Passage Resources Hebrew/Greek Your Content
Previous Next
Add parallel Print Page Options Listen to 2 Peter 1-3
Close NKJV

2 Peter 1-3
New King James Version

Greeting the Faithful

1 Simon Peter, a bondservant and (A)apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have [a]obtained (B)like[b] precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

2 (C)Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His (D)divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him (E)who called us by glory and virtue, 4 (F)by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be (G)partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the [c]corruption that is in the world through lust.

Fruitful Growth in the Faith

5 But also for this very reason, (H)giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue (I)knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control [d]perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and (J)to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither [e]barren (K)nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is (L)shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent (M)to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Peter’s Approaching Death

12 For this reason (N)I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, (O)though you know and are established in the present truth. 13 Yes, I think it is right, (P)as long as I am in this [f]tent, (Q)to stir you up by reminding you, 14 (R)knowing that shortly I must [g]put off my tent, just as (S)our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. 15 Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my [h]decease.

The Trustworthy Prophetic Word(T)

16 For we did not follow (U)cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the (V)power and (W)coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were (X)eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: (Y)“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on (Z)the holy mountain.

19 [i]And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a (AA)light that shines in a dark place, (AB)until (AC)the day dawns and the morning star rises in your (AD)hearts; 20 knowing this first, that (AE)no prophecy of Scripture is of any private [j]interpretation, 21 for (AF)prophecy never came by the will of man, (AG)but [k]holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

Destructive Doctrines

2 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be (AH)false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction [l]does not slumber.

Doom of False Teachers

4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to [m]hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; 5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; 6 and turning the cities of (AI)Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; 7 and (AJ)delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked 8 (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, (AK)tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)— 9 then (AL)the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, 10 and especially (AM)those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. (AN)They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of [n]dignitaries, 11 whereas (AO)angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.

Depravity of False Teachers

12 But these, (AP)like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, 13 (AQ)and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure (AR)to [o]carouse in the daytime. (AS)They are spots and blemishes, [p]carousing in their own deceptions while (AT)they feast with you, 14 having eyes full of [q]adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. (AU)They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. 15 They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of (AV)Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet.

17 (AW)These are wells without water, [r]clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness [s]forever.

Deceptions of False Teachers

18 For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who [t]have actually escaped from those who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of [u]corruption; (AX)for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into [v]bondage. 20 For if, after they (AY)have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are (AZ)again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. 21 For (BA)it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: (BB)“A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”

God’s Promise Is Not Slack(BC)

3 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which (BD)I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2 that you may be mindful of the words (BE)which were spoken before by the holy prophets, (BF)and of the commandment of [w]us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, 3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, (BG)walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of (BH)creation.” 5 For this they willfully forget: that (BI)by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth (BJ)standing out of water and in the water, 6 (BK)by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But (BL)the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for (BM)fire until the day of judgment and [x]perdition of ungodly men.

8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and (BN)a thousand years as one day. 9 (BO)The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but (BP)is longsuffering toward [y]us, (BQ)not willing that any should perish but (BR)that all should come to repentance.

The Day of the Lord

10 But (BS)the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which (BT)the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be [z]burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be (BU)in holy conduct and godliness, 12 (BV)looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will (BW)be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will (BX)melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for (BY)new heavens and a (BZ)new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Be Steadfast

14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent (CA)to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that (CB)the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his (CC)epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the (CD)rest of the Scriptures.

17 You therefore, beloved, (CE)since you know this beforehand, (CF)beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 (CG)but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

(CH)To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 1:1 received
  2. 2 Peter 1:1 faith of the same value
  3. 2 Peter 1:4 depravity
  4. 2 Peter 1:6 patience
  5. 2 Peter 1:8 useless
  6. 2 Peter 1:13 Body
  7. 2 Peter 1:14 Die and leave this body
  8. 2 Peter 1:15 Lit. exodus, departure
  9. 2 Peter 1:19 Or We also have the more sure prophetic word
  10. 2 Peter 1:20 Or origin
  11. 2 Peter 1:21 NU men spoke from God
  12. 2 Peter 2:3 M will not
  13. 2 Peter 2:4 Lit. Tartarus
  14. 2 Peter 2:10 glorious ones, lit. glories
  15. 2 Peter 2:13 revel
  16. 2 Peter 2:13 reveling
  17. 2 Peter 2:14 Lit. an adulteress
  18. 2 Peter 2:17 NU and mists
  19. 2 Peter 2:17 NU omits forever
  20. 2 Peter 2:18 NU are barely escaping
  21. 2 Peter 2:19 depravity
  22. 2 Peter 2:19 slavery
  23. 2 Peter 3:2 NU, M the apostles of your Lord and Savior or your apostles of the Lord and Savior
  24. 2 Peter 3:7 destruction
  25. 2 Peter 3:9 NU you
  26. 2 Peter 3:10 NU laid bare, lit. found
Listen to 2 Peter 1-3
Close NIV

