2 Peter 3

The Day of the Lord

¹Dear friends, this is now the second letter ^a I have written to you; in both letters, I want to stir up your sincere ^b understanding by way of reminder, ²so that you recall the words previously spoken by the holy prophets and the command of our Lord and Savior given through your apostles. ³Above all, be aware of this: Scoffers will come in the last days ^c scoffing and following their own evil desires, ⁴saying, “Where is his ‘coming’ that he promised? ^d Ever since our ancestors fell asleep, ^e all things continue as they have been since the beginning of creation.” ⁵They deliberately overlook this: By the word of God ^f the heavens came into being long ago and the earth was brought about from water and through water. ^{g 6}Through these the world of that time perished when it was flooded. ^{h 7}By the same word, ⁱ the present heavens and earth are stored up for fire, being kept for the day of judgment ^j and destruction of the ungodly.

⁸Dear friends, don’t overlook this one fact: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. ^{k 9}The Lord does not delay his promise, ^l as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any ^m to perish ⁿ but all to come to repentance. ^o

¹⁰But the day of the Lord ^p will come like a thief; ^q,^r on that day the heavens will pass away ^s with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, ^t and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed. ^u,^{v 11}Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness ¹²as you wait for the day of God and hasten its coming. ^w,^x Because of that day, the heavens will be dissolved with fire and the elements will melt with heat. ¹³But based on his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, ^y where righteousness dwells. ^z

Conclusion

¹⁴Therefore, dear friends, while you wait for these things, make every effort to be found without spot or blemish in his sight, at peace. ^{aa 15}Also, regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our dear brother Paul has written to you according to the wisdom given to him. ^{ab 16}He speaks about these things in all his letters. There are some things hard to understand in them. The untaught and unstable will twist them to their own destruction, ^ac as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures.

¹⁷Therefore, dear friends, since you know this in advance, be on your guard, ^ad so that you are not led away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own stable position. ¹⁸But grow in the grace and knowledge ^ae of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. ^af,^ag