4 And they say, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers began to die, from the beginning of creation, everything remains the same. (Nothing in the world is changing, «brazen scolders who act according to their own lusts» claim. Fear of criticism).
5 Those who think this way do not know that in the beginning, by the word of God, the heavens and the earth are made up of water and water: (God created the heavens and the earth with his word, which are «made up of water and water»).
6 Therefore the world of that time perished, being drowned by water. (God has destroyed the world with water).
7 But the present heavens and the earth, which are contained by the same Word, are being preserved by fire for the day of judgment and destruction of wicked men. (The present heaven and earth, which are «contained by the same Word,» are being preserved for the judgment of the wicked.)
8 One thing should not be hidden from you, beloved, that the Lord has one day as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (With God, everything is possible).
9 The LORD does not delay in fulfilling the promise, as some consider it to be a delay; but he is patient with us, not wanting anyone to perish, but for everyone to come to repentance. (Repentance is beneficial to the priesthood, since there is a suggestion of guilt).
10 But the day of the LORD will come like a thief in the night, and then the heavens will pass away with a noise, and the elements, having flared up, will be destroyed, the earth and all the works on it will burn up. (Tat (slav.) – a thief. Elements (Greek) – in Greek philosophy – the primary elements (usually earth, water, fire and air), which make up the material world).
11 If all this is destroyed in this way, then what should you be in holy life and piety, (the conversion of all kinds of troubles).
12 who are waiting and wishing for the coming of the day of God, in which the inflamed heavens will collapse and the inflamed elements will melt? (The conversion of all kinds of troubles on the day of the «coming of God»).
13 Nevertheless, according to his promise, we are waiting for a new heaven and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. (Believers hope for a new heaven and a new earth, «where the truth dwells»).
14 Therefore, beloved, while waiting for this, strive to appear before him undefiled and blameless in the world; (Waiting for the «judgment of God»).
15 And consider the long-suffering of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you (Mentioning the Apostle Paul).
16 as he says about this in all the epistles, in which there is something incomprehensible, which the ignorant and the unapproved, to their own destruction, turn, like other Scriptures. (Christians should refute unjust accusations of disobedience to the authorities with their immaculate lives).
17 Therefore, beloved, having been forewarned of this, take care that you do not get carried away by the error of the wrongdoers and fall away from your statement (It is necessary to fight against the «error of the wrongdoers»).
18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Glory to Him both now and in the eternal Day. Amen. (The second epistle consists of 3 chapters. The author of this epistle calls himself Simon Peter, but many scholars doubt that it was really written by the Apostle Peter, and date it to the end of the I – beginning of the II century A.D. The style and ideas of this epistle are very different from the first, it was quite late adopted by the church. The Apostle warns believers against false teachers who, in their arrogance, will deny Jesus who redeemed them and his second coming. Christians should refute unjust accusations of disobedience to the authorities with their immaculate lives, they should meet the coming of the Lord with dignity. The whole message is imbued with hope for the imminent return of the «Redeemer» and the expectation of a new universe according to his word, that is, suggestion).
4. The First Conciliar Epistle of the Holy Apostle John the Theologian
Chapter 1
1 About what was from the beginning, what we heard, what we saw with our eyes, what we examined and what our hands touched, about the Word of life – (A story about what we heard, saw and felt).
2 For life has appeared, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you this eternal life, which was with the Father and appeared to us, – (A reference to God the father Yahweh).
3 We declare to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us: and our fellowship is with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. (Mention of Yahweh’s father-god and his son-god Jesus Christ).
4 And these things we write to you, that your joy may be perfect. (Appeal to the reader).
5 And this is the gospel that we have heard from him and are proclaiming to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in Him. (Mention of the «gospel» – the gospel. Praise of Jesus Christ).
6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, but we walk in darkness, then we lie and do not act according to the truth; (Praise of Jesus Christ).
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. (Praise of Jesus Christ, the blood of Jesus «cleanses us from all sin»).
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (All people are sinful, such a statement is beneficial to the priesthood).
9 If we confess our sins, he, being faithful and righteous, will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (The need for confession of sins, which is beneficial to the priesthood).
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we present him as a liar, and his word is not in us. (All people are sinful, such a statement is beneficial to the priesthood).
Chapter 2
1 My children! I am writing this to you so that you do not sin; and if anyone had sinned, then we have an advocate before the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous; (Everyone sins, from the point of view of religion, and the advocate «before the Father», that is, before God the father Yahweh should be his son Jesus Christ, the righteous).
2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for the sins of the whole world. (Jesus Christ is the mediator before sinners and Yahweh).
3 And that we have come to know Him, we learn from the fact that we keep his commandments. (Jesus Christ left the commandments – the setting of what is good and what is bad).
4 Whoever says, «I have known him,» but does not keep his commandments, is a liar, and there is no truth in him; (It is necessary to keep the commandments of Jesus Christ).
5 But whoever keeps his word, the love of God has truly been fulfilled in him: from this we know that we are in him. (It is necessary to keep the commandments of Jesus Christ).
6 Whoever says that he abides in him must do as he has done. (It is necessary to keep the commandments of Jesus Christ).
7 Beloved! I am not writing you a new commandment, but an ancient commandment that you had from the beginning. The ancient commandment is the word that you have heard from the beginning. (A commandment is a law, a requirement, a moral and ethical attitude).
8 Moreover, I am writing you a new commandment, which is true both in him and in you: because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. (The author declares that he is writing a new commandment).
9 Whoever says he is in the light, but hates his brother, is still in darkness. (Analogies, comparisons, parables).
10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no temptation in him. (Analogies, comparisons, parables).
11 But