2 Peter 3
1 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
My friends, this is my second letter to you. In both of them I've tried to stir you up and remind you to think clearly with pure minds.
2 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,
Remember the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets, and what the Lord and Savior commanded through your apostles.
3 knowing this first, that in the last days mockers will come, walking after their own lusts
Above all you should know that derisive people will come in the last days, full of mockery and following their own evil desires.
4 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.”
“So what happened to this coming he promised?” they ask. “Right from the time our ancestors died, everything's continued as it always has, ever since creation began.”
5 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,
But they deliberately ignore the fact that by God's command the heavens were created long ago. The earth came into existence from the water, and was surrounded by water.
6 by which means the world that existed then, being overflowed with water, perished.
It was through water that the world that then existed was destroyed—through being flooded by water.
7 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.
But by means of that same divine command the heavens and the earth that now exist are reserved for destruction by fire at the day of judgment when the wicked will be destroyed.
8 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.
However, my friends, don't forget this one thing: that for the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a day.
9 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.
The Lord is not delaying the fulfillment of his promise, as some define delay, but he is being very patient with you. He doesn't want anyone to be lost, but everyone to come and repent.
10 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.
However, the day of the Lord will come, unexpectedly like a thief. The heavens will explode with a thunderous roar, and the elements will be destroyed as they are burned up. The earth and everything in it will vanish.
11 Therefore, since all these things will be destroyed like this, what kind of people ought you to be in holy living and godliness,
Since everything is going to be destroyed in this way, what kind of people should you be? You should be living lives that are pure, dedicated to God,
12 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?
waiting expectantly and being eager for the coming of the day of God. That day the heavens will catch fire and be destroyed, and the elements will melt in the heat.
13 But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
But as for us, we are looking for new heavens and a new earth that God has promised where everything is good and right.
14 Therefore, beloved, seeing that you look for these things, be diligent to be found in peace, without defect and blameless in his sight.
So, my friends, since you're anticipating these things, make sure you'll be found pure and blameless, and at peace with God.
15 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,
Remember that it is our Lord's patience that gives the opportunity for salvation. That's what our dear brother Paul was explaining to you in all his letters with the wisdom given to him by God.
16 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.
He spoke about these things, though some of what he wrote is certainly hard to understand. Some ignorant and unbalanced people have twisted what he wrote to their own loss—just as they do other scriptures.
17 You therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, beware, lest being carried away with the error of the wicked, you fall from your own steadfastness.
My friends, since you already know this, make sure that these errors of the wicked don't lead you astray, and you don't fall from your firm position.
The World is Destroyed by Water
