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。

Greetings

Simon Peter, a slave and emissary of Messiah Yeshua,

To those who have received a faith equal to ours through the righteousness of our God and Savior, Messiah Yeshua:

May grace and shalom be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Yeshua our Lord.

Qualities for Living Forever

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and virtue. Through these things He has given us His precious and magnificent promises,[a] so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, since you have escaped the corruption that evil desires have brought into the world. Now for this very reason, making every effort, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly love; and to brotherly love, love. [b] For if these qualities are in you and increasing, they keep you from becoming idle and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. But anyone who lacks these qualities is blind—nearsighted because he has forgotten his cleansing from past sins. 10 Therefore, brothers and sisters, make all the more effort to make your calling and election certain—for if you keep doing these things, you will never stumble. 11 For in this way entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Messiah Yeshua, will be richly provided for you.

12 Therefore I intend to keep reminding you of these things, even though you know them and are well-grounded in the truth that you have. 13 I think it right to stir you up with a reminder, as long as I remain alive in this “tent” of a body[c] 14 knowing that my death[d] is soon, as our Lord Yeshua the Messiah has made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort for you to always remember these things even after my departure.

Distinguishing True Testimony from Tales

16 For we did not follow cleverly concocted tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, a voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory: “This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased!” [e] 18 And we ourselves heard this voice come out of heaven, when we were with Him on the holy mountain. [f] 19 Furthermore, we have the reliable prophetic word. You do well by paying attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. [g] 20 Above all understand this: no prophecy of Scripture comes about from a person’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever brought forth by human will; rather, people spoke from God as they were moved by the Ruach ha-Kodesh.[h]

Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 1:4 cf. Josh. 21:4; 1 Kings 8:56; Jer. 33:14.
  2. 2 Peter 1:8 Grk. philadelphia (brotherly love); agape (love).
  3. 2 Peter 1:13 cf. 2 Cor. 5:1.
  4. 2 Peter 1:14 Lit. the laying aside of my tent.
  5. 2 Peter 1:18 Matt. 17:5; (note also Matt. 3:17).
  6. 2 Peter 1:19 cf. Matt. 17:1, 5; Mk. 9:2-7.
  7. 2 Peter 1:20 cf. Num. 24:17.
  8. 2 Peter 1:21 cf. 2 Sam. 23:2; 2 Tim. 3:16.

Salutation

Simeon[a] Peter, a servant[b] and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have received a faith as precious as ours through the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ:[c]

May grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

The Christian’s Call and Election

His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by[d] his own glory and goodness. Thus he has given us, through these things, his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust, and may become participants in the divine nature. For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual[e] affection, and mutual[f] affection with love. For if these things are yours and are increasing among you, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For anyone who lacks these things is short-sighted and blind, and is forgetful of the cleansing of past sins. 10 Therefore, brothers and sisters,[g] be all the more eager to confirm your call and election, for if you do this, you will never stumble. 11 For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.

12 Therefore I intend to keep on reminding you of these things, though you know them already and are established in the truth that has come to you. 13 I think it right, as long as I am in this body,[h] to refresh your memory, 14 since I know that my death[i] will come soon, as indeed our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

Eyewitnesses of Christ’s Glory

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received honour and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is my Son, my Beloved,[j] with whom I am well pleased.’ 18 We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain.

19 So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this 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 you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21 because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.[k]

Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 1:1 Other ancient authorities read Simon
  2. 2 Peter 1:1 Gk slave
  3. 2 Peter 1:1 Or of our God and the Saviour Jesus Christ
  4. 2 Peter 1:3 Other ancient authorities read through
  5. 2 Peter 1:7 Gk brotherly
  6. 2 Peter 1:7 Gk brotherly
  7. 2 Peter 1:10 Gk brothers
  8. 2 Peter 1:13 Gk tent
  9. 2 Peter 1:14 Gk the putting off of my tent
  10. 2 Peter 1:17 Other ancient authorities read my beloved Son
  11. 2 Peter 1:21 Other ancient authorities read but moved by the Holy Spirit saints of God spoke