2 Peter 2:13-3:8

False Prophets and Teachers

13 suffering wrong as k the wage for their wrongdoing. They count it pleasure l to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, 1 while m they feast with you. 14 They have eyes full of adultery, n insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts o trained in greed. p Accursed children! 15 Forsaking the right way, q they have gone astray. They have followed r the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved s gain from wrongdoing, 16 but was rebuked for his own transgression; t a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet's madness.

17 u These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. v For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved. 18 For, w speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely x escaping from those who live in error. 19 They promise them y freedom, z but they themselves are slaves 2 of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. 20 For if, a after they have escaped the defilements of the world b through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, c the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 For d it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from e the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 What the true proverb says has happened to them: "The f dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire."

2 Peter 3

The Day of the Lord Will Come

1 This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them g I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2 h that you should remember the predictions of i the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, 3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come j in the last days with scoffing, k following their own sinful desires. 4 l They will say, "Where is the promise of m his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation." 5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth n was formed out of water and through water o by the word of God, 6 and that by means of these the world that then existed p was deluged with water and q perished. 7 But by the same word r the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and s destruction of the ungodly.

8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and t a thousand years as one day.

  1. Cross References
    2 Peter 2:15
    Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing.
  2. Cross References
    Romans 13:13
    Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.
    1 Thessalonians 5:7
    For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night.
    James 5:5
    You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.
  3. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 11:21
    For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk.
  4. Cross References
    1 Peter 4:1
    Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.
  5. Cross References
    2 Peter 2:3
    And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
    1 Timothy 4:7
    Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness.
  6. Cross References
    Ephesians 2:3
    Among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
  7. Cross References
    Ezekiel 14:11
    That the house of Israel may no more go astray from me, nor defile themselves anymore with all their transgressions, but that they may be my people and I may be their God, declares the Lord God.
  8. Cross References
    Numbers 22:5
    Sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pe...
    Numbers 22:7
    So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian ...
    Deuteronomy 23:4
    Because they did not meet you with bread and wi...
    Nehemiah 13:2
    For they did not meet the people of Israel with...
    Jude 1:11
    Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain...
    Revelation 2:14
    But I have a few things against you: you have s...
  9. Cross References
    2 Peter 2:13
    Suffering wrong as the wage for their wrongdoing. They count it pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, while they feast with you.
  10. Cross References
    Numbers 22:21
    So Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.
    Numbers 22:23
    And the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand. And the donkey turned aside out of the road and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the road.
    Numbers 22:28
    Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?
  11. Cross References
    Jude 1:12
    These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted.
  12. Cross References
    Jude 1:13
    Wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.
  13. Cross References
    Jude 1:16
    These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.
  14. Cross References
    2 Peter 2:20
    For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.
    2 Peter 1:4
    By which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
  15. Cross References
    Galatians 5:13
    For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
    James 1:25
    But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
  16. Cross References
    John 8:34
    Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.
    Romans 6:16
    Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
  17. Cross References
    2 Peter 2:18
    For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error.
  18. Cross References
    2 Peter 1:2
    May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
  19. Cross References
    Matthew 12:45
    Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.
  20. Cross References
    Ezekiel 18:24
    But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice and does the same abominations that the wicked person does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die.
    Luke 12:47
    And that servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating.
    Hebrews 6:4 - 6
    For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit.
    Hebrews 10:26 - 27
    For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.
    James 4:17
    So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
  21. Cross References
    Romans 7:12
    So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
  22. Cross References
    Proverbs 26:11
    Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.
  23. Cross References
    2 Peter 1:13
    I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder.
  24. Cross References
    Jude 1:17
    But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.
  25. Cross References
    Luke 1:70
    As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old.
    Acts 3:21
    Whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.
  26. Cross References
    Jude 1:18
    They said to you, "In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.
  27. Cross References
    2 Peter 2:10
    And especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority. Bold and willful, they do not tremble as they blaspheme the glorious ones.
  28. Cross References
    Isaiah 5:19
    Who say: "Let him be quick, let him speed his w...
    Jeremiah 17:15
    Behold, they say to me, "Where is the word of t...
    Ezekiel 11:3
    Who say, 'The time is not near to build houses....
    Ezekiel 12:22
    Son of man, what is this proverb that you have ...
    Ezekiel 12:27
    "Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israe...
    Malachi 2:17
    You have wearied the Lord with your words. But ...
  29. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 2:19
    For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?
  30. Cross References
    Psalms 24:2
    For he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.
    Psalms 136:6
    To him who spread out the earth above the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever.
  31. Cross References
    Genesis 1:6
    And God said, "Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.
    Genesis 1:9
    And God said, "Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear." And it was so.
    Psalms 33:6
    By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.
    Hebrews 11:3
    By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
  32. Cross References
    2 Peter 2:5
    If he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly.
  33. Cross References
    Genesis 7:11
    In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the windows of the heavens were opened.
    Genesis 7:21
    And all flesh died that moved on the earth, birds, livestock, beasts, all swarming creatures that swarm on the earth, and all mankind.
  34. Cross References
    2 Peter 3:10
    But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
    2 Peter 3:12
    Waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!
  35. Cross References
    2 Thessalonians 1:9
    They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.
  36. Cross References
    Psalms 90:4
    For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.