2 Peter · Literal Standard Version
2 Peter 3 Literal Standard Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 This [is] now, beloved, a second letter I write to you, in both which I stir up your pure mind in reminding [you]
1 This is now, beloved, the second letter that I have written to you; and in both of them I stir up your sincere mind by reminding you
2 to be mindful of the sayings said before by the holy prophets, and of the command of us the apostles of the LORD and Savior,
2 that you should remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets and the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior,
3 knowing this first, that there will come scoffers in the last days, going on according to their own desires,
3 knowing this first, that in the last days mockers will come, walking after their own lusts
4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things so remain from the beginning of the creation”;
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 willingly conceal, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth having been established by the word of God out of water and through water,
5 For they willfully forget that there were heavens from of old, and an earth formed out of water and amid water by the word of God,
6 through which the world then, having been flooded by water, was destroyed;
6 by which means the world that existed then, being overflowed with water, perished.
7 and by the same word, the present heavens and earth, having been stored up for fire, are being preserved until [the] day of judgment and destruction of impious men.
7 But the heavens that exist now 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 And do not let this one thing be concealed from you, beloved, that one day with the LORD [is] as one thousand years and one thousand years as one day;
8 But don’t forget 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 slow in regard to the promise, as some count slowness, but is long-suffering to us, not intending any to be lost, but all to come to conversion,
9 The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but he is patient with us, not wishing that anyone should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
10 and it will come—the Day of the LORD—as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a rushing noise, and the elements will be dissolved with burning heat, and [the] earth and the works in it will not be found.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fervent heat; and the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
11 All these, then, being dissolved, what kind of persons ought you to be in holy behaviors and pious acts,
11 Therefore, since all these things will be destroyed like this, what kind of people ought you to be in holy living and godliness,
12 waiting for and hurrying the coming of the Day of God, by which the heavens, being on fire, will be dissolved, and the elements will melt with burning heat?
12 looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, which will cause the burning heavens to be dissolved, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
13 And we wait for new heavens and a new earth according to His promise, in which righteousness dwells;
13 But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
14 for this reason, beloved, waiting for these things, be diligent, spotless and unblameable, to be found by Him in peace,
14 Therefore, beloved, seeing that you look for these things, be diligent to be found in peace, without defect and blameless in his sight.
15 and count the long-suffering of our Lord [as] salvation, according as also our beloved brother Paul—according to the wisdom given to him—wrote to you,
15 Regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you,
16 as also in all the letters, speaking in them concerning these things, among which are some things [that are] hard to be understood, which the untaught and unstable twist, as also the other Writings, to their own destruction.
16 as also in all of his letters, speaking in them of these things. In those, there are some things that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unsettled twist, as they also do to the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
17 You, then, beloved, knowing before, take heed, lest, together with the error of the impious being led away, you may fall from your own steadfastness,
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 and increase in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; to Him [is] the glory both now, and to the day of the age! Amen.
18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
Cross references (18)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 2 Timothy 1:6; 2 Peter 1:12–15; 1 Peter 1:1–2; Matthew 5:8; Psalm 73:1
- 2 Jude 17; Luke 1:70; 2 Peter 2:21; Luke 24:44; 2 Peter 1:19–21
- 3 Jude 18; 1 Timothy 4:1–2; 2 Peter 2:10; 2 Corinthians 4:2; Jude 16
- 4 Jeremiah 17:15; Malachi 2:17; Jeremiah 5:12–13; Luke 12:45; Isaiah 5:18–19
- 5 Hebrews 11:3; Psalm 24:2; Genesis 1:9; Genesis 1:6; Psalm 136:6
- 6 Matthew 24:38–39; 2 Peter 2:5; Luke 17:27; Genesis 7:10–23; Job 12:15
- 7 2 Peter 3:10; Isaiah 51:6; 2 Peter 3:12; Revelation 21:1; Matthew 24:35
- 8 Psalm 90:4
- 9 1 Timothy 2:4; Romans 2:4; Habakkuk 2:3; Psalm 86:15; Isaiah 30:18
- 10 Revelation 21:1; Matthew 24:35; 2 Peter 3:7; Revelation 16:15; Isaiah 51:6
- 11 1 Peter 1:15; Philippians 1:27; 1 Peter 2:12; 1 Timothy 6:11; 2 Peter 3:12
- 12 2 Peter 3:10; Isaiah 34:4; Micah 1:4; Titus 2:13; Psalm 50:3
- 13 Isaiah 65:17; Revelation 21:1; Isaiah 66:22; Revelation 21:27; Isaiah 60:21
- 14 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; Philippians 1:10; 1 Corinthians 15:58; 1 John 3:3
- 15 Romans 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 1:16; 1 Peter 3:20; James 3:17
- 16 Matthew 15:6; Hebrews 5:11; James 1:8; 2 Peter 2:14; Philippians 3:19
- 17 Hebrews 3:14; Colossians 2:8; 2 Corinthians 11:13–15; 1 Corinthians 15:58; 1 Corinthians 10:12
- 18 Colossians 1:10; Ephesians 4:15; 1 Peter 2:2; Colossians 3:10; Philippians 3:8
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
And there are some, again, who relegate the death of Adam to the thousandth year; for since "a day of the Lord is as a thousand years," he did not overstep the thousand years, but died within them, thus bearing out the sentence of his sin.
… and was on account of his great sin dismissed from the blessedness of paradise into the woes of this mortal life, so that thus, as it is written, "One day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day," there should follow on the completion of six thousand years, as of six days, a …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
For the day of the Lord is as a thousand years; and in six days created things were completed: it is evident, therefore, that they will come to an end at the sixth thousand year.
Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." There is nothing said here about the resurrection of the dead, but enough certainly regarding the destruction of this world.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
… it is sufficiently obvious what part of the world is signified by the whole, and in what sense the word perished is to be taken, and what heavens were kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. And when he says a little afterwards, "The day of the Lord will come as …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)