Confirm Your Calling and Election

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him (A)who called us to[a] his own glory and excellence,[b] by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become (B)partakers of the divine nature, (C)having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith (D)with virtue,[c] and virtue (E)with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control (F)with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness (G)with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection (H)with love. For if these qualities[d] are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or (I)unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he (J)is blind, having forgotten that he was (K)cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers,[e] be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and (L)election, for if you practice these qualities (M)you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you (N)an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 1:3 Or by
  2. 2 Peter 1:3 Or virtue
  3. 2 Peter 1:5 Or excellence; twice in this verse
  4. 2 Peter 1:8 Greek these things; also verses 9, 10, 12
  5. 2 Peter 1:10 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters

Confirming One’s Calling and Election

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

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

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

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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.

Don’t Put It Off

3-4 Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you—your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust.

5-9 So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can’t see what’s right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books.

10-11 So, friends, confirm God’s invitation to you, his choice of you. Don’t put it off; do it now. Do this, and you’ll have your life on a firm footing, the streets paved and the way wide open into the eternal kingdom of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ.

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