Chapter II: The Coming of Christ, Etc

1 [3:1]THIS second epistle, beloved, I now write to you, in which I excite your pure minds by remembrance, [3:2]to remember the words spoken before by the holy prophets, and the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour, [3:3] knowing this first, that in the last days scoffers shall come with scoffing walking after their inordinate desires, [3:4]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 world. [3:5]For of this they are willingly ignorant, that the heavens were of old, and the earth was made of water and by water by the word of God, [3:6]by which the world that then was, being overflowed with water, was destroyed. [3:7]But the present heavens and the earth have been preserved by his word, being kept for fire, at the day of the judgment and destruction of wicked men.

2 [3:8]But let not this one thing escape you, beloved, that one day with the Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. [3:9]The Lord is not slow in respect to his promise, as some men account slowness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to a change of mind.

3 [3:10]But the day of the Lord will come as a thief, in which the heavens shall pass away with a crash, and the elements be melted with heat, and the earth and the works in it be consumed. [3:11]All these things therefore being dissolved, what persons ought we to be in holy conduct and piety, [3:12] expecting and hastening the coming of the day of God, in which the heavens being burnt up will be dissolved and the elements be melted with heat. [3:13]But we, according to his promise, look for a new heaven and a new earth, in which dwells righteousness.

4 [3:14]Wherefore, beloved, looking for these things, be diligent that you may be found in him without a spot and blemish, in peace, [3:15]and consider the long-suffering of the Lord our salvation; as also our beloved brother Paul according to the wisdom given to him wrote to you, [3:16]as also in all his epistles speaking of these things, in which are some things hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable wrest as they also do the other Scriptures to their destruction. [3:17]Do you therefore, beloved, knowing [these things] before, be on your guard not to be carried away with the error of the wicked and fall from your steadfastness, [3:18]but grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever.

THE EPISTLE OF JUDAS

A.D. 67.

FALSE TEACHERS, ETC.

1 [1:1]JUDAS, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to the beloved in God the Father, and the called who are kept by Jesus Christ. [1:2]Mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you.

2 [1:3]Beloved, giving all diligence to write to you concerning the common salvation, I was under a necessity to write and exhort you to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints. [1:4]For some men have come in by deception, who were of old appointed to this judgment, impious, changing the grace of our God into lewdness, and denying our only master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

3 [1:5]But I wish to remind you, though you once knew all, that the Lord having saved his people from Egypt, afterwards destroyed those that believed not, [1:6] and the angels who kept not their own province, but left their habitation, he has kept under darkness in eternal chains, for the judgment of the great day; [1:7]as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities about them, committing fornication in the same manner as these and going after unnatural lewdness, are made an example, enduring the punishment of eternal fire.

4 [1:8]In like manner also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject government, and blaspheme glories. [1:9]But Michael the arch-angel, when disputing with the devil he reasoned about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a charge of blasphemy, but said, The Lord rebuke you. [1:10]But these blaspheme what they do not understand, and what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves. [1:11]Woe to them; for they have gone in the way of Cain, and rushed into the error of Balaam for a reward, and perished in the contradiction of Korah. [1:12]These are breakers at your love-feasts, feasting with you without fear, feeding themselves, clouds without water driven about by winds, autumnal trees without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots, [1:13]wild waves of the sea foaming with their own shame, wandering stars to which is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

5 [1:14]And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of them, saying, Behold, the Lord came with ten thousand of his saints [1:15]to execute judgment on all, and to convict all the wicked among them of all the deeds of impiety which they have impiously committed, and of all the hard speeches which impious sinners have spoken against him. [1:16]These are complainers, censorious, walking after their inordinate desires, and their mouth speaks proud words, showing admiration of persons for the sake of gain.

6 [1:17]But do you, beloved, remember the words spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, [1:18]that they said to you, That in the last time there shall be scoffers, walking in their own impious desires. [1:19]These are they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. [1:20]But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith, pray with the Holy Spirit. [1:21]Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. [1:22]And reprove some, separatists, [1:23]and some save, plucking them from the fire, but have mercy on others with fear, hating even the garment that is defiled by the flesh.

7 [1:24]And to him that is able to keep you without falling, and to present you blameless before his glory, with great joy, [1:25]to God our only Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power and authority before all worlds, both now and for ever more; amen.

FIRST EPISTLE OF JOHN.

A. D. 68.