2 Peter 3:11-18 Lesson 456

2 Peter 3:11-18
Lesson 456

Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

In this Lesson:

A continuation of lesson 455.
The Second Coming.

How to live in the last days.
Wait for the New Heaven and the New Earth (3:11-14).
Final benediction (3:17-18).

A new heaven and a new earth.
By American artist Daniel Brian Holeman.

Study Tip:

Think how you can apply each passage to your life.
Bettering ourselves by applying God's truth is a difficult part of Bible work and may require several days of thought and prayer per application. But the results are worth the effort.

The Second Epistle of Peter

The King James Bible

2 Peter 3:11-18
Be prepared

11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

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?

13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

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.

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;

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.

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.

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.

Margin notes:

"Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved." (3:11) - "Since all these things (the world as we know it) will be destroyed."

"What manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness." (3:11) - "You should be living holy, godly lives." Are you living a godly life? What kind of person are you?

"Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved." (3:12) - "Look forward to the day of the Lord, when the heavens will be destroyed by fire." As prophesized in Psalm 50:3 and Micah 1:4.

"We, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth." (3:13) - Because God promised, Christians can look forward to a new and never-ending world (Isaiah 65:17; 66:22;
Revelation 21:1-4).

"Wherein dwelleth righteousness." (3:13) - "Where goodness lives."

"Seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless." (3:14) - "Since you are waiting for this (The Second Coming), be careful that He (Jesus) finds you at peace (with Him), sinless and blameless" (1 Thessalonians 3:13).

"And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation." (3:15) - "And remember that the Lord's patience is salvation." Thanks to God's patience, more will find Christ (Romans 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9).

"Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you." (3:15) - Means Paul's writings were given to him by God. In fact, the entire Bible was inspired by the Holy Spirit and therefore trustworthy.

"As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things." (3:16) - "In all his letters, (Paul) wrote about these things."

"They that are unlearned and unstable wrest." (3:16) - People who are ignorant of Scripture or weak and wavering in their faith twist Paul's words.

"Scriptures." (3:16) - This is the first time Paul's epistles were called Scripture, acknowledging that they are divinely inspired.

"Fall from your own stedfastness." (3:17) - "Lose your stability."

"To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." (3:18) - Paul wrote the same ending to Timothy (2 Timothy 4:18).

To learn more about spiritual preparedness, open your heart and read Romans 13:11-14; Ephesians 4:17-32;
Philippians 1:12-16; Colossians 3:4-17; and 1 Thessalonians 5:2-11.

New Living Translation

2 Peter 3:11-18

11 Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live,

12 looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames.

13 But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God's righteousness.

14 And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.

15 And remember, the Lord's patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him-

16 speaking of these things in all of his letters. Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture. And this will result in their destruction.

Peter's Final Words

17 I am warning you ahead of time, dear friends. Be on guard so that you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing.

18 Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.

This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word-for-word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."

Today's question:

1. How will the world end (3:12)?

Pray for the strength to resist sin.
Ask for forgiveness when you fall to temptation and give thanks when you don't.

Answer: (Do you agree?)

1. The world will end by fire. But believers will be spared.

Application thought for the day:

What one thing in this passage can you apply to your life?

This is the final lesson for "The Second Epistle of Peter."

Second Peter taught us how Christians should live (1:3-12) and the dangers of false prophets (2:1-22). We learned of the hope offered by true prophecy and more about the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (3:1-16).

But the most important message of 2 Peter is his appeal to be holy.

As with all the books in the Bible, go back and re-read 2 Peter.
It is only four pages long and you will be surprised at the new insights you gain.

In a few days...

I will send you the first lesson of "The First Epistle of John."

Just forty-four lessons to go.

God Bless!

Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course, the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
© 2023 evolke

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