² that you should remember the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken through your apostles.

Warnings and Exhortations

¹⁷ But you, beloved, must remember the words previously spoken by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ,

²¹ For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment that was handed on to them.^(A)

¹⁰ Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers and sisters who hold the testimony of Jesus.^[a] Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus^[b] is the spirit of prophecy.”^(A)

⁶ We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us, and whoever is not from God does not listen to us. From this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.^(A)

¹⁵ and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation. So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,^(A)

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.^{(A) 20} First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s^[a] own interpretation, ²¹ because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.^[b](B)

¹⁰ Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace intended for you made careful search and inquiry,^{(A) 11} inquiring about the time and circumstances^[a] that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated when it testified in advance to the sufferings intended for Christ and the subsequent glory.^{(B) 12} It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in regard to the things that have now been announced to you through those who brought you good news by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look!^(C)

²⁰ built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone;^[a](A)