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Does 2 Peter 3:10 Say the Earth Will Be Burned Up or Exposed?
What happens to the earth in 2 Peter 3:10? Is it burned up, or is it exposed? The answer may depend on which Bible translation you are reading. The NASB and KJV say that the earth and its works will be “burned up,” while the ESV and CSB say they will be “exposed” or “disclosed.” That is not simply a difference in translation philosophy; it reflects a genuine question about the Greek text underlying our English Bibles. So which word did Peter actually write, and how can we determine the answer? A Look at the English Translations A summary of four prominent English translations reveals the issue. ESV 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…
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Should We Trust Our Bible Translations?
Should we trust our Bible translations? This question naturally belongs as part of our previous series on the King James Version. Some people claim that the King James Version is without any errors in it, thus being the authoritative, inerrant Word of God. However, as we demonstrated previously, there are mistakes in the translation of the KJV. This brings up the question, how can we trust other Bible translations (any of them) if there might be errors in them? This question not only applies to the KJV, but also to the newer Bible translations (NASB, ESV, NIV, etc.). In order to work through this question, it will be helpful to consider the following points. 1. God’s Word is Inerrant Only in the Original, not in Translations Because every word of Scripture was given through prophecy, and since prophecy is considered authoritative and accurately represents God (cf. Deut 18:22; 2 Pet…