问安

耶稣基督的奴仆和使徒西门彼得

致那些藉着我们的神、救主耶稣基督的义,与我们领受同样宝贵信仰的人:

愿恩典与平安,藉着你们真正认识神,我们的主耶稣,多多地加给你们!

在信心里成长

主耶稣[a]神性的大能,因我们真正认识以自己的荣耀和美德召唤我们的那一位,就把一切有关生命和敬神的事都赐给了我们。 藉着这荣耀和美德[b],他把那些又宝贵又极大的应许赐给了我们,好使你们能藉着这些应许,逃脱世上因欲望而来的衰朽[c],成为在神的本性上有份的人。 是的,也正是为此,你们应当尽量地殷勤,在信仰上加美德;在美德上加知识; 在知识上加自制;在自制上加忍耐;在忍耐上加敬神; 在敬神上加弟兄之情;在弟兄之情上加爱; 因为你们如果有了这些,并且不断增多这些,它们就会使你们在真正认识我们主耶稣基督的事上,不会成为懒惰的[d]或不结果子的人; 就是说,没有具备这些的就是瞎眼的,他只看得见眼前的,忘记自己过去的罪孽已经得了洁净。 10 所以弟兄们,你们当更加努力地确定你们所蒙的召唤和拣选。要知道,如果你们如此行,就绝不会跌倒; 11 而这样,你们就丰丰富富地得到供应,进入我们的主、救主耶稣基督永恒的国度。

12 所以,虽然你们已经知道这些事,又在你们已有的真理上得了坚固,我还是要[e]不断地提醒你们。 13 我认为,只要我还在这帐篷里,就理当用提醒的话来激发你们, 14 因为我知道我脱离这帐篷的时候快到了,就像我们的主耶稣基督也曾向我指明的。 15 我也要努力,使你们在我离世以后,时常想起这些事。

可信的预言

16 要知道,我们从前让你们明白我们主耶稣基督的大能和他来临的事,并不是随从巧言编造的故事,相反,我们是亲眼见过他威荣的人。 17 他从父神领受尊贵和荣耀的时候,从那威严的荣耀中,有这样的声音向他传来,说:

“这是我的爱子,
我所喜悦的。”[f]

18 这从天上传来的声音,是我们与他一起在圣山上的时候听见的, 19 并且我们有先知更确切的话语。你们如果留心这些话语,把它当做照耀在暗处的灯,一直到天光破晓、晨星在你们心中升起,你们就做得很好了。 20 你们首先要知道这一点:经上的一切预言都不是出于人自己的解释[g] 21 因为预言从来不是藉着人的意思传来的,而是人受圣灵的感动[h]说出从神而来的话[i]

Footnotes

  1. 彼得后书 1:3 主耶稣——原文直译“他”。
  2. 彼得后书 1:4 这荣耀和美德——原文直译“这些”。
  3. 彼得后书 1:4 衰朽——或译作“败坏”。
  4. 彼得后书 1:8 懒惰的——或译作“无益的”。
  5. 彼得后书 1:12 要——有古抄本作“不能忽略”。
  6. 彼得后书 1:17 参《马太福音》17:5。
  7. 彼得后书 1:20 不是出于人自己的解释——或译作“不可做出自己的解释”。
  8. 彼得后书 1:21 受圣灵的感动——或译作“被圣灵带领”。
  9. 彼得后书 1:21 而是人受圣灵的感动说出从神而来的话——有古抄本作“而是神的圣人受圣灵感动说出来的”。

问安

耶稣基督的仆人和使徒西门.彼得,写信给那靠着我们的 神和救主耶稣基督的义,得着和我们同样宝贵信心的人。 愿恩惠平安,因你们确实认识 神和我们的主耶稣,多多加给你们。

信徒应当追求长进

 神以他神圣的能力,因着我们确实认识那位用自己的荣耀和美善呼召我们的,把一切有关生命和敬虔的事,都赐给了我们。 借着这些,他把又宝贵又极大的应许赐给了我们,好叫你们既然逃脱世上因私欲而来的败坏,就可以分享 神的本性。 正因这缘故,你们要多多努力:有了信心,又要增添美德;有了美德,又要增添知识; 有了知识,又要增添节制;有了节制,又要增添忍耐;有了忍耐,又要增添敬虔; 有了敬虔,又要增添弟兄的爱;有了弟兄的爱,还要增添神圣的爱。 因为你们有了这几样,并且继续增长,就必叫你们在确实认识我们的主耶稣基督上,不至于闲懒不结果子。 人若没有这几样,就是近视,简直是瞎眼的,忘记他过去的罪已经得了洁净。 10 所以弟兄们,要更加努力,使你们所蒙的呼召和拣选坚定不移;你们若实行这几样,就决不会跌倒。 11 这样,你们就得着充分的装备,可以进入我们的主和救主耶稣基督永远的国。

