2 Peter 3:1
“This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Peter tells his beloved readers this is his second letter, written to stir up their sincere minds by reminding them.
What Does 2 Peter 3:1 Mean?
Peter opens his final section warmly, calling his readers "beloved." He notes this is now his "second epistle" to them, and states his aim in both: to "stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance." The word for "pure" suggests a mind that is sincere, unmixed, tested by the light. His purpose is not to introduce novelty but to awaken what they already know.
After the dark warnings of chapter 2, Peter's tone softens into affection. He returns to his governing method — reminding. He does not assume his readers are corrupt; he addresses their "pure minds," trusting their sincerity, and seeks only to rouse them from drowsiness. This is the work of a faithful teacher near the end of his life: not heaping up new doctrines, but stirring settled hearts to remember and stay alert. The believer is reminded that much of the spiritual life is recollection — keeping awake to truths we already hold, lest familiarity dull them into sleep.
In the Original Language
eilikrines (εἰλικρινής), 'pure' — sincere, unmixed, tested as genuine in the light; an unalloyed mind.