3 My friends, this is the second letter that I have written to you. I have written both these letters to help you to understand some things. You already know these things. I want you to think about them in a good way. 2 I want you to remember the messages from God that his own prophets spoke a long time ago. Also, I want you to remember what our Lord Jesus told you to do. He is the one who saves us. He sent us, his apostles, to teach you his message.
3 The first thing that you should understand is this. In the last days of this world, some people will laugh at you because you believe in God. [ a ] These people will do whatever bad things they want to do. 4 They will say: ‘Christ promised that he would return to this world. But he has not returned! Our ancestors have already died, but since God made the world in the beginning, nothing has changed.’
5 These people choose to forget things that they really know. A long time ago, God spoke his word and he made the sky and the earth. He caused land to come up through water. He made the land to be separate from the water. [ b ] 6 Also, God used water to destroy that same world long ago. He spoke his word and he covered the land with water. [ c ] 7 But God has also spoken his word to say what will happen to the world in a future time. The sky and the earth that we see now will continue for a time. But God is keeping them until the day when he will destroy them with fire. On that day he will judge all people. He will destroy the people who have turned away from him.
8 My friends, here is one thing that you must remember. In the Lord God's mind, one day and 1,000 years are the same. For him, 1,000 years is like a single day. 9 The Lord is not being slow to do what he has promised to do. Some people may think that he is being slow to do it. But he is being patient with you. He does not want to destroy anyone. He wants all people to turn away from the wrong things that they do.
10 The great day of the Lord will suddenly happen. That will surprise people, like when someone comes to rob them. There will be a very loud noise in the sky. The whole sky will go away. Fire will burn the whole universe and it will destroy everything. The earth and everything that people have made will then become clear. [ d ]
11 Certainly, God will destroy everything in this way one day. So think about how you should live now. You should be the kind of people that God is happy about. You should show that you belong to God. 12 Yes, you should continue to obey God while you are waiting for Christ to return. God has chosen that day. Try to live in a way that will make that day come soon. On that day, fire will burn the whole sky. The sky will no longer be there. Heat will destroy the universe. 13 But God has promised to make a new sky and a new earth. That is what we are waiting for. That will be a home for everything that is good and right. [ e ]
14 So, my friends, live in a good way, because you are waiting for these things to happen. Try very much to do what makes God happy. Then, when you meet God, he will see that you are clean. He will see that there is no trouble in your minds. 15 Remember that our Lord wants to save people from their sins. That is why he is now waiting patiently for people to turn to him before he will return. Paul has also written to you about these things. He is our friend that we love like a brother. God helped him to understand these things. 16 He wrote about them in all his letters. Some things that he has written are difficult for people to understand. Some people have weak minds and they are not sure about what they believe. They explain Paul's teaching in a way that deceives people. They also explain other things in the Bible wrongly. As a result, those people will destroy themselves and God will punish them.
17 My friends, you already know about these false teachers. So be very careful that you do not believe those bad people. Do not let them lead you away from God. You know what is true, so do not leave that safe place. 18 Instead, you must grow as believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, who saves us. Continue to know him better and better. He will be kind to you and he will help you more and more. We praise him as he deserves! He is great now and he will be great for ever!
3 My friends, this is the second letter I have written to you. I wrote both letters to you to help your honest minds remember something. 2 I want you to remember the words that the holy prophets spoke in the past. And remember the command that our Lord and Savior gave us. He gave us that command through your apostles.
3 It is important for you to understand what will happen in the last days. People will laugh at you. They will live following the evil they want to do. 4 They will say, “Jesus promised to come again. Where is he? Our fathers have died, but the world continues the way it has been since it was made.”
5 But these people don’t want to remember what happened long ago. The skies were there, and God made the earth from water and with water. All this happened by God’s word. 6 Then the world was flooded and destroyed with water. 7 And that same word of God is keeping the skies and the earth that we have now. They are being kept to be destroyed by fire. They are kept for the day of judgment and the destruction of all people who are against God.
8 But don’t forget this one thing, dear friends: To the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a day. 9 The Lord is not being slow in doing what he promised—the way some people understand slowness. But God is being patient with you. He doesn’t want anyone to be lost. He wants everyone to change their ways and stop sinning.