12 因此,你们虽然已经知道这些事,又在你们已有的真道上得到坚固,我还要时常提醒你们。 13 趁着我还在世上(“在世上”原文作“在这帐棚”)的时候,我认为应当提醒你们,使你们常常警醒, 14 因为我知道我离世(“离世”原文作“离开这帐棚”)的时候快到了,正如我们的主耶稣基督清楚指示我的。 15 我也要努力,使你们在我去世以后,还时常追念这些事。

信徒和先知都为基督作见证

16 我们从前把我们主耶稣基督的大能和降临的事告诉你们,并不是随从巧妙捏造传奇的故事,我们却是亲眼看见过他威荣的人。 17 因为他从父 神得着尊贵荣耀的时候,在极显赫的荣光中,有这样的声音对他说:“这是我的爱子,我所喜悦的。” 18 这从天上发出来的声音,是我们和他同在圣山上的时候,亲自听见过的。 19 我们还有先知的话,是更确实的。你们要特别注意它,好象注意照在暗处的明灯,直到天将破晓,晨星在你们心里出现的时候。 20 最要紧的,你们应当知道:圣经所有的预言,都不是先知自己的见解, 21 因为预言不是出于人意的,而是人受圣灵的感动,说出从 神而来的话。

我是耶穌基督的奴僕和使徒西門·彼得,寫信給藉著我們的上帝和救主耶穌基督的義,與我們得到同樣寶貴信心的人。

願你們因認識上帝和我們主耶穌而得到豐富的恩典和平安!

追求長進

因為我們認識了用自己的榮耀和美德呼召我們的上帝,上帝以祂神聖的能力將生命與敬虔所需要的一切賜給了我們。 藉此,祂已將既寶貴又偉大的應許賞給了我們,使我們脫離世上私慾帶來的敗壞,能夠有份於上帝的性情。

正因如此,你們要加倍努力,不僅要有信心,還要有好的德行;不僅要有好的德行,還要有知識; 不僅要有知識,還要有節制;不僅要有節制,還要有忍耐;不僅要有忍耐,還要有敬虔; 不僅要有敬虔,還要有愛弟兄姊妹的心;不僅要有愛弟兄姊妹的心,還要有愛眾人的心。 如果充分具備了這些品德,你們對我們主耶穌基督的認識就不會停滯不前,毫無收穫。 缺乏上述品德的人不是瞎眼就是目光短淺,忘記他從前的罪已經得到潔淨。

10 所以,弟兄姊妹,你們要更加努力,以確定自己蒙了呼召和揀選。這樣,你們就絕不會失足犯罪, 11 進入我們的主和救主耶穌基督永恆國度的大門必為你們敞開。

12 雖然你們已經知道這些事,並且在所領受的真道上也很堅固,但我還是要常常提醒你們。 13 我覺得應當趁著我還在世的時候[a]提醒你們,激勵你們, 14 因我知道自己離世的日子已經不遠了,正如我們的主耶穌基督指示我的。 15 我要盡力使你們在我離世以後仍然常常記得這些事。

見證基督的榮耀

16 我們從前告訴你們有關主耶穌基督的大能和祂降臨的事,並非根據巧妙虛構的神話,而是我們親眼見過祂的威榮。 17 祂從父上帝那裡得到了尊貴和榮耀,那時從極大的榮光中有聲音對祂說:「這是我的愛子,我甚喜悅祂。」 18 當時我們和祂一同在聖山上,親耳聽見了這來自天上的聲音。

19 這使我們更加確信先知的預言。你們要留意這些預言,把這些預言看作照耀在黑暗中的明燈,一直到天破曉、晨星在你們心中升起。 20 你們首先該知道:聖經上的一切預言都不可隨人的私意解釋, 21 因為預言絕非出於人的意思,都是人受了聖靈的感動,講出上帝的信息。

Footnotes

  1. 1·13 還在世的時候」希臘文是「還在這帳篷裡的時候」,作者用帳篷代表自己的身體。

Salutation

Chapter 1

Address.[a] Simon Peter,[b] a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received a faith as precious as ours through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: may grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge[c] of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Exhortation to Growth in Christian Virtues

Strengthen Your Vocation.[d] His divine power has bestowed on us everything that is necessary for life and for devotion through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and virtue. By these he has given us his precious promises, great beyond all price, so that through them you may escape from the corruption with which evil desires have infected the world and thereby may come to share in the divine nature.[e]

[f]In view of all this, you should make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with piety, and piety with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love.

If you possess these qualities and they increase in abundance, they will prevent your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ from being ineffective and unfruitful. For anyone who lacks them is near-sighted or blind, since he has forgotten how his past sins were washed away.[g]

10 Therefore, brethren, be diligent in providing a firm foundation for your call and election. If you do this, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a glorious welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.[h]

12 The Witness of an Apostle.[i] Therefore, I will continue to emphasize these things repeatedly, even though you already know them and are well grounded in the truth you possess. 13 For I think it is right, to refresh your memory as long as I remain in this body,[j] 14 since I know that my death[k] will come soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. 15 And I shall also make every effort to ensure that you will always recall these things after my departure.

