2Pet 3
1
This is now, beloved, the second epistle that I write to you; and in both of them
I stir up your sincere mind by putting you in remembrance;
2
that you should remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets,
and the commandments of the Lord and Saviour through your apostles:
3
knowing this first, that in the last days mockers shall come with mockery, walking
after their own lusts,
4
and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for, from the day that the fathers
fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
5
For this they willfully forget, that there were heavens from of old, and an earth
compacted out of water and among water, by the word of God;
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by which means the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7
but the heavens that now are, and the earth, by the same word have been stored up
for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
8
But forget not this one thing, beloved, 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 count slackness; but is patient
to you-ward, not wishing 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 which the heavens shall pass
away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat, and
the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11
Seeing that these things are thus all to be dissolved, what manner of persons ought
you to be in [all] holy living and godliness,
12
looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, by reason of which
the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent
heat?
13
But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells
righteousness.
14
Wherefore, beloved, seeing that you look for these things, give diligence that you
may be found in peace, without spot and blameless in his sight.
15
And account that the patient of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother
Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you;
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as also in all [his] epistles, speaking in them of these things; wherein are some
things hard to be understood, which the ignorant and unsteadfast wrest, as [they do]
also the other scriptures, to their own destruction.
17
You therefore, beloved, knowing [these things] beforehand, beware lest, being carried
away with the error of the wicked, you fall from your own steadfastness.
18
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him [be]
the glory both now and for ever. Amen.