2 Peter 1-3
New International Version

1 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:

2 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

3 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. 4 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)

5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;(M) 6 and to knowledge, self-control;(N) and to self-control, perseverance;(O) and to perseverance, godliness;(P) 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.(Q) 8 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) 9 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)

False Teachers and Their Destruction

2 But there were also false prophets(AS) among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you.(AT) They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord(AU) who bought them(AV)—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct(AW) and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed(AX) these teachers will exploit you(AY) with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned,(AZ) but sent them to hell,[c] putting them in chains of darkness[d] to be held for judgment;(BA) 5 if he did not spare the ancient world(BB) when he brought the flood on its ungodly people,(BC) but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others;(BD) 6 if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes,(BE) and made them an example(BF) of what is going to happen to the ungodly;(BG) 7 and if he rescued Lot,(BH) a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless(BI) 8 (for that righteous man,(BJ) living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— 9 if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials(BK) and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.(BL) 10 This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire(BM) of the flesh[e] and despise authority.

Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings;(BN) 11 yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not heap abuse on such beings when bringing judgment on them from[f] the Lord.(BO) 12 But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish.(BP)

13 They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight.(BQ) They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.[g](BR) 14 With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce(BS) the unstable;(BT) they are experts in greed(BU)—an accursed brood!(BV) 15 They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam(BW) son of Bezer,[h] who loved the wages of wickedness. 16 But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—an animal without speech—who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.(BX)

17 These people are springs without water(BY) and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.(BZ) 18 For they mouth empty, boastful words(CA) and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping(CB) from those who live in error. 19 They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.”(CC) 20 If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing(CD) our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ(CE) and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.(CF) 21 It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.(CG) 22 Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,”[i](CH) and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.”

The Day of the Lord

3 Dear friends,(CI) this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders(CJ) to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. 2 I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets(CK) and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.(CL)

3 Above all, you must understand that in the last days(CM) scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.(CN) 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised?(CO) Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”(CP) 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word(CQ) the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water.(CR) 6 By these waters also the world of that time(CS) was deluged and destroyed.(CT) 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire,(CU) being kept for the day of judgment(CV) and destruction of the ungodly.

8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.(CW) 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise,(CX) as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient(CY) with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.(CZ)

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.(DA) The heavens will disappear with a roar;(DB) the elements will be destroyed by fire,(DC) and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.[j](DD)

11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward(DE) to the day of God and speed its coming.[k](DF) That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.(DG) 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth,(DH) where righteousness dwells.

14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless(DI) and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience(DJ) means salvation,(DK) just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.(DL) 16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable(DM) people distort,(DN) as they do the other Scriptures,(DO) to their own destruction.

17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard(DP) so that you may not be carried away by the error(DQ) of the lawless(DR) and fall from your secure position.(DS) 18 But grow in the grace(DT) and knowledge(DU) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.(DV) To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.(DW)

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
  3. 2 Peter 2:4 Greek Tartarus
  4. 2 Peter 2:4 Some manuscripts in gloomy dungeons
  5. 2 Peter 2:10 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit; also in verse 18.
  6. 2 Peter 2:11 Many manuscripts beings in the presence of
  7. 2 Peter 2:13 Some manuscripts in their love feasts
  8. 2 Peter 2:15 Greek Bosor
  9. 2 Peter 2:22 Prov. 26:11
  10. 2 Peter 3:10 Some manuscripts be burned up
  11. 2 Peter 3:12 Or as you wait eagerly for the day of God to come
Next
1 Peter 5
1 John 1
Next
dropdown
New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Learn the Bible in 30 days
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.

July Summer Surge

More on the NIV