Above all, understand this: ¹  In the last days blatant scoffers ²  will come, being propelled by their own evil urges ³ 

biblegateway 2Pe 3:3

Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts,

First, be aware of this: scoffers will come in the last days to scoff, following their own lusts,

above all knowing this, that in the last days scoffers will come with scoffing, following according to their own desires

biblegateway 2Pe 3:3

First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.

knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.

bibleoremus 2Pe 3:3

First of all you must understand this, that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and indulging their own lusts

First of all, note this: in the last days there will come scoffers who live self-indulgent lives; they will mock you and say:

biblegateway 2Pe 3:3

knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

biblegateway 2Pe 3:3

Above all, understand this: ¹  In the last days blatant scoffers ²  will come, being propelled by their own evil urges ³ 

¹ tn Grk “knowing this [to be] foremost.” Τοῦτο πρῶτον (touto prwton) constitute the object and complement of γινώσκοντες (ginwskonte"). The participle is loosely dependent on the infinitive in v. 2 (“[I want you] to recall”), perhaps in a telic sense (thus, “[I want you] to recall…[and especially] to understand this as foremost”). The following statement then would constitute the main predictions with which the author was presently concerned. An alternative is to take it imperativally: “Above all, know this.” In this instance, however, there is little semantic difference (since a telic participle and imperatival participle end up urging an action). Cf. also 2 Pet 1:20.

² tn The Greek reads “scoffers in their scoffing” for “blatant scoffers.” The use of the cognate dative is a Semitism designed to intensify the word it is related to. The idiom is foreign to English. As a Semitism, it is further incidental evidence of the authenticity of the letter (see the note on “Simeon” in 1:1 for other evidence).

³ tn Grk “going according to their own evil urges.”