Godly Living

3 ^(A)In the same way, you wives, ^(B)be subject to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be ^(C)won over without a word by the behavior of their wives, ² as they observe your pure ^[a]and respectful behavior. ^3 (D)Your adornment must not be merely the external—braiding the hair, wearing gold jewelry, or putting on apparel; ⁴ but it should be ^(E)the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. ⁵ For in this way the holy women of former times, ^(F)who hoped in God, also used to adorn themselves, being subject to their own husbands, ⁶ just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, ^(G)calling him lord; and you have proved to be her children if you do what is right ^[b](H)without being frightened by any fear.

^7 (I)You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with ^[c](J)someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

^8 [d]To sum up, ^(K)all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, ^[e](L)loving, ^(M)compassionate, and ^(N)humble; ^9 (O)not returning evil for evil or ^(P)insult for insult, but giving a ^(Q)blessing instead; for ^(R)you were called for the very purpose that you would ^(S)inherit a blessing. ¹⁰ For,

^13 (W)And who is ^[f]there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? ¹⁴ But even if you should ^(X)suffer for the sake of righteousness, ^(Y)you ^[g]are blessed. ^(Z)And do not fear their ^[h]intimidation, and do not be in dread, ¹⁵ but ^[i]sanctify ^(AA)Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready ^(AB)to make a ^[j]defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the ^(AC)hope that is in you, but ^(AD)with gentleness and ^(AE)respect; ^16 [k]and keep a ^(AF)good conscience so that in the thing in which ^(AG)you are slandered, those who disparage your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. ¹⁷ For ^(AH)it is better, ^(AI)if ^[l]God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. ¹⁸ For ^(AJ)Christ also ^[m]suffered for sins ^(AK)once for all time, the just for the unjust, so that He might ^(AL)bring us to God, having been put to death ^(AM)in the flesh, but made alive ^(AN)in the ^[n]spirit; ¹⁹ in ^[o]which He also went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison, ²⁰ who once were disobedient when the ^(AO)patience of God ^(AP)kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of ^(AQ)the ark, in which a few, that is, ^(AR)eight ^(AS)persons, were brought safely through the water. ^21 (AT)Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—^(AU)not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God ^[p]for a ^(AV)good conscience—through ^(AW)the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ^22 (AX)who is at the right hand of God, ^(AY)having gone into heaven, ^(AZ)after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

Keep Fervent in Your Love

4 Therefore, since ^(BA)Christ has ^[q]suffered in the flesh, ^(BB)arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because ^(BC)the one who has ^[r]suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, ^2 (BD)so as to live ^(BE)the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human lusts, but for the ^(BF)will of God. ³ For ^(BG)the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, ^[s](BH)having pursued a course of indecent behavior, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties, and wanton idolatries. ⁴ In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them in the same excesses of ^(BI)[t]debauchery, and they ^(BJ)slander you; ⁵ but they will give an account to Him who is ready to judge ^(BK)the living and the dead. ⁶ For ^(BL)the gospel has for this purpose been ^[u]preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as people, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.

^7 (BM)The end of all things ^[v]is near; therefore, ^(BN)be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of ^[w]prayer. ⁸ Above all, ^(BO)keep fervent in your love for one another, because ^(BP)love covers a multitude of sins. ^9 (BQ)Be hospitable to one another without ^(BR)complaint. ^10 (BS)As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good ^(BT)stewards of the ^[x]multifaceted grace of God. ^11 (BU)Whoever speaks is to do so as one who is speaking ^(BV)actual words of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving ^[y](BW)by the strength which God supplies; so that ^(BX)in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, ^(BY)to whom belongs the glory and ^[z]dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Share the Sufferings of Christ

^12 (BZ)Beloved, do not be surprised at the ^(CA)fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though something strange were happening to you; ¹³ but to the degree that you ^(CB)share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that at the ^(CC)revelation of His glory ^(CD)you may also rejoice and be overjoyed. ¹⁴ If you are insulted ^[aa](CE)for the name of Christ, ^(CF)you are blessed, ^(CG)because the Spirit of glory, and of God, rests upon you. ¹⁵ Make sure that ^(CH)none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a ^[ab](CI)troublesome meddler; ¹⁶ but if anyone suffers as a ^(CJ)Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to ^(CK)glorify God in this name. ¹⁷ For it is time for judgment ^(CL)to begin ^[ac]with ^(CM)the household of God; and if it ^(CN)begins ^[ad]with us first, what will be the outcome for those ^(CO)who do not obey the ^(CP)gospel of God? ^18 (CQ)And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, ^[ae]what will become of the ^(CR)godless man and the sinner? ¹⁹ Therefore, those also who suffer according to ^(CS)the will of God are to entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.

Serve God Willingly

5 ^(CT)Therefore, I urge elders among you, as your ^(CU)fellow elder and a ^(CV)witness of the sufferings of Christ, and one who is also a ^[af](CW)fellow partaker of the glory that is to be revealed: ² shepherd ^(CX)the flock of God among you, exercising oversight, ^(CY)not under compulsion but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and ^(CZ)not ^[ag]with greed but with eagerness; ³ nor yet as ^(DA)domineering over ^[ah]those assigned to your care, but by ^[ai]proving to be ^[aj](DB)examples to the flock. ⁴ And when the Chief ^(DC)Shepherd appears, you will receive the ^(DD)unfading ^[ak](DE)crown of glory. ^5 (DF)You ^[al]younger men, likewise, ^(DG)be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with ^(DH)humility toward one another, because ^(DI)God is opposed to the proud, but He gives grace to the humble.

⁶ Therefore ^(DJ)humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, ⁷ having cast all your ^(DK)anxiety on Him, because He cares about you. ^8 (DL)Be of sober spirit, ^(DM)be on the alert. Your adversary, ^(DN)the devil, prowls around like a roaring ^(DO)lion, seeking someone to devour. ^9 [am](DP)So resist him, ^(DQ)firm in your faith, knowing that ^(DR)the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your ^[an]brothers and sisters who are in the world. ¹⁰ After you have suffered ^(DS)for a little while, the ^(DT)God of all grace, who ^(DU)called you to His ^(DV)eternal glory in Christ, will Himself ^(DW)perfect, ^(DX)confirm, strengthen, and establish you. ^11 (DY)To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.

¹² Through ^(DZ)Silvanus, our faithful brother ^[ao](for so I regard him), ^(EA)I have written to you briefly, ^[ap]exhorting and testifying that this is ^(EB)the true grace of God. ^(EC)Stand firm in it! ¹³ She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, ^(ED)Mark. ^14 (EE)Greet one another with a kiss of love.

^(EF)Peace be to you all who are in Christ.

Growth in Christian Virtue

1 ^[aq]Simon Peter, a ^(EG)bond-servant and ^(EH)apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have received ^(EI)a faith of the same ^[ar]kind as ours, ^[as]by ^(EJ)the righteousness of ^(EK)our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: ^2 (EL)Grace and peace be multiplied to you in ^(EM)the knowledge of God and of Jesus ^[at]our Lord, ³ for His ^(EN)divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true ^(EO)knowledge of Him who ^(EP)called us ^[au]by His own glory and ^[av]excellence. ⁴ Through ^[aw]these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent ^(EQ)promises, so that by them you may become ^(ER)partakers of the divine nature, having ^(ES)escaped the ^(ET)corruption that is in ^(EU)the world on account of lust. ⁵ Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith ^(EV)supply ^(EW)moral ^[ax]excellence, and in your moral excellence, ^(EX)knowledge, ⁶ and in your knowledge, ^(EY)self-control, and in your self-control, ^(EZ)perseverance, and in your perseverance, ^(FA)godliness, ⁷ and in your godliness, ^(FB)brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. ⁸ For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they do not make you useless nor ^(FC)unproductive in the true ^(FD)knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ For the one who lacks these qualities is ^(FE)blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his ^(FF)purification from his former sins. ¹⁰ Therefore, brothers and sisters, be all the more diligent to make certain about His ^(FG)calling and ^(FH)choice of you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never ^(FI)stumble; ¹¹ for in this way the entrance into ^(FJ)the eternal kingdom of our ^(FK)Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be ^(FL)abundantly ^(FM)supplied to you.

¹² Therefore, ^(FN)I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them and have been established in ^(FO)the truth which is present with you. ¹³ I consider it ^(FP)right, as long as I am in ^(FQ)this earthly ^[ay]dwelling, to ^(FR)stir you up by way of reminder, ¹⁴ knowing that ^(FS)the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, ^(FT)as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. ¹⁵ And I will also be diligent that at any time after my ^(FU)departure you will be able to call these things to mind.

Eyewitnesses

¹⁶ For we did not follow cleverly devised ^(FV)tales when we made known to you the ^(FW)power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were ^(FX)eyewitnesses of His majesty. ¹⁷ For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such a ^(FY)[az]declaration as this was made to Him by the ^(FZ)Majestic Glory: “This is ^[ba]My beloved Son with whom I am well pleased”— ¹⁸ and we ourselves heard this ^[bb]declaration made from heaven when we were with Him on the ^(GA)holy mountain.

¹⁹ And so we have ^(GB)the prophetic word made more ^(GC)sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to ^(GD)a lamp shining in a dark place, until the ^(GE)day dawns and the ^(GF)morning star arises ^(GG)in your hearts. ²⁰ But ^(GH)know this first of all, that ^(GI)no prophecy of Scripture ^[bc]becomes a matter of ^[bd]someone’s own interpretation, ²¹ for ^(GJ)no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men ^(GK)moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

The Appearance of False Prophets

2 But ^(GL)false prophets also appeared among the people, just as there will also be ^(GM)false teachers ^(GN)among you, who will ^(GO)secretly introduce ^(GP)destructive heresies, even ^(GQ)denying the ^(GR)Master who ^(GS)bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. ² Many will follow their ^(GT)indecent behavior, and because of them ^(GU)the way of the truth will be ^(GV)maligned; ³ and in their ^(GW)greed they will ^(GX)exploit you with ^(GY)false words; ^(GZ)their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

⁴ For ^(HA)if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into ^[be]hell and ^(HB)committed them to ^[bf]pits of darkness, held for judgment; ⁵ and did not spare ^(HC)the ancient world, but protected ^(HD)Noah, a ^[bg]preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a ^(HE)flood upon the world of the ungodly; ⁶ and if He ^(HF)condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an ^(HG)example ^[bh]of what is coming for the ^(HH)ungodly; ⁷ and if He ^(HI)rescued righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the ^(HJ)perverted conduct of ^[bi](HK)unscrupulous people ⁸ (for by what he saw and heard that ^(HL)righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds), ^9 (HM)then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from ^[bj]a trial, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the ^(HN)day of judgment, ¹⁰ and especially those who ^[bk](HO)indulge the flesh in its corrupt passion, and ^(HP)despise ^[bl]authority.

^[bm]Reckless, ^(HQ)self-centered, they ^(HR)speak abusively of angelic ^[bn]majesties without trembling, ^11 (HS)whereas angels who are greater in might and power do not bring a demeaning judgment against them before the Lord. ¹² But ^(HT)these, like unreasoning animals, ^(HU)born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed, using abusive speech where they have no knowledge, will in ^[bo]the destruction of those creatures also be destroyed, ¹³ suffering wrong as ^(HV)the wages of doing wrong. They count it a pleasure to ^(HW)revel in the ^(HX)daytime. They are stains and blemishes, ^(HY)reveling in their ^[bp]deceptions as they ^(HZ)feast with you, ¹⁴ having eyes full of adultery ^[bq]that never cease from sin, ^(IA)enticing ^(IB)unstable souls, having hearts trained in ^(IC)greed, ^(ID)accursed children; ¹⁵ abandoning ^(IE)the right way, they have gone astray, having followed ^(IF)the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved ^(IG)the ^[br]reward of unrighteousness; ¹⁶ but he received a rebuke for his own offense, ^(IH)for a mute donkey, speaking with a human voice, restrained the insanity of the prophet.

¹⁷ These are ^(II)springs without water and mists driven by a storm, ^(IJ)for whom the ^[bs]black darkness has been reserved. ¹⁸ For, while speaking out ^(IK)arrogant words of no ^(IL)value they ^(IM)entice by fleshly desires, by ^(IN)indecent behavior, those who barely ^(IO)escape from the ones who live in error, ¹⁹ promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for ^(IP)by what anyone is overcome, by this he is enslaved. ²⁰ For if, after they have ^(IQ)escaped the defilements of the world by ^(IR)the knowledge of the ^(IS)Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again ^(IT)entangled in them and are overcome, ^(IU)the last state has become worse for them than the first. ^21 (IV)For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from ^(IW)the holy commandment ^(IX)handed on to them. ^22 [bt]It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “^(IY)A dog returns to its own vomit,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.”

Purpose of This Letter

3 ^(IZ)Beloved, this is now the second letter I am writing to you in which I am ^(JA)stirring up your sincere mind by way of a reminder, ² to ^(JB)remember the words spoken beforehand by ^(JC)the holy prophets and ^(JD)the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles.

The Coming Day of the Lord

^3 (JE)Know this first of all, that ^(JF)in the last days ^(JG)mockers will come with their mocking, ^(JH)following after their own lusts, ⁴ and saying, “^(JI)Where is the promise of His ^(JJ)coming? For ever since the fathers ^[bu](JK)fell asleep, all things continue just as they were ^(JL)from the beginning of creation.” ⁵ For ^[bv]when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that ^(JM)by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was ^(JN)formed out of water and by water, ⁶ through which ^(JO)the world at that time was ^(JP)destroyed by being flooded with water. ⁷ But by His word ^(JQ)the present heavens and earth are being reserved for ^(JR)fire, kept for ^(JS)the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly people.

⁸ But do not let this one fact escape your notice, ^(JT)beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and ^(JU)a thousand years like one day. ^9 (JV)The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but ^(JW)is patient toward you, ^(JX)not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.

A New Heaven and Earth

¹⁰ But ^(JY)the day of the Lord ^(JZ)will come like a thief, in which ^(KA)the heavens ^(KB)will pass away with a roar and the ^(KC)elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and ^(KD)the earth and ^[bw]its works will be ^[bx]discovered.

¹¹ Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, ^12 (KE)looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which ^(KF)the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the ^(KG)elements will melt with intense heat! ¹³ But according to His ^(KH)promise we are looking for ^(KI)new heavens and a new earth, ^(KJ)in which righteousness dwells.

^14 (KK)Therefore, ^(KL)beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be ^(KM)found ^(KN)spotless and blameless by Him, at peace, ¹⁵ and regard the ^(KO)patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also ^(KP)our beloved brother Paul, ^(KQ)according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, ¹⁶ as also in all his letters, speaking in them of ^(KR)these things, ^(KS)in which there are some things that are hard to understand, which the untaught and ^(KT)unstable distort, as they do also ^(KU)the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. ¹⁷ You therefore, ^(KV)beloved, knowing this beforehand, ^(KW)be on your guard so that you are not carried away by ^(KX)the error of ^[by](KY)unscrupulous people and ^(KZ)lose your own ^[bz]firm commitment, ¹⁸ but grow in the grace and ^(LA)knowledge of our ^(LB)Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. ^(LC)To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

The Incarnate Word

1 What was ^(LD)from the beginning, what we have ^(LE)heard, what we have ^(LF)seen with our eyes, what we ^(LG)have looked at and ^(LH)touched with our hands, concerning the ^(LI)Word of Life— ² and ^(LJ)the life was revealed, and we have ^(LK)seen and ^(LL)testify and proclaim to you ^(LM)the eternal life, which was ^(LN)with the Father and was ^(LO)revealed to us— ³ what we have ^(LP)seen and ^(LQ)heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our ^(LR)fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. ^4 (LS)These things we write, so that our ^(LT)joy may be made complete.

God Is Light

^5 (LU)This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that ^(LV)God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. ^6 (LW)If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we ^(LX)lie and ^(LY)do not practice the truth; ⁷ but if we ^(LZ)walk in the Light as ^(MA)He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and ^(MB)the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. ^8 (MC)If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the ^(MD)truth is not in us. ^9 (ME)If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and ^(MF)cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ^10 (MG)If we say that we have not sinned, we ^(MH)make Him a liar and ^(MI)His word is not in us.