New Revised Standard NRS
The Message Bible MSG
1 This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you; in them I am trying to arouse your sincere intention by reminding you
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My dear friends, this is now the second time I've written to you, both letters reminders to hold your minds in a state of undistracted attention.
2 that you should remember the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets, and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken through your apostles.
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Keep in mind what the holy prophets said, and the command of our Master and Savior that was passed on by your apostles.
3 First of all you must understand this, that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and indulging their own lusts
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First off, you need to know that in the last days, mockers are going to have a heyday. Reducing everything to the level of their puny feelings,
4 and saying, "Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since our ancestors died, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation!"
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they'll mock, "So what's happened to the promise of his Coming? Our ancestors are dead and buried, and everything's going on just as it has from the first day of creation. Nothing's changed."
5 They deliberately ignore this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago and an earth was formed out of water and by means of water,
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They conveniently forget that long ago all the galaxies and this very planet were brought into existence out of watery chaos by God's word.
6 through which the world of that time was deluged with water and perished.
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Then God's word brought the chaos back in a flood that destroyed the world.
7 But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the godless.
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The current galaxies and earth are fuel for the final fire. God is poised, ready to speak his word again, ready to give the signal for the judgment and destruction of the desecrating skeptics.
8 But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day.
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Don't overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day.
9 The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance.
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God isn't late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn't want anyone lost. He's giving everyone space and time to change.
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.
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But when the Day of God's Judgment does come, it will be unannounced, like a thief. The sky will collapse with a thunderous bang, everything disintegrating in a huge conflagration, earth and all its works exposed to the scrutiny of Judgment.
11 Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness,
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Since everything here today might well be gone tomorrow, do you see how essential it is to live a holy life?
12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire?
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Daily expect the Day of God, eager for its arrival. The galaxies will burn up and the elements melt down that day -
13 But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.
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but we'll hardly notice. We'll be looking the other way, ready for the promised new heavens and the promised new earth, all landscaped with righteousness.
14 Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish;
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So, my dear friends, since this is what you have to look forward to, do your very best to be found living at your best, in purity and peace.
15 and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation. So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,
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Interpret our Master's patient restraint for what it is: salvation. Our good brother Paul, who was given much wisdom in these matters,
16 speaking of this as he does in all his letters. There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures.
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refers to this in all his letters, and has written you essentially the same thing. Some things Paul writes are difficult to understand. Irresponsible people who don't know what they are talking about twist them every which way. They do it to the rest of the Scriptures, too, destroying themselves as they do it.
17 You therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned, beware that you are not carried away with the error of the lawless and lose your own stability.
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But you, friends, are well-warned. Be on guard lest you lose your footing and get swept off your feet by these lawless and loose-talking teachers.
18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
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Grow in grace and understanding of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ. Glory to the Master, now and forever! Yes!
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.