2 Peter 3

1 Beloved [cherished, dearly loved], this [a specific letter] is now [already] my second letter [a written message] to you [as direct address]. Both of them [which letters] are reminders [to stir up memory] to stir you [to arouse] to wholesome [pure and genuine] thinking [the mind and understanding] word study 2 by recalling [remembering, being mindful of] what was foretold [spoken beforehand, predicted] by the holy [set apart, dedicated to God] prophets and commanded [given as a divine instruction, ordered] by our Lord [Master, God] and Savior [Deliverer, Rescuer] through your apostles [messengers, delegates of Jesus Christ]. word study 3 Most importantly [above all, knowing this first], you must understand [recognize, perceive] that in the last [final, extreme] days [a 24-hour period, a period of time] scoffers [mockers, those who ridicule] will come [arrive, appear], scoffing [treating with contempt, mocking] and following [walking after, according to] their own [private, personal] evil [forbidden, sinful] desires [strong longings, cravings]. word study 4 “Where [in what location, at what time] is the promise [commitment, assurance] of His coming [presence, arrival]?” they will ask [say, speak]. “Ever since [from the day, after] our fathers [ancestors] fell asleep [died, passed away], everything [all things] continues [remains] as it has [thus, in this way] from the beginning [start, origin] of creation [the act of creating].” word study 5 But they deliberately [wilfully, intentionally] overlook [are ignorant of, forget] the fact that long ago [of old, from the beginning] by God’s [the supreme Creator’s] word [the divine command, Logos] the heavens [the sky and the spiritual realm] existed and the earth [the land, the material world] was formed [created, compacted] out of water [the liquid, the deep] and by water [through the liquid, amidst the deep], word study 6 through which [by means of, because of] the world [the orderly arrangement, the inhabited earth] of that time [then, at a specific point] perished [was destroyed, came to an end] in the flood [being overflowed with water, deluged]. word study 7 And by that same word [divine command, logos], the present [existing now, current] heavens [the visible sky and the spiritual realm] and earth [the land, the material world] are reserved [stored up, treasured] for fire [judgment, purification], being kept [preserved, watched over] for the day [time, period] of judgment [evaluation, verdict] and destruction [perdition, loss] of ungodly [wicked, irreverent] men [human beings, people]. word study 8 Beloved [dearly loved, cherished], do not let this one thing [a single truth, a crucial fact] escape your notice: With the Lord [God, the Master] a day [a 24-hour period, a period of time] is like [comparable to, similar to] a thousand years [a long period of time, many years], and a thousand years [many years, a long time] are like [equivalent to, comparable to] a day [a short period, a single day]. word study 9 The Lord [God, the supreme ruler] is not slow [delaying, tardy] in keeping His promise [commitment, assurance] as some understand [count, consider] slowness [lack of urgency], but is patient [long-suffering, forbearing] with you, not wanting [desiring, willing] anyone to perish [be destroyed, lost] but everyone [all, every person] to come to repentance [turn away from sin, change their ways]. word study 10 But the Day [a period of time, an era] of the Lord [God, the supreme ruler] will come [arrive, be present] like a thief [unexpectedly, without warning]. The heavens [the sky, the spiritual realm] will disappear [pass away, be destroyed] with a roar [a great noise, a loud sound], the elements [the fundamental principles, the basic building blocks] will be destroyed [melted, dissolved] by fire [intense heat, fervent burning], and the earth [the land, the physical world] and its works [its creations, its accomplishments] will be laid bare [exposed, revealed, burned up]. word study 11 Since everything [all these things, including the heavens] will be destroyed [dissolved, loosened] in this way, what kind of people [what manner of persons] ought you to be? You ought to conduct yourselves [live your lives] in [with, characterized by] holiness [holy living, set apart] and [in conjunction with] godliness [piety, reverence for God] word study 12 as you [look for] anticipate and hasten [urge, speed up] the coming [arrival, presence] of the day [period of time, era] of God [the one true deity], when the heavens [the sky, God’s home] will be destroyed [dissolved, loosened] by fire [burning, flames] and the elements [fundamental principles, basic building blocks] will melt [be dissolved, turned to liquid] in the heat [fervent, burning heat]. word study 13 But in keeping with God’s [divine, sovereign] promise [commitment, oath], we are looking forward [eagerly awaiting, expecting] to a new [fresh, renewed] heaven [the sky, God’s dwelling place] and a new [recreated, restored] earth [the world, creation], where [in which, among] righteousness [moral uprightness, justice] dwells [resides, abides]. word study 14 Therefore [for this reason, in light of these things], beloved [dearly loved, cherished by God], as you anticipate [look forward to, wait for] these things, make every effort [be diligent, be eager] to be found [to be discovered, to meet] at peace [in harmony, free from strife]—spotless [without blemish, pure] and blameless [without fault, above reproach] in His [God’s, the Lord’s] sight [presence, gaze]. word study 15 Consider also that our Lord’s [longsuffering, patient] patience [fortitude in suffering] brings salvation [spiritual rescue, safety], just as our beloved [cherished, dearly loved] brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom [spiritual understanding] God gave him [according to the wisdom given to him]. word study 16 He writes this way [speaking in them about such matters] in all [every one of] his letters, speaking [talking, uttering words] in them about [concerning, regarding] such matters [these things]. Some parts [certain things, portions] of his letters are [can be] hard to understand [difficult to comprehend, complex], which [things that] ignorant [unlearned, lacking knowledge] and unstable [unsteady, vacillating] people distort [twist, pervert], as [in the same way] they do [also handle] the rest [remaining, other] of the Scriptures [holy writings], to [leading to, resulting in] their own [private, personal] destruction [loss, perdition]. word study 17 Therefore [then, as a consequence], beloved [cherished by God], since you already know [are aware of, have foreknowledge of] these things, be on your guard [watchful, vigilant] so that you will not be carried away [led astray, deceived] by the error [falsehood, deceit] of the lawless [wicked, ungodly] and fall [stumble, lose your footing] from your secure standing [firm position, steadfastness]. word study 18 But grow [increase, be strengthened] in the grace [divine favor, kindness] and knowledge [understanding, spiritual truth] of our Lord [Master, God] and Savior [Deliverer, Rescuer] Jesus Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah]. To Him be the glory [honor, praise] both now [at this present time] and to the day [age, eternity] of eternity [forever, forevermore]. Amen [so be it, truly]. word study