.

The Day of the Lord

(Zephaniah 1:7–18; Malachi 4:1–6; 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11)

And do not let this one thing be concealed from you, beloved, that one day with the LORD [is] as one thousand years and one thousand years as one day;

the LORD is not slow in regard to the promise, as some count slowness, but is long-suffering to us, not intending any to be lost, but all to come to conversion,

and it will come—the Day of the LORD—as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a rushing noise, and the elements will be dissolved with burning heat, and [the] earth and the works in it will not be found.

All these, then, being dissolved, what kind of persons ought you to be in holy behaviors and pious acts,

waiting for and hurrying the coming of the Day of God, by which the heavens, being on fire, will be dissolved, and the elements will melt with burning heat?

And we wait for new heavens and a new earth according to His promise, in which righteousness dwells;

Final Exhortations

for this reason, beloved, waiting for these things, be diligent, spotless and unblameable, to be found by Him in peace,

and count the long-suffering of our Lord [as] salvation, according as also our beloved brother Paul—according to the wisdom given to him—wrote to you,

as also in all the letters, speaking in them concerning these things, among which are some things [that are] hard to be understood, which the untaught and unstable twist, as also the other Writings, to their own destruction.

You, then, beloved, knowing before, take heed, lest, together with the error of the impious being led away, you may fall from your own steadfastness,

and increase in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; to Him [is] the glory both now, and to the day of the age! Amen.

(Genesis 7:1–24; Jude 1:17–23)

This is now, beloved, the second letter that I have written to you; and in both of them I stir up your sincere mind by reminding you

that you should remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets and the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior,

knowing this first, that in the last days mockers will come, walking after their own lusts

and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? For, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”

For they willfully forget that there were heavens from of old, and an earth formed out of water and amid water by the word of God,

by which means the world that existed then, being overflowed with water, perished.

But the heavens that exist now and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

The Day of the Lord

(Zephaniah 1:7–18; Malachi 4:1–6; 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11)

But don’t forget this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but he is patient with us, not wishing that anyone should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fervent heat; and the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.

Therefore, since all these things will be destroyed like this, what kind of people ought you to be in holy living and godliness,

looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, which will cause the burning heavens to be dissolved, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?

But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

Final Exhortations

Therefore, beloved, seeing that you look for these things, be diligent to be found in peace, without defect and blameless in his sight.

Regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you,

as also in all of his letters, speaking in them of these things. In those, there are some things that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unsettled twist, as they also do to the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.

You therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, beware, lest being carried away with the error of the wicked, you fall from your own steadfastness.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.