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The Second General Epistle of Peter, Chapter 3
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| 1 |
This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which
I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
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| 2 |
That ye may be
mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets,
and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
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| 3 |
Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers,
walking after their own lusts,
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| 4 |
And saying, Where is the promise of
his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as
they were from the beginning of the creation.
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| 5 |
For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God
the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and
in the water:
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| 6 |
Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed
with water, perished:
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| 7 |
But 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.
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| 8 |
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is
with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
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| 9 |
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count
slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any
should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
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| 10 |
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the
which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements
shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are
therein shall be burned up.
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| 11 |
Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner
of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
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| 12 |
Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the
heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt
with fervent heat?
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| 13 |
Nevertheless we, according to his promise,
look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
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| 14 |
Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be
diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and
blameless.
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| 15 |
And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even
as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto
him hath written unto you;
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| 16 |
As also in all his epistles, speaking
in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be
understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they
do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
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| 17 |
Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware
lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from
your own stedfastness.
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| 18 |
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
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