2 Peter 3
Remember Your Testimony (3:1–2)
1 This now, beloved ones, is the second letter I write to you. In these letters, I awaken pure thinking in you by way of remembrance, 2 that you may remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets and remember the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your Apostles.
God Willingly Delays His Second Coming (3:3–9)
3 Knowing this first, that in the last days there shall come mocking “deluders” [Isa. 3:4 LXX], walking after their own desires 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of Christ’s coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things still continue since the beginning of the creation.” 5 But of this they are willfully unaware, that a long time ago the heavens were organized, and the earth was organized from and through the water by God’s command, 6 and then the world was destroyed, flooded by water. 7 By the same command, the heavens and the earth are still being preserved by the same command of God and are held in store for fire on the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly people. 8 So beloved ones, do not forget this one thing, that for the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years is as one day. 9 The Lord does not delay his promise as some people consider delay; but he is simply patient toward us, not wanting that some perish, but that all progress to repentance.
Prepare for the Coming Day of the Lord (3:10–13)
10 But “the day of the Lord will come as a thief” [1 Thes. 5:2], and on that day, the heavens will disappear with a great sound, and the elements will melt down in flames, and the earth also, and the deeds done on earth shall be made manifest.
11 As all worldly things will be destroyed in this way, what sort of people must you be to act in holy conduct and in all godliness, 12 expecting and hastening the arrival of the day of our God, on which day the heavens afire will be destroyed and the elements will melt down in flames. 13 Nevertheless, according to his promise, let us expect a “new heaven and an earth new” [Isa. 65:17; 66:22], in which righteousness dwells.
Be Patient and Understanding (3:14–16)
14 Wherefore, beloved ones, as you are expecting such things, make haste to be found by him to be at peace, without spot, and blameless. 15 Regard the patient magnanimity of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given to him. 16 He also speaks of these things in all his epistles, in which there are some things that are counterintuitive, which the untaught and those who are not well-grounded pervert, as they do also the rest of the scriptures, to their own destruction.
Be On Guard and Increase in Spirituality (3:17–18)
17 Therefore, beloved ones, since you know these things in advance, beware that you do not fall from your own firm foundation, being led away by the deceit of these lawless people. 18 Instead, increase in favor, and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to whom is glory and honor both now and unto the eternal day.
