(Tap footnote to read it. Old Testament quotations are underlined. "Love" with a caret ("^love") is agapé.1"agapé" The Greek words ἀγάπη (agapé, noun), and ἀγαπάω (agapaó; verb) are typically translated "love". However, unlike our English word "love" – which primarily speaks of affection and feelings – agapé centers on choice and behavior. It’s the "love" based on will, choice, behavior, and action; not feelings. (Feelings-based love is the Greek word φιλέω (phileó), which properly means "brotherly love/affection".) Thus, you could hate someone passionately and still treat him with "agapé". Agapé "love" is best understood as the pursuit of what is most beneficial to someone or something, regardless of the cost to yourself or the type of response received from the person or thing. It can also indicate a preference for someone or something over other things. )
The Lord doesn’t delay
- Beloved, this is already the second letter I write to you, by which I stir up your sincerely pure1“sincerely pure” is one word in Greek. It comes from two other Greek words, the first meaning the shining of the sun, the second to judge. Together, it means to be judged righteous or pure and sincere after being see in the full light, with the implication of being thoroughly examined and still found pure. mind in remembrance,
- to remember the words which have been spoken beforehand by the holy prophets, and the commandment of the Lord and savior through your apostles.
- Knowing this first, that in the last days scoffers will come with scoffing, walking according to their own cravings
- and saying: “Where is the promise of His coming? For from the time that the fathers fell asleep, all things remain as they were from the beginning of creation.”
- For this willingly escapes their notice: that the heavens were existing long ago, and by the word of God the earth has been established from water and through water,
- through which the world then perished, having been flooded with water.
- But the heavens and the earth exist now by the same word, *reserved for fire that’s being kept for the day of judgement and the ruin of ungodly men.
- But beloved, don’t let this one thing escape your notice: that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.
- The Lord doesn’t delay the promised fulfillment, as some consider delay. But He patiently endures for you, not intending2“intending” The Greek word βούλομαι (boulomai) is often translated “desiring” or “wishing” in this verse, but it contains much more force than a mere wish or desire. It means a resolute or determined plan that is intended to be carried out. Compare in Matthew 11:27 and 1 Corinthians 12:11, among other verses. for any to perish, but to make space for the repentance of all.
- But the Lord’s day will arrive like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a great rushing sound, and the elements will be dissolved by burning with intense heat, and the earth and the works in it [won’t be found].3“won’t be found”. This passage contains one of the most difficult textual variants in the New Testament, centering on the final verb of the sentence. The Critical Text reads εὑρεθήσεται (heurethēsetai = “will be found/discovered”), while the more traditional textual reading in the Majority Text and Textus Receptus read κατακαήσεται (katakaesetai = “will be burned up”). Additionally, some ancient translations into other languages include a negation before the heurethēsetai reading, making it “will not be found”. However, this reading has no support from Greek manuscripts. That makes the options (1) “will be found out” in the sense of judicial discovery. (2) “will be burned up” in the obvious sense. (This variant has strong support from the immediate context of the passage.) (3) “won’t be found” in the sense of destruction. The BOS Bible has stuck to its source text on this difficult variant, and thus its translation shouldn’t be considered an endorsement of this reading over the others.
- With all these being dissolved this way, what sort of men ought you to be? Holy in conduct and godliness,
- looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved by being set on fire, and the elements melt by burning with intense heat.
- But we look for the new heavens and the new earth according to His promise, in which righteousness dwells.
- Therefore beloved, while looking for these things, be zealously diligent to be found spotless and unblemished by Him, and at peace.
- And regard the forbearance of our Lord as salvation, just as also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you, according to the wisdom which was given to him.
- And as in all his letters, he’s speaking in them about these things, in which some things are difficult to understand, which the unlearned and unstable twist to their own ruin, as they also twist the rest of the scriptures.
- Therefore, you beloved – knowing this beforehand – watch out so you might not fall from your own steadfastness, having been led away by the deceitful error of lawless men.
- But grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and savior, Jesus the Anointed. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of ages. Amen.
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