2 Peter 3 - Amplified Bible(AMP)

Purpose of This Letter

1Beloved, I am now writing you this second letter. In this, I am stirring up your untainted mind to remind you,

2that you should remember the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior given by your apostles.

The Coming Day of the Lord

3First of all, know that mockers will come in the last days with their mocking, following after their own human desires

4and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things have continued as they did from the beginning of creation.”

5For they willingly forget that the heavens existed long ago by the word of God, and the earth was formed out of water and by water,

6through which the world at that time was destroyed by being flooded with water.

7But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly people.

8Nevertheless, do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like one day.

9The Lord does not delay and is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

A New Heaven and Earth

10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will vanish with a roar, and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and the works that are on it will be burned up.

11Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be in holy behavior and in godliness,

12[while you earnestly] look for and await the coming of the day of God. For on this day the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!

13But in accordance with His promise we expectantly await new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

14So, beloved, since you are looking forward to these things, be diligent and make every effort to be found by Him spotless and blameless, in peace.

15And consider the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given to him,

16speaking about these things as he does in all of his letters. In which there are some things that are difficult to understand, which the untaught and unstable twist and misinterpret, just as they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.

17Therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness,

18but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory (honor, majesty, splendor), both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.