2 Peter 3
Wycliffe Bible
3 Lo! ye most dear-worthy brethren, I write to you this second epistle [Lo! I write to you, most dear, this second epistle], in which I stir your clear soul by admonishing together,
2 that ye be mindful of those words [that ye be mindful of the words], that I before-said of the holy prophets, and of the commandments of the holy apostles of the Lord and Saviour.
3 First know ye this thing, that in the last days deceivers shall come in deceit [First knowing this thing, that in the last days scorners shall come in deceit], going after their own covetings,
4 saying, Where is the promise, or the coming of him? for since the fathers died, all things last from the beginning of creature [for since fathers slept, either died, so all things last from the beginning of creature].
5 But it is hid from them willing this thing, that heavens were before, and the earth of water was standing by water, by God's word [that heavens were first, and the earth of water and by water being, or standing, together by God's word];
6 by which [things] that same world cleansed, then by water perished.
7 But the heavens that now be, and the earth, be kept by the same word, and be reserved to fire into the day of doom and perdition of wicked men. [Forsooth the heavens that now be, and the earth, by the same word put again, be kept to fire into the day of doom and perdition of unpious men.]
8 But, ye most dear, this one thing be not hid to you [be not unknown], that one day with God is as a thousand years, and a thousand years be as one day [and a thousand years as one day].
9 The Lord tarrieth not his promise, as some [men] guess, but he doeth patiently for you, and will not that any man perish [not willing any to perish], but that all turn again to penance.
10 For the day of the Lord shall come as a thief, in which heavens with great rush shall pass [in which heavens with great rush, or fierceness, shall pass], and elements shall be dissolved by heat, and the earth, and all the works that be in it, shall be burnt.
11 Therefore when all these things shall be dissolved, what manner men behooveth it you to be in holy livings and piety [in holy livings and pieties],
12 abiding and hieing into the coming of the day of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom heavens burning shall be dissolved, and elements shall fail by burning of fire[a].
13 Also we abide by his promises [Soothly we abide after his promise] new heavens and new earth, in which rightwiseness dwelleth.
14 For which thing, ye most dear, abiding these things, be ye busy to be found to him in peace unspotted and undefouled [in peace unspotted and unfouled].
15 And deem ye long abiding of our Lord Jesus Christ your health, as also our most dear brother Paul wrote to you, by wisdom given to him. [And deem ye the long abiding of our Lord your health, as and our most dear brother Paul wrote to you, after wisdom given to him.]
16 As and in all his epistles he speaketh in them of these things; in which be some hard things to understand, which unwise and unstable men deprave [As and in all epistles he speaking in them of these things; in which be some hard things in understanding, the which unwise, or untaught, and unstable men deprave], as also they do other scriptures, to their own perdition.
17 Therefore ye, brethren, before-witting keep yourselves, lest ye be deceived by error of unwise men, and fall away from your own firmness. [Therefore ye, brethren, before-witting keep yourselves, lest ye over-led, or deceived, by error of unwise men, fall away from your own firmness.]
18 But wax ye in the grace and the knowing of our Lord Jesus Christ and our Saviour; to him be glory now and into the day of everlastingness. Amen.
Footnotes
- 2 Peter 3:12 by which heavens burning shall be dissolved, and elements shall fail by burning, or heat, of fire
2 Peter 3
Lexham English Bible
The Coming Day of the Lord
3 Dear friends, this is already the second letter I am writing to you, in both of which I am attempting to stir up your sincere mind by a reminder, 2 to remember the words proclaimed beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, 3 above all knowing this, that in the last days scoffers will come with scoffing, following according to their own desires 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since[a] the fathers fell asleep, all things have continued just as they have been from the beginning of creation.” 5 For when[b] they maintain this, it escapes their notice that the heavens existed long ago and the earth held together out of water and through water by the word of God, 6 by means of which things the world that existed at that time was destroyed by[c] being inundated with water. 7 But by the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly people.
8 Now, dear friends, do not let this one thing escape your notice, that one day with the Lord is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like one day. 9 The Lord is not delaying the promise, as some consider slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he[d] does not want any to perish, but all to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will disappear with a rushing noise, and the celestial bodies will be destroyed by[e] being burned up, and the earth and the deeds done on it will be disclosed. 11 Because[f] all these things are being destroyed in this way, what sort of people must you be in holy behavior and godliness, 12 while[g] waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by[h] being burned up and the celestial bodies will melt as they[i] are consumed by heat! 13 But according to his promise, we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness resides.
Final Exhortations and Conclusion
14 Therefore, dear friends, because you[j] are waiting for these things, make every effort to be found at peace, spotless and unblemished in him. 15 And regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as also our dear brother Paul wrote to you, according to the wisdom that was given to him, 16 as he does also in all his[k][l] letters, speaking in them about these things, in which there are some things hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable distort to their own destruction, as they also do the rest of the scriptures. 17 Therefore, dear friends, because you[m] know this beforehand, guard yourselves so that you do not lose your own safe position because you[n] have been led away by the error of lawless persons. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
Footnotes
- 2 Peter 3:4 Literally “from which time”
- 2 Peter 3:5 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“maintain”) which is understood as temporal
- 2 Peter 3:6 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“being inundated”) which is understood as means
- 2 Peter 3:9 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“want”) which is understood as causal
- 2 Peter 3:10 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“being burned up”) which is understood as means
- 2 Peter 3:11 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“are being destroyed”) which is understood as causal
- 2 Peter 3:12 Here “while” is supplied as a component of the participle (“waiting for”) which is understood as temporal
- 2 Peter 3:12 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“being burned up”) which is understood as means
- 2 Peter 3:12 Here “as” is supplied as a component of the participle (“are consumed by heat”) which is understood as temporal
- 2 Peter 3:14 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“are waiting for”) which is understood as causal
- 2 Peter 3:16 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
- 2 Peter 3:16 Some manuscripts do not explicitly state “his”
- 2 Peter 3:17 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“know beforehand”) which is understood as causal
- 2 Peter 3:17 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“have been led away”) which is understood as causal
2 Peter 3
New King James Version
God’s Promise Is Not Slack(A)
3 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which (B)I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2 that you may be mindful of the words (C)which were spoken before by the holy prophets, (D)and of the commandment of [a]us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, 3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, (E)walking according to 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 (F)creation.” 5 For this they willfully forget: that (G)by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth (H)standing out of water and in the water, 6 (I)by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But (J)the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for (K)fire until the day of judgment and [b]perdition of ungodly men.
8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and (L)a thousand years as one day. 9 (M)The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but (N)is longsuffering toward [c]us, (O)not willing that any should perish but (P)that all should come to repentance.
The Day of the Lord
10 But (Q)the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which (R)the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be [d]burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be (S)in holy conduct and godliness, 12 (T)looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will (U)be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will (V)melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for (W)new heavens and a (X)new earth in which righteousness dwells.
Be Steadfast
14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent (Y)to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that (Z)the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his (AA)epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the (AB)rest of the Scriptures.
17 You therefore, beloved, (AC)since you know this beforehand, (AD)beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 (AE)but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
(AF)To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
Footnotes
- 2 Peter 3:2 NU, M the apostles of your Lord and Savior or your apostles of the Lord and Savior
- 2 Peter 3:7 destruction
- 2 Peter 3:9 NU you
- 2 Peter 3:10 NU laid bare, lit. found
2001 by Terence P. Noble
2012 by Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
