|
Chapter 3 |
| 1 | This second
epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds
by way of remembrance: |
| 2 | That ye 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: |
| 3 | Knowing this first, that there
shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, |
| 4 |
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. |
| 5
| 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: |
| 6
| Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with
water, perished: |
|
7 | But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the
same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and
perdition of ungodly men. |
|
8 | 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. |
|
9 | The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as
some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing 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 night; in the 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. |
| 11 |
Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons
ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, |
| 12 | Looking for
and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on
fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
|
| 13 | Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a
new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. |
|
14 | Wherefore, beloved,
seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in
peace, without spot, and blameless. |
| 15 | And account that the
longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also
according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; |
| 16 | As
also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some
things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest,
as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. |
| 17 |
Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also,
being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own
stedfastness. |
|
18 | But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. |
