New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
2 Peter 3
1
Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders. I want to stir you up to think in a way that is pure.
Reference
Parallel theme
2 Timothy 1:6
2
I want you to remember the words the holy prophets spoke in the past. Remember the command our Lord and Savior gave through your apostles.
Reference
Holy
2 Peter 2:21
Luke 1:70
Acts 3:21
Prophecy
Revelation 19:10
Acts 3:18
Acts 10:43
Ephesians 2:20
Word
Jude 1:17
Luke 24:44
Acts 28:23
3
First of all, here is what you must understand. In the last days people will make fun of the truth. They will laugh at it. They will follow their own evil longings.
Reference
Kingdom
2 Corinthians 4:2
Jude 1:16
Parallel theme
Jude 1:18
2 Peter 2:10
2 Peter 1:20
Proverbs 1:22
2 Timothy 3:1
Proverbs 3:34
Proverbs 14:6
4
They will say, "Where is this 'return' he promised? Everything goes on in the same way it has since our people of long ago died. In fact, it has continued that way since God first created everything."
Reference
5
Long ago, God's word brought the heavens into being. His word separated the earth from the waters. And the waters surrounded it. But those people forget things like that on purpose.
Reference
Parallel theme
Psalm 24:2
Psalm 136:6
References God
Genesis 1:9
Genesis 1:6
Romans 1:28
Word
Hebrews 11:3
Psalm 33:6
7
By God's word the heavens and earth of today are being reserved for fire. They are being kept for the day when God will judge. Then ungodly people will be destroyed.
Reference
Judgment
2 Peter 2:9
Matthew 12:36
Parallel theme
2 Peter 3:10
Isaiah 51:6
Revelation 21:1
Matthew 25:41
Revelation 20:11
1 Timothy 6:9
References God
2 Peter 3:12
Word
Matthew 24:35
8
Dear friends, here is one thing you must not forget. With the Lord a day is like a thousand years. And a thousand years are like a day.
Reference
Parallel theme
Psalm 90:4
9
The Lord is not slow to keep his promise. He is not slow in the way some people understand it. He is patient with you. He doesn't want anyone to be destroyed. Instead, he wants all people to turn away from their sins.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Timothy 2:4
Habakkuk 2:3
1 Timothy 1:16
Hebrews 10:37
References Lord
Psalm 86:15
Isaiah 30:18
2 Peter 3:15
Exodus 34:6
Repentance
Romans 2:4
Revelation 2:21
10
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar. Fire will destroy everything in them. God will judge the earth and everything in it.
Reference
Parallel theme
Revelation 21:1
Matthew 24:35
2 Peter 3:7
Revelation 16:15
Isaiah 51:6
Mark 13:31
Revelation 3:3
Isaiah 34:4
2 Peter 3:12
References Lord
1 Thessalonians 5:2
11
So everything will be destroyed. And what kind of people should you be? You should lead holy and godly lives.
Reference
Holy
1 Peter 1:15
Parallel theme
Philippians 1:27
Isaiah 34:4
James 3:13
Philippians 3:20
Isaiah 14:31
References God
2 Peter 3:12
1 Timothy 6:11
1 Peter 2:12
Psalm 50:23
12
Live like that as you look forward to the day of God. It will make the day come more quickly. On that day fire will destroy the heavens. Its heat will melt everything in them.
Reference
Kingdom
Titus 2:13
Jude 1:21
Parallel theme
2 Peter 3:10
Isaiah 34:4
Micah 1:4
Philippians 1:6
References God
Psalm 50:3
2 Peter 3:7
13
But we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth. Godliness will make its home there. All of this is in keeping with God's promise.
Reference
14
Dear friends, I know you are looking forward to that. So try your best to be found pure and without blame. Be at peace with God.
Reference
15
Remember that while our Lord is waiting patiently to return, people are being saved. Our dear brother Paul also wrote to you about that. God made him wise to write as he did.
Reference
Love
Acts 15:25
Parallel theme
Romans 2:4
1 Timothy 1:16
Luke 21:15
James 3:17
James 1:5
References Lord
2 Peter 3:9
Salvation
1 Peter 3:20
16
He writes the same way in all his letters. He speaks about what I have just told you. His letters include some things that are hard to understand. People who don't know better and aren't firm in the faith twist what he says. They twist the other Scriptures too. So they will be destroyed.
Reference
Parallel theme
Hebrews 5:11
2 Peter 2:14
James 1:8
Philippians 3:19
Word
Matthew 15:6
Jeremiah 23:36
17
Dear friends, you already know that. So be on your guard. Then you won't be led down the wrong path by the mistakes of people who don't obey the law. You won't fall from your safe position.
Reference
18
Grow in the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Get to know him better. Give him glory both now and forever. Amen.
Reference
Glory
Ephesians 1:17
2 Peter 1:3
2 Corinthians 4:6
2 Timothy 4:18
Parallel theme
1 Peter 2:2
Colossians 3:10
References Christ
Ephesians 4:15
References Jesus
Philippians 3:8
John 17:3
References Lord
Colossians 1:10
Summary of 2 Peter 3
2 Peter 3 urges Christians to remember the prophetic and apostolic teaching, remain confident in Christ's promised return despite the mockery of skeptics, understand God's apparent delay as patient mercy that provides opportunity for repentance, live holy and godly lives while awaiting the coming day of the Lord, and look forward to God's promise of new heavens and a new earth where righteousness will dwell, while carefully guarding themselves against false teaching and continuing to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Peter begins by explaining that he is writing to remind believers of truths they already know, because spiritual stability requires Christians to continually remember and apply what God has revealed.