16 We did not rely upon cleverly concocted myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Rather, we had beheld his majesty with our own eyes. 17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father when a voice came to him from the transcendent Majesty, saying, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came down from heaven, when we were with him on the sacred mountain.

19 Pay Close Attention to the Message of the Prophets.[l] This confirms the message of the Prophets more fully for us. You would do well to pay close attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

20 First of all, however, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of private interpretation. 21 No prophecy ever came from human initiative. Rather, when people spoke as messengers of God, they did so under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.[m]

Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 1:1 From the very first words, the author addresses believers, those who have received salvation or righteousness. He insists on faith and on knowledge of the Lord, the Christ.
  2. 2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter: see notes on Mt 16:18; 16:19; Jn 1:42. Servant: see note on Rom 1:1. Apostle: see notes on Mk 6:30; Rom 1:1; Heb 3:1-6. To those: probably the same addressees as in 1 Pet 1:1.
  3. 2 Peter 1:2 Knowledge: a key theme of the Letter (see 2 Pet 1:3, 5, 8; 2:20; 3:18), probably to combat the claims of the Gnostics.
  4. 2 Peter 1:3 Christianity is not just another religious theory among those that are actually in vogue. To believe is to place oneself personally under the very action of God and to know that the destiny of human beings is accomplished in his eternal Kingdom. Christians live in communion with God; the earthly dimension does not suffice for them. And these great realities are not mere words; they demand a radical change in the manner of conceiving one’s destiny and conducting one’s existence. Thus, regardless of the historical distance from the time of its foundation, the Christian life constitutes a new state of existence.
  5. 2 Peter 1:4 Share in the divine nature: an expression found only here in the Bible. The author uses it to express the fullness of divine life in Christ (see Jn 1:12; 14:20; 15:4f; Rom 6:5; 1 Cor 1:9f; 1 Jn 1:3b).
  6. 2 Peter 1:5 The author lists the virtues that are needed for a genuine Christian life.
  7. 2 Peter 1:9 This is similar to the warning in the Johannine Letters against the Gnostics (see 1 Jn 1:8f), who claimed to know God without keeping the commandments.
  8. 2 Peter 1:11 Kingdom of . . . Christ: it is also the Kingdom of the Father (see Eph 5:5; 2 Tim 4:1; Rev 11:15).
  9. 2 Peter 1:12 The testimony of an Apostle has a greater value than any arbitrary Gnostic speculation.
    To emphasize this point, the author presents his work as a testament of Peter, who reminds the readers that the Lord had told him of his proximate death (see Jn 21:18-19) and insists above all on the fact that he had been a witness of the Transfiguration (see Mt 17:1-13; Mk 9:2-13; Lk 9:28-36), an event that bore witness to the glory of Christ and thereby guaranteed his glorious Return, which was being challenged at this time.
  10. 2 Peter 1:13 Body: literally, “tent.”
  11. 2 Peter 1:14 My death: literally, “the time for laying aside this tent.”
  12. 2 Peter 1:19 While awaiting the great Day of fulfillment, Scripture constitutes the light on the human journey. It cannot be handed over to the arbitrary interpretations of teachers of fortune who construe it in their own peculiar way; the inspiration of the Spirit must be respected.
  13. 2 Peter 1:21 Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit: see note on 2 Tim 3:16. Both God and the authors were active in producing Scripture: God was the source of the content, but the writers used all their talents to set that message down.

Simon Peter, a servant(A) and apostle of Jesus Christ,(B)

To those who through the righteousness(C) of our God and Savior Jesus Christ(D) have received a faith as precious as ours:

Grace and peace be yours in abundance(E) through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.(F)

Confirming One’s Calling and Election

His divine power(G) has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him(H) who called us(I) by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises,(J) so that through them you may participate in the divine nature,(K) having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.(L)

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;(M) and to knowledge, self-control;(N) and to self-control, perseverance;(O) and to perseverance, godliness;(P) and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.(Q) For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive(R) in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.(S) But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind,(T) forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.(U)

10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters,[a] make every effort to confirm your calling(V) and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble,(W) 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom(X) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.(Y)

Prophecy of Scripture

12 So I will always remind you of these things,(Z) even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth(AA) you now have. 13 I think it is right to refresh your memory(AB) as long as I live in the tent of this body,(AC) 14 because I know that I will soon put it aside,(AD) as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.(AE) 15 And I will make every effort to see that after my departure(AF) you will always be able to remember these things.

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power,(AG) but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.(AH) 17 He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”[b](AI) 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.(AJ)

19 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable,(AK) and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light(AL) shining in a dark place, until the day dawns(AM) and the morning star(AN) rises in your hearts.(AO) 20 Above all, you must understand(AP) that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God(AQ) as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.(AR)

Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 1:10 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family.
  2. 2 Peter 1:17 Matt. 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35