2 Peter
Summary
Peter writes his second letter to stir up the "pure minds" of the believers by way of remembrance, addressing the scoffers who will come in the last days questioning the promise of Christ's coming. He reminds the readers that with the Lord, one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. The "day of the Lord" will come unexpectedly as a "thief in the night," in which the heavens shall pass away and the elements shall melt with "fervent heat." In light of this, Peter exhorts them to be holy and godly, looking for "new heavens and a new earth" in which righteousness dwells, and to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.
This second letter, beloved, I now write to you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
That you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
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 the creation."
For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
By which the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved for fire against the day of judgement and perdition of ungodly people.
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some people count slackness; but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of people ought you to be in all holy conduct and godliness,
Looking for and hasting to the coming of the day of God, in which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, in which dwells righteousness.
Wherefore, beloved, seeing that you look for such things, be diligent that you may be found by Him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given to him has written to you;
As also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which those who are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, to their own destruction.
You therefore, beloved, seeing you know these things before, beware lest you also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen.