The Second Epistle of Peter
3:1 This is now, beloved, the second epistle that I write unto you; and in both of
them I stir up your sincere mind by putting you in remembrance; 3:2that ye should
remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and the
commandments of the Lord and Saviour through your apostles: 3:3knowing this
first, that in the last days mockers shall come with mockery, walking after their
own lusts, 3:4and 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. 3:5For this they willfully forget, that there were heavens from of old,
and an earth compacted out of water and amidst water, by the word of God; 3:6by
which means the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
3:7but the heavens that now are, 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. 3:8But forget not this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a
thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 3:9The Lord is not slack
concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to
you-ward, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to
repentance. 3:10But the day of the Lord will come as a thief; in the which the
heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved
with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
3:11Seeing that these things are thus all to be dissolved, what manner of persons
ought ye to be in all holy living and godliness, 3:12looking for and earnestly
desiring the coming of the day of God, by reason of which the heavens being on
fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 3:13But,
according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein
dwelleth righteousness. 3:14Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for these
things, give diligence that ye may be found in peace, without spot and blameless
in his sight. 3:15And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as
our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote unto
you; 3:16as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; wherein are
some things hard to be understood, which the ignorant and unstedfast wrest, as
they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 3:17Ye therefore,
beloved, knowing these things beforehand, beware lest, being carried away with
the error of the wicked, ye fall from your own stedfastness. 3:18But grow in the
grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be the glory
both now and for ever. Amen.