2 Peter 3

3 ¹ This is now the second letter I am writing to you, beloved, and in both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind as a reminder, ² that you should remember the words the holy prophets spoke long ago, and the commandment of our Lord and Savior given through your apostles. ³ First of all, understand this: in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. ⁴ They will say, "Where is the promise of his coming? Ever since the fathers fell asleep, everything goes on just as it has from the beginning of creation." ⁵ But they deliberately overlook this: that long ago by the word of our Father the heavens existed, and the earth was formed out of water and through water, ⁶ and through these the world of that time was deluged with water and perished. ⁷ But by the same word the present heavens and earth are stored up for fire, reserved for the day of judgment and the destruction of the ungodly.

⁸ But do not overlook this one thing, beloved: with our Father one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. ⁹ Our Father is not slow about his promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. ^a a v9 The reason for the delay is love: our Father is patient, holding open the door so that everyone has room to come home. ¹⁰ But the day of our Lord Jesus will come like a thief. The heavens will pass away with a roar, the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything done on it will be laid bare. ¹¹ Since everything is to be dissolved in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You should live holy and godly lives, ¹² as you wait for and hasten the coming of the day of our Father, when the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt in the heat. ¹³ But in keeping with his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

¹⁴ So then, beloved, since you are waiting for these things, make every effort to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish. ¹⁵ And consider that the patience of our Lord means salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you, according to the wisdom given to him, ¹⁶ as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them about these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. ¹⁷ Therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, be on your guard, so that you are not carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your firm footing. ¹⁸ But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. ^b b v18 The letter closes by giving glory to Jesus himself — the honor due to God — confessing that the Son shares fully in our Father's glory.