1Dear friends, this is now the second letter I have written to you. In both letters I have tried to stimulate you to develop a genuine understanding by reminding you 2 that you should remember the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Saviour through your apostles.
friends, this is now the second letter I have written to you. In both letters I have tried to stimulate you to develop a genuine understanding by reminding you 2 that you should remember the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Saviour through your apostles.
3 First of all, you must understand this: that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and indulging in their own evil desires, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? Ever since our forefathers died, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 But they deliberately ignore this fact: that long ago by the word of God the heavens existed and the earth was brought about from water and through water. 6 By these waters also, the world of that time perished when it was flooded. 7 But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow in fulfilling His promise, as some think of slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
10 But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief, and on that day the heavens will pass away with a roar, the elements will dissolve in the fervent heat, and the earth and all the works on it will be disclosed.
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what sort of people should you be? You should live lives of holiness and godly conduct 12 as you look forward to the day of God and hasten its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the very elements will melt in the fervent heat. 13 But in accordance with His promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness will dwell.
14 Therefore, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things, make every effort to found at peace with Him, and without spot or blemish. 15 So consider the patience of our Lord as pertaining to salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given to him. 16 He speaks about these things the same way in all his letters. Some of the things in them are difficult to understand, which ignorant and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do with the rest of the Scriptures.
17 Therefore, dear friends, since you know this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of lawless men and lose your own stability. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.