10 But the day when the Lord comes again will surprise everyone like the coming of a thief. The sky will disappear with a loud noise. Everything in the sky will be destroyed with fire. And the earth and everything in it will be burned up. [ a ] 11 Everything will be destroyed in this way. So what kind of people should you be? Your lives should be holy and devoted to God. 12 You should be looking forward to the day of God, wanting more than anything else for it to come soon. When it comes, the sky will be destroyed with fire, and everything in the sky will melt with heat. 13 But God made a promise to us. And we are waiting for what he promised—a new sky and a new earth. That will be the place where goodness lives.
14 Dear friends, we are waiting for this to happen. So try as hard as you can to be without sin and without fault. Try to be at peace with God. 15 Remember that we are saved because our Lord is patient. Our dear brother Paul told you that same thing when he wrote to you with the wisdom that God gave him. 16 That’s what he says in all his letters when he writes about these things. There are parts of his letters that are hard to understand, and some people give a wrong meaning to them. These people are ignorant and weak in faith. They also give wrong meanings to the other Scriptures. But they are destroying themselves by doing that.
17 Dear friends, you already know about this. So be careful. Don’t let these evil people lead you away by the wrong they do. Be careful that you do not fall from your strong faith. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Glory be to him, now and forever! Amen.
3 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
3 ( A ) Beloved, this is now the second letter I am writing to you in which I am ( B ) stirring up your sincere mind by way of a reminder, 2 to ( C ) remember the words spoken beforehand by ( D ) the holy prophets and ( E ) the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles.
3 ( F ) Know this first of all , that ( G ) in the last days ( H ) mockers will come with their mocking, ( I ) following after their own lusts, 4 and saying, “ ( J ) Where is the promise of His ( K ) coming? For ever since the fathers [ a ] ( L ) fell asleep, all things continue just as they were ( M ) from the beginning of creation.” 5 For [ b ] when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that ( N ) by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was ( O ) formed out of water and by water, 6 through which ( P ) the world at that time was ( Q ) destroyed by being flooded with water. 7 But by His word ( R ) the present heavens and earth are being reserved for ( S ) fire, kept for ( T ) the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly people.
8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, ( U ) beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and ( V ) a thousand years like one day. 9 ( W ) The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but ( X ) is patient toward you, ( Y ) not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.
10 But ( Z ) the day of the Lord ( AA ) will come like a thief, in which ( AB ) the heavens ( AC ) will pass away with a roar and the ( AD ) elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and ( AE ) the earth and [ c ] its works will be [ d ] discovered.
11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 ( AF ) looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which ( AG ) the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the ( AH ) elements will melt with intense heat! 13 But according to His ( AI ) promise we are looking for ( AJ ) new heavens and a new earth, ( AK ) in which righteousness dwells.
14 ( AL ) Therefore, ( AM ) beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be ( AN ) found ( AO ) spotless and blameless by Him, at peace, 15 and regard the ( AP ) patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also ( AQ ) our beloved brother Paul, ( AR ) according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, 16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of ( AS ) these things, ( AT ) in which there are some things that are hard to understand, which the untaught and ( AU ) unstable distort, as they do also ( AV ) the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17 You therefore, ( AW ) beloved, knowing this beforehand, ( AX ) be on your guard so that you are not carried away by ( AY ) the error of [ e ] ( AZ ) unscrupulous people and ( BA ) lose your own [ f ] firm commitment, 18 but grow in the grace and ( BB ) knowledge of our ( BC ) Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. ( BD ) To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
3 Dear friends, ( A ) this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders ( B ) to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. 2 I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets ( C ) and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles. ( D )
3 Above all, you must understand that in the last days ( E ) scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. ( F ) 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? ( G ) Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” ( H ) 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word ( I ) the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. ( J ) 6 By these waters also the world of that time ( K ) was deluged and destroyed. ( L ) 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, ( M ) being kept for the day of judgment ( N ) and destruction of the ungodly.
8 But 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. ( O ) 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, ( P ) as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient ( Q ) with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. ( R )
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. ( S ) The heavens will disappear with a roar; ( T ) the elements will be destroyed by fire, ( U ) and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. [ a ] ( V )
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward ( W ) to the day of God and speed its coming. [ b ] ( X ) That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. ( Y ) 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, ( Z ) where righteousness dwells.
14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless ( AA ) and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience ( AB ) means salvation, ( AC ) just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. ( AD ) 16 He 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 ( AE ) people distort, ( AF ) as they do the other Scriptures, ( AG ) to their own destruction.
17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard ( AH ) so that you may not be carried away by the error ( AI ) of the lawless ( AJ ) and fall from your secure position. ( AK ) 18 But grow in the grace ( AL ) and knowledge ( AM ) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. ( AN ) To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. ( AO )
