2 Peter 3:1-13

Purpose of This Letter

1 This is now, 1beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am 2stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder,
2 that you should 3remember the words spoken beforehand by 4the holy prophets and 5the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles.

The Coming Day of the Lord

3 6Know this first of all, that 7in the last days 8mockers will come with their mocking, 9following after their own lusts,
4 and saying, "10Where is the promise of His 11coming? For ever since * the fathers 12fell asleep, all continues just as it was 13from the beginning of creation."
5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that 14by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was 15formed out of water and by water,
6 through which 16the world at that time was 17destroyed, being flooded with water.
7 But by His word 18the present heavens and earth are being reserved for 19fire, kept for 20the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, 21beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and 22a thousand years like one day.
9 23The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but 24is patient toward you, 25not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

A New Heaven and Earth

10 But 26the day of the Lord 27will come like a thief, in which 28the heavens 29will pass away with a roar and the 30elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and 31the earth and its works will be burned up.
11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
12 32looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which 33the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the 34elements will melt with intense heat!
13 But according to His 35promise we are looking for 36new heavens and a new earth, 37in which righteousness dwells.

Images for 2 Peter 3:1-13

Cross References 37

  • 1. 1 Peter 2:11; 2 Pet 3:8, 14, 17
  • 2. 2 Peter 1:13
  • 3. Jude 17
  • 4. Luke 1:70; Acts 3:21; Ephesians 3:5
  • 5. Galatians 6:2; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Peter 2:21
  • 6. 2 Peter 1:20
  • 7. 1 Timothy 4:1; Hebrews 1:2
  • 8. Jude 18
  • 9. 2 Peter 2:10
  • 10. Isaiah 5:19; Jeremiah 17:15; Ezekiel 11:3; Ezekiel 12:22, 27; Malachi 2:17; Matthew 24:48
  • 11. 1 Thessalonians 2:19; 2 Peter 3:12
  • 12. Acts 7:60
  • 13. Mark 10:6
  • 14. Genesis 1:6, 9; Hebrews 11:3
  • 15. Psalms 24:2; Psalms 136:6
  • 16. 2 Peter 2:5
  • 17. Genesis 7:11, 12, 21
  • 18. 2 Peter 3:10, 12
  • 19. Isaiah 66:15; Daniel 7:9; 2 Thessalonians 1:7; Hebrews 12:29
  • 20. Matthew 10:15; 1 Corinthians 3:13; Jude 7
  • 21. 2 Peter 3:1
  • 22. Psalms 90:4
  • 23. Habakkuk 2:3; Romans 13:11; Hebrews 10:37
  • 24. Romans 2:4; Revelation 2:21
  • 25. 1 Timothy 2:4; Revelation 2:21
  • 26. 1 Corinthians 1:8
  • 27. Matthew 24:43; Luke 12:39; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; Revelation 3:3; Revelation 16:15
  • 28. Isaiah 34:4; 2 Peter 3:7, 12
  • 29. Matthew 24:35; Revelation 21:1
  • 30. Isaiah 24:19; Micah 1:4
  • 31. 2 Peter 3:7
  • 32. 1 Corinthians 1:7
  • 33. 2 Peter 3:7, 10
  • 34. Isaiah 24:19; Isaiah 34:4; Micah 1:4
  • 35. Isaiah 65:17; Isaiah 66:22
  • 36. Romans 8:21; Revelation 21:1
  • 37. Isaiah 60:21; Isaiah 65:25; Revelation 21:27

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. Or "they are willfully ignorant of this fact, that"
  • [b]. Lit "the works in it"
  • [c]. Two early mss read "discovered"
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