Petri Ii 3
1 Hanc ecce vobis, charissimi, secundam scribo epistolam, in quibus vestram excito in commonitione sinceram mentem:
Beloved, this is now my second letter to you. Both of them are reminders to stir you to wholesome thinking
2 ut memores sitis eorum, quae praedixi verborum a sanctis Prophetis, et Apostolorum vestrorum, praeceptorum Domini et Salvatoris.
by recalling what was foretold by the holy prophets and commanded by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.
3 hoc primum scientes, quod venient in novissimis diebus in deceptione illusores, iuxta proprias concupiscentias ambulantes,
Most importantly, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
4 dicentes: Ubi est promissio, aut adventus eius? ex quo enim patres dormierunt, omnia sic perseverant ab initio creaturae.
“Where is the promise of His coming?” they will ask. “Ever since our fathers fell asleep, everything continues as it has from the beginning of creation.”
5 Latet enim eos hoc volentes, quod caeli erant prius, et terra, de aqua, et per aquam consistens Dei verbo:
But they deliberately overlook the fact that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water,
6 per quae, ille tunc mundus aqua inundatus periit.
through which the world of that time perished in the flood.
7 Caeli autem, qui nunc sunt, et terra eodem verbo repositi sunt, igni reservati in diem iudicii, et perditionis impiorum hominum.
And by that same word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
8 Unum vero hoc non lateat vos, charissimi, quia unus dies apud Dominum sicut mille anni, et mille anni sicut dies unus.
Beloved, do not let this one thing escape your notice: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.
9 Non tardat Dominus promissionem suam, sicut quidam existimant: sed patienter agit propter vos, nolens aliquos perire, sed omnes ad poenitentiam reverti.
The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.
10 Adveniet autem dies Domini ut fur: in quo caeli magno impetu transient, elementa vero calore solventur, terra autem et quae in ipsa sunt opera, exurentur.
But 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 its works will be laid bare.
11 Cum igitur haec omnia dissolvenda sunt, quales oportet vos esse in sanctis conversationibus, et pietatibus,
Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness
12 expectantes, et properantes in adventum diei Domini, per quem caeli ardentes solventur, et elementa ignis ardore tabescent?
as you anticipate and hasten the coming of the day of God, when the heavens will be destroyed by fire and the elements will melt in the heat.
13 Novos vero caelos, et novam terram, et promissa ipsius expectamus, in quibus iustitia habitat.
But in keeping with God’s promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
14 Propter quod charissimi haec expectantes, satagite immaculati, et inviolati ei inveniri in pace.
Therefore, beloved, as you anticipate these things, make every effort to be found at peace—spotless and blameless in His sight.
15 et Domini nostri longanimitatem, salutem arbitremini: sicut et charissimus frater noster Paulus secundum datam sibi sapientiam scripsit vobis,
Consider also that our Lord’s patience brings salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom God gave him.
16 sicut et omnibus epistolis, loquens in eis de his, in quibus sunt quaedam difficilia intellectu, quae indocti, et instabiles depravant, sicut et ceteras Scripturas, ad suam ipsorum perditionem.
He writes this way in all his letters, speaking in them about such matters. Some parts of his letters are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.
17 Vos igitur fratres praescientes custodite, ne insipientium errore traducti excidatis a propria firmitate.
Therefore, beloved, since you already know these things, be on your guard so that you will not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure standing.
The World is Destroyed by Water
