All these things refers both to the “heavens” and to the “elements” mentioned in verse 10. The phrase may or may not include the earth and everything in it, depending on which textual variant is chosen in verse 10.

Are … to be dissolved translates a present participle, which may give the sense that these things are even now in the process of being destroyed, thus stressing the extreme urgency of the situation. The present participle, however, can be taken with a future sense, as Revised Standard Version and most translations have done (note Good News Translation “will be destroyed”). Thus, or “in this way,” refers back to verse 10; dissolved translates the same Greek word used there.

The words what sort of persons ought you to be may be interpreted in various ways:

1. As the beginning of a question that includes verse 12. This is the position represented by Revised Standard Version.

2. As a question, with the answer following immediately. This is the position reflected in Good News Translation (also New International Version, and Phillips “what sort of people ought you to be? Surely men of good and holy character…”).

3. With an imperative sense (“you ought to,” “it is necessary for you”). Many translations take this position; for example, Jerusalem Bible “you should be living holy and saintly lives,” An American Translation “what holy and pious lives you ought to lead,” and New English Bible “think what sort of people you ought to be, what devout and dedicated lives you should live!”

The Greek text allows for all three interpretations. However, in the UBS Greek New Testament, verses 11 and 12 are treated as one sentence and are punctuated not with a question mark but with a period. This seems to indicate that the second and third possibilities are closer to the meaning and intent of the Greek text. This also makes it possible for the long Greek sentence to be restructured into two or more sentences.

For godliness see comments on 1.3. Holiness (literally, “holy behavior”) is used here in a moral sense, describing a life characterized by dedication to God, dislike of anything evil or sinful, and blameless moral conduct. In the Greek both holiness and godliness are plural, which perhaps indicate various forms of godly and holy conduct. The phrase in lives of holiness and godliness may also be rendered as “You should live lives that are pure and dedicated to God” or “You should walk your lives in a holy (or, blameless) way, dedicated to God.”

Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Second Letter from Peter. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .