Growth in Christian Virtue

1 ^[a]Simon Peter, a ^(A)bond-servant and ^(B)apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have received ^(C)a faith of the same ^[b]kind as ours, ^[c]by ^(D)the righteousness of ^(E)our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: ^2 (F)Grace and peace be multiplied to you in ^(G)the knowledge of God and of Jesus ^[d]our Lord, ³ for His ^(H)divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true ^(I)knowledge of Him who ^(J)called us ^[e]by His own glory and ^[f]excellence. ⁴ Through ^[g]these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent ^(K)promises, so that by them you may become ^(L)partakers of the divine nature, having ^(M)escaped the ^(N)corruption that is in ^(O)the world on account of lust.

¹¹ And He ^(A)gave ^(B)some as apostles, some as prophets, some as ^(C)evangelists, some as ^[a]pastors and ^(D)teachers, ^12 (E)for the equipping of the ^[b]saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of ^(F)the body of Christ; ¹³ until we all attain to ^(G)the unity of the faith, and of the ^[c](H)knowledge of the Son of God, to a ^(I)mature man, to the measure of the stature ^[d]which belongs to the ^(J)fullness of Christ.

Benediction

²⁰ Now may ^(A)the God of peace, who ^(B)brought up from the dead the ^(C)great Shepherd of the sheep ^[a]through ^(D)the blood of the ^(E)eternal covenant, that is, Jesus our Lord, ^21 (F)equip you in every good thing to do His will, ^(G)working in us that ^(H)which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, ^(I)to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

^16 (A)All Scripture is ^[a]inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for ^[b]rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; ¹⁷ so that ^(B)the man or woman of God may be ^[c]fully capable, ^(C)equipped for every good work.