He specifically points them toward the words of the prophets and the commands given through the apostles, connecting the earlier prophetic Scriptures with the teaching of Jesus' apostles.
Peter then warns that scoffers will appear, particularly in the last days, questioning whether Christ will really return.
These people will point to the apparent continuation of ordinary life and argue that nothing has changed since previous generations died.
Their argument assumes that because God's promised intervention has not yet occurred, it will never occur.
Peter responds by explaining that such people deliberately ignore God's previous acts of creation and judgment.
God created the heavens and earth through His word, and the ancient world was later judged through the flood during Noah's generation.
The fact that God has already intervened dramatically in history means that His future judgment should not be dismissed simply because it has not yet occurred.
Peter then addresses the important question of why Christ's return appears delayed.
He explains that God's relationship with time is different from human experience, so people should not interpret God's patience as forgetfulness or failure.
Instead, God's patience provides an opportunity for people to repent and be saved.
This is one of the chapter's most important theological ideas because the apparent delay of judgment is presented not as weakness but as an expression of God's mercy.
Peter nevertheless makes clear that the day of the Lord will come.
Its arrival will be unexpected, like a thief, and it will involve dramatic judgment and transformation of the present creation.
Because the world in its present form is temporary, Christians should not build their lives around temporary things.
Instead, they should live with holiness, godliness, peace, and moral integrity while waiting for God's promised future.
Peter then directs believers toward the hope of new heavens and a new earth where righteousness lives.
The future is therefore not presented merely as destruction but as God's ultimate renewal of creation into a place characterized by righteousness.
This future hope should shape present behavior.
Because believers expect these things, they should make every effort to live peacefully, without spiritual or moral blame, while remaining prepared for Christ's return.
Peter then discusses Paul's writings, showing that Paul's teaching was already known among at least some Christian communities.
Peter acknowledges that some things in Paul's letters are difficult to understand and warns that unstable and ignorant people can twist those writings just as they twist other Scriptures.
This provides an important warning about careless interpretation of biblical teaching.
The chapter closes with a final appeal for spiritual stability.
Christians should avoid being carried away by false teaching and should instead grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.
The Christian life is therefore presented as an ongoing process of learning, spiritual maturity, faithful living, and deeper knowledge of Christ.
The central message of 2 Peter 3 is that Christians should not lose confidence in Christ's promised return simply because it appears delayed, because God's patience provides people with an opportunity to repent rather than demonstrating forgetfulness, while the coming day of the Lord remains certain and will bring judgment and the renewal of creation, giving believers reason to live holy, peaceful, and faithful lives while carefully guarding themselves against distorted teaching and continually growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Peter begins by explaining that he is writing to remind believers of truths they already know, because spiritual stability requires Christians to continually remember and apply what God has revealed.
He specifically points them toward the words of the prophets and the commands given through the apostles, connecting the earlier prophetic Scriptures with the teaching of Jesus' apostles.
Peter then warns that scoffers will appear, particularly in the last days, questioning whether Christ will really return.
These people will point to the apparent continuation of ordinary life and argue that nothing has changed since previous generations died.
Their argument assumes that because God's promised intervention has not yet occurred, it will never occur.
Peter responds by explaining that such people deliberately ignore God's previous acts of creation and judgment.
God created the heavens and earth through His word, and the ancient world was later judged through the flood during Noah's generation.
The fact that God has already intervened dramatically in history means that His future judgment should not be dismissed simply because it has not yet occurred.
Peter then addresses the important question of why Christ's return appears delayed.
He explains that God's relationship with time is different from human experience, so people should not interpret God's patience as forgetfulness or failure.
Instead, God's patience provides an opportunity for people to repent and be saved.
This is one of the chapter's most important theological ideas because the apparent delay of judgment is presented not as weakness but as an expression of God's mercy.
Peter nevertheless makes clear that the day of the Lord will come.
Its arrival will be unexpected, like a thief, and it will involve dramatic judgment and transformation of the present creation.
Because the world in its present form is temporary, Christians should not build their lives around temporary things.
Instead, they should live with holiness, godliness, peace, and moral integrity while waiting for God's promised future.
Peter then directs believers toward the hope of new heavens and a new earth where righteousness lives.
The future is therefore not presented merely as destruction but as God's ultimate renewal of creation into a place characterized by righteousness.
This future hope should shape present behavior.
Because believers expect these things, they should make every effort to live peacefully, without spiritual or moral blame, while remaining prepared for Christ's return.
Peter then discusses Paul's writings, showing that Paul's teaching was already known among at least some Christian communities.
Peter acknowledges that some things in Paul's letters are difficult to understand and warns that unstable and ignorant people can twist those writings just as they twist other Scriptures.
This provides an important warning about careless interpretation of biblical teaching.
The chapter closes with a final appeal for spiritual stability.
Christians should avoid being carried away by false teaching and should instead grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.
The Christian life is therefore presented as an ongoing process of learning, spiritual maturity, faithful living, and deeper knowledge of Christ.
The central message of 2 Peter 3 is that Christians should not lose confidence in Christ's promised return simply because it appears delayed, because God's patience provides people with an opportunity to repent rather than demonstrating forgetfulness, while the coming day of the Lord remains certain and will bring judgment and the renewal of creation, giving believers reason to live holy, peaceful, and faithful lives while carefully guarding themselves against distorted teaching and continually growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.