3:1 Dear friends, this is already the second letter I have written 1 you, in which 2 I am trying to stir up 3 your pure mind by way of reminder: 3:2 I want you to recall 4 both 5 the predictions 6 foretold by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles. 7 3:3 Above all, understand this: 8 In the last days blatant scoffers 9 will come, being propelled by their own evil urges 10 3:4 and saying, 11 “Where is his promised return? 12 For ever since 13 our ancestors 14 died, 15 all things have continued as they were 16 from the beginning of creation.” 3:5 For they deliberately suppress this fact, 17 that by the word of God 18 heavens existed long ago and an earth 19 was formed out of water and by means of water. 3:6 Through these things 20 the world existing at that time was destroyed when it was deluged with water. 3:7 But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, by being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. 21
3:8 Now, dear friends, do not let this one thing escape your notice, 22 that a single day is like a thousand years with the Lord and a thousand years are like a single day. 3:9 The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, 23 as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish 24 for any 25 to perish but for all to come to repentance. 26 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; when it comes, 27 the heavens will disappear 28 with a horrific noise, 29 and the celestial bodies 30 will melt away 31 in a blaze, 32 and the earth and every deed done on it 33 will be laid bare. 34 3:11 Since all these things are to melt away 35 in this manner, 36 what sort of people must we 37 be, conducting our lives in holiness and godliness, 38 3:12 while waiting for and hastening 39 the coming of the day of God? 40 Because of this day, 41 the heavens will be burned up and 42 dissolve, and the celestial bodies 43 will melt away in a blaze! 44 3:13 But, according to his promise, we are waiting for 45 new heavens and a new earth, in which 46 righteousness truly resides. 47
3:14 Therefore, dear friends, since you are waiting for 48 these things, strive to be found 49 at peace, without spot or blemish, when you come into his presence. 50 3:15 And regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, 51 just as also our dear brother Paul 52 wrote to you, 53 according to the wisdom given to him, 3:16 speaking of these things in all his letters. 54 Some things in these letters 55 are hard to understand, things 56 the ignorant and unstable twist 57 to their own destruction, as they also do to the rest of the scriptures. 58 3:17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, 59 be on your guard that you do not get led astray by the error of these unprincipled men 60 and fall from your firm grasp on the truth. 61 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge 62 of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the honor both now and on 63 that eternal day. 64