if all this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.
Parallel translations
- WEB the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment;
- KJV The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
- NKJV then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,
- NASB then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from a trial, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment,
- NLT So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Peter concludes that the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment. It matters because it assures believers of deliverance and warns the wicked of certain judgment.
Overview
This verse draws the lesson from the preceding examples. The same God who judged angels, the ancient world, Sodom, and spared Noah and Lot still rescues his people and reserves the wicked for judgment. Believers can trust God's faithfulness, and false teachers are warned of inescapable accountability.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Ps 34:15–19The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their cry.
- 1 Cor 10:13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it.
- Rev 3:10Because you have kept My command to persevere, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
- 2 Tim 3:12Indeed, all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
- Jude 1:14–15Enoch, the seventh from Adam, also prophesied about them: “Behold, the Lord is coming with myriads of His holy ones
- 2 Pet 3:7And by that same word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
- 2 Cor 5:10–11For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.
- Prov 16:4The LORD has made everything for His purpose—even the wicked for the day of disaster.
- Job 5:19He will rescue you from six calamities; no harm will touch you in seven.
- Titus 2:14He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
- 2 Pet 2:4For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them deep into hell, placing them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment;
- Ps 4:3Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for Himself; the LORD hears when I call to Him.
- Rom 2:5But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.
- Job 21:30Indeed, the evil man is spared from the day of calamity, delivered from the day of wrath.
- Ps 32:6Therefore let all the godly pray to You while You may be found. Surely when great waters rise, they will not come near.
- Ps 12:1For the choirmaster. According to Sheminith. A Psalm of David. Help, O LORD, for the godly are no more; the faithful have vanished from among men.
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Christ at the center
The sure word of the prophets and the promise of the coming day of the Lord anchor the believer in the knowledge of 'our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.'
How 2 Peter 2:9 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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