Confirming One’s Calling and Election

³ 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. ⁴ 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)

⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;^{(G) 6} and to knowledge, self-control;^(H) and to self-control, perseverance;^(I) and to perseverance, godliness;^{(J) 7} and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.^{(K) 8} 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) 9} 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)

¹⁴ So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless^(A) and at peace with him. ¹⁵ Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience^(B) means salvation,^(C) just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.^{(D) 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^(E) people distort,^(F) as they do the other Scriptures,^(G) to their own destruction.

¹⁷ Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard^(H) so that you may not be carried away by the error^(I) of the lawless^(J) and fall from your secure position.^{(K) 18} But grow in the grace^(L) and knowledge^(M) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.^(N) To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.^(O)