1The apostle declareth it to be the design of both his epistles to remind the brethren of Christ's coming to judgment, in opposition to scoffers. 8No argument can be drawn against it from the delay, which is designed to leave men room for repentance. 10He describeth the day of the Lord, and exhorteth to holiness of life in expectation of it. 15He sheweth that Paul had taught the same in his epistles: 17and concludeth with advice to beware of seduction, and to grow in Christian grace and knowledge.
1THIS asecond epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your bpure minds by way of remembrance:
a ch. 1.12-15. Ro. 15.14,15. Phi. 3.1. Jude 3. b 1Pe. 1.2,3,22,23; 2.1. Ja. 1.21,27. ch. 1.3-8. He. 3.1. 1Co. 5.8.
2That ye cmay be mindful of the words dwhich were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
c ch. 1.19. Jude 17,18. Ac. 17.11. Jn. 5.39. Is. 8.20. Ps. 119.105. Is. 34.16. De. 6.6,7. d ch. 1.21.
3eKnowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
e 1Ti. 4.1. 2Ti. 3.1-3. Jude 18. ch. 2.1,10-18. Is. 5.19; 28.14,15,22.
4And saying, fWhere is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
f Is. 5.19. Je. 17.15. Eze. 12.22-27. Mal. 2.17. Mat. 24.48. Lu. 12.45. 1Co. 15.12. 2Ti. 2.17.
5For gthis they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth 1standing out of the water and in the water:
1Gr. consisting.
g Ps. 28.5; 33.6; 24.2; 136.6. He. 11.3. Ge. 1.6,9. Job 38.4-11. Ex. 20.11.
6hWhereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
h ch. 2.5. Ge. 7.10,11,21. Job 22.16.
7iBut the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
i Ps. 102.26. Is. 34.4; 51.6; 65.17. He. 1.11. Mat. 13.40; 25.41. Ps. 50.3. Zep. 3.8. 2Th. 1.8. v.10,12.
8But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that jone day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
j Ps. 90.4. Job 10.5; 36.26. 1Ti. 1.17; 6.16. Is. 57.15.
9kThe Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; lbut is longsuffering *to us-ward, mnot willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
*to us-ward-toward us.
k Is. 46.13. Hab 2.3. He. 10.37. Eze. 12.22. Mat. 24.48. v.4. l Is. 30.18. Ro. 2.4. 1Pe. 3.20. v.15. Eze. 18.23,32; 33.11. 1Ti. 2.4. Re. 6.10. Ps. 86.15. m Re. 2.21.
10nBut the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which othe heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, pthe earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
n v.12. 1Th. 5.2. Mat. 24.42,43. Re. 3.3; 16.15. o Ps. 102.26; 96.11; 98.7; 50.3. Is. 51.6. Mat. 5.18; 24.35,44. Mar. 13.31. Lu. 12.39. 1Co. 3.13. 2Th. 1.8. Re. 20.11; 21.1. p Mi. 1.4. v.7.
11Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, qwhat *manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy r*conversation and godliness,
*manner-kind, sort.
*conversation-behaviour.
q Mat. 24.42. Lu. 21.34,36. Tit. 2.12,13. 1Pe. 1.15. ch. 1.8. Phi. 4.8. Am. 4.12. v.14. r Ga. 1.13.
12sLooking for and 2hasting unto the coming of the day of God, twherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
2Or, hasting the coming.
s Mat. 25.6. Tit. 2.13. 2Ti. 4.8. He. 9.28. Lu. 12.35. 1Pe. 1.13. Jude 21. t Ps. 50.3. Is. 64.1; 34.4. Mi. 1.4. 2Th. 1.8. v.7,10.
13Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for unew heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
u Is. 65.17; 60.21; 26.2; 66.22. Re. 21.1,27. He. 2.5.
14Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, vbe diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
v v.11. Mat. 24.42. Ro. 5.1,10. 1Co. 1.8; 15.58. Ep. 1.4; 5.27. Phi. 1.10; 2.15. Col. 1.22. 1Th. 2.19; 3.13; 5.23. Jude 24.
15And account that wthe longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to xthe wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
w Ro. 2.4. He. 9.18; 10.36. 1Pe. 3.20. v.9. x Ro. 1.5. 1Co. 2.7,16. Ep. 3.3,4. Col. 1.25-27. 1Co. 15.10.
16As yalso in all his epistles, zspeaking in them of these things; in which are asome things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable *wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
*wrest-twist, distort.
y Ro. 8.19-24. 1Co. 15. 2Co. 5.10. 1Th. 4.15-17; 5. 2Th. 1.5-10; 2.3. z 1Co. 15.24. a De. 29.29; 30.11. Ps. 19.8; 119.105. Pr. 6.23. ch. 1.19. He. 5.13.
17Ye therefore, beloved, bseeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
b Mar. 13.23. Ep. 4.14. ch. 1.10,12; 2.1,14,17,18. Jude 12,13. Ja. 1.8.
18cBut grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. dTo him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
c ch. 1.5-8. Ep. 4.13,15,16. Mat. 13.23. 2Th. 1.3. 1Pe. 2.2. Col. 1.10. d Ro. 11.36; 16.27. 1Ti. 1.17. 2Ti. 4.18. 1Pe. 4.11. Re. 1.6; 5.13.