Bible Reading Plan

2 Peter 3

Chapter 3

The Day of the Lord

¹ Dear friends, this is now the second letter^(a) I have written to you; in both letters, I want to develop a genuine^(b) understanding with a reminder, ² so that you can remember the words previously spoken by the holy prophets and the command of our Lord and Savior given through your apostles. ³ First, be aware of this: Scoffers will come in the last days^(c) to scoff, living according to their own desires, ⁴ saying, "Where is the promise of His coming?^(d) Ever since the fathers fell asleep,^(e) all things continue as they have been since the beginning of creation." ⁵ They willfully ignore this: Long ago the heavens and the earth were brought about from water and through water^(f) by the word of God.^{(g) 6} Through these waters the world of that time perished when it was flooded.^{(h) 7} But by the same word,⁽ⁱ⁾ the present heavens and earth are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment^(j) and destruction of ungodly men.

⁸ Dear friends, don't let this one thing escape you: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.^{(k) 9} The Lord does not delay His promise,^(l) as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any^(m) to perish⁽ⁿ⁾ but all to come to repentance.^(o)

¹⁰ But the Day of the Lord^(p) will come like a thief;^[a](q) on that day the heavens will pass away^(r) with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved,^(s) and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed.^{[b] 11} Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness ¹² as you wait for and earnestly desire the coming^[c] of the day of God.^(t) The heavens will be on fire and be dissolved because of it, and the elements will melt with the heat. ¹³ But based on His promise, we wait for the new heavens and a new earth,^(u) where righteousness will dwell.^(v)

Conclusion

¹⁴ Therefore, dear friends, while you wait for these things, make every effort to be found at peace with Him without spot or blemish.^{(w) 15} Also, regard the patience of our Lord as an opportunity for salvation, just as our dear brother Paul has written to you according to the wisdom given to him.^{(x) 16} He speaks about these things in all his letters in which there are some matters that are hard to understand. The untaught and unstable twist them to their own destruction,^(y) as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures.

¹⁷ Therefore, dear friends, since you know this in advance, be on your guard,^(z) so that you are not led away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own stability. ¹⁸ But grow in the grace and knowledge^(aa) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.^[d](ab) Amen.^[e]