²² Since by your obedience to the truth you have purified yourselves for a sincere love of the believers, [see that you] love one another from the heart [always unselfishly seeking the best for one another], ²³ for you have been born again [that is, reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose] not of seed which is perishable but [from that which is] imperishable and immortal, that is, through the living and everlasting word of God. ²⁴ For,

And this is the word [the good news of salvation] which was preached to you.^(A)

As Newborn Babes

2 So put aside every trace of malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander and hateful speech; ² like newborn babies [you should] long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may be nurtured and grow in respect to salvation [its ultimate fulfillment], ³ if in fact you have [already] tasted ^[a]the goodness and gracious kindness of the Lord.^(B)

⁸ and,

for they stumble because they disobey the word [of God], and to this they [who reject Him as Savior] were also appointed.^(A)

Godly Living

3 In the same way, you wives, be ^[a]submissive to your own husbands [subordinate, not as inferior, but out of respect for the responsibilities entrusted to husbands and their accountability to God, and so partnering with them] so that even if some do not obey the word [of God], they may be won over [to Christ] without discussion by the godly lives of their wives,^(A)

³ For His divine power has bestowed on us [absolutely] everything necessary for [a dynamic spiritual] life and godliness, through ^[a]true and personal knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. ⁴ For by these He has bestowed on us His precious and magnificent promises [of inexpressible value], so that by them you may escape from the immoral freedom that is in the world because of disreputable desire, and become sharers of the divine nature.

¹² Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them and are established in the truth which is ^[a]held firmly in your grasp. ¹³ I think it right, as long as I am in this earthly tent, to inspire you by reminding you, ¹⁴ knowing that the laying aside of this earthly tent of mine is imminent, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. ¹⁵ Moreover, I will diligently endeavor [to see to it] that even after my departure you will be able, at all times, to call these things to mind.

Eyewitnesses

¹⁶ For we did not follow cleverly devised stories or myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were ^[b]eyewitnesses of His majesty [His grandeur, His authority, His sovereignty]. ¹⁷ For when He was invested with honor and [the radiance of the ^[c]Shekinah] glory from God the Father, such a voice as this came to Him from the [splendid] Majestic Glory [in the bright cloud that overshadowed Him, saying], ^[d]“This is My Son, My Beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased and delighted”—^{(A) 18} and we [actually] heard this voice made from heaven when we were together with Him on the holy mountain.^(B)

¹⁹ So we have the prophetic word made more certain. You do well to pay [close] attention to it as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and light breaks through the gloom and the ^[e]morning star arises in your hearts.^{(C) 20 [f]}But understand this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of or comes from one’s own [personal or special] interpretation, ²¹ for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.