Greeting

Simeon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a faith equal in value to ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, because his divine power has bestowed on us all things that are necessary for life and godliness, through the knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and excellence of character, through which things he has bestowed on us his precious and very great promises, so that through these you may become sharers of the divine nature after[a] escaping from the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire, and for this same reason, and by[b] applying all diligence, supply with your faith excellence of character, and with excellence of character, knowledge, and with knowledge, self-control, and with self-control, patient endurance, and with patient endurance, godliness, and with godliness, brotherly love, and with brotherly love, love.

Make Your Calling and Election Secure

For if[c] these things are yours and are increasing, this does not make you useless or unproductive in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the one for whom these things are not present is blind, being nearsighted, having forgotten the cleansing[d] of his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be zealous even more to make your calling and election secure, because if you[e] do these things, you will never ever stumble. 11 For in this way entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly supplied for you.

12 Therefore I intend to remind you continually concerning these things, although you know them and are established in the truth that you have. 13 But I consider it right, for as long as I am in this habitation, to stir you up by a reminder, 14 because I[f] know that the removal of my habitation is imminent, as indeed our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. 15 And I will also make every effort that you are able at any time, after my departure, to recall these things to mind[g].

The Reliable Prophetic Word of Testimony

16 For we did not make known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ by[h] following ingeniously concocted myths, but by[i] being eyewitnesses of that one’s majesty. 17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father when[j] a voice such as this was brought to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 18 And we ourselves heard this voice brought from heaven when we[k] were with him on the holy mountain, 19 and we possess as more reliable the prophetic word, to which you do well if you[l] pay attention to it as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 recognizing this above all, that every prophecy of scripture does not come about from one’s own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 1:4 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“escaping from”) which is understood as temporal
  2. 2 Peter 1:5 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“applying”) which is understood as means
  3. 2 Peter 1:8 Here “if” is supplied as a component of the participle (“are”) which is understood as conditional
  4. 2 Peter 1:9 Literally “receiving forgetfulness of the cleansing”
  5. 2 Peter 1:10 Here “if” is supplied as a component of the participle (“do”) which is understood as conditional
  6. 2 Peter 1:14 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“know”) which is understood as causal
  7. 2 Peter 1:15 Literally “to make recollection of these”
  8. 2 Peter 1:16 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“following”) which is understood as means
  9. 2 Peter 1:16 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“being”) which is understood as means
  10. 2 Peter 1:17 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“was brought”)
  11. 2 Peter 1:18 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“were”) which is understood as temporal
  12. 2 Peter 1:19 Here “if” is supplied as a component of the participle (“pay attention to”) which is understood as conditional

Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;

14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.

15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.

16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Simon Peter, servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have taken with us the even-faith [to them that have taken with us the even much faith], in the rightwiseness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ,

grace and peace be filled to you, by the knowing of our Lord Jesus Christ. [grace to you, and peace be full-filled, in the knowing of our Lord Jesus Christ.]

How all things of his god-like virtue, that be to life and piety [that be into life and piety], be given to us, by the knowing of him, that called us for his own glory and virtue.

By whom he gave to us most [and] precious promises; that by these things ye shall be made fellows of God's kind, and flee the corruption of that covetousness [fleeing the corruption of that covetousness], that is in the world.

And bring ye in all busyness, and minister in your faith virtue, and in virtue knowing [soothly in virtue science, or knowing];

in knowing abstinence [in science soothly abstinence], in abstinence patience, in patience piety;

in piety, love of brotherhood, and in love of brotherhood charity.

For if these be with you, and overcome [and overcome, or be plenteous], they shall not make you void, neither without fruit [nor without fruit], in the knowing of our Lord Jesus Christ.

But to whom these be not ready, he is blind, and gropeth with his hand, and forgetteth the purging of his old trespasses.

10 Wherefore, brethren, be ye more busy [more busy ye], that by good works ye make your calling and choosing certain; for ye doing these things shall not do sin any time [soothly ye doing these things, shall not sin any time].

11 For thus the entering into [the] everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, shall be ministered to you plenteously.

12 For which thing I shall begin to admonish you evermore of these things; and I will that ye be knowing, and confirmed in this present truth.

13 Forsooth I deem justly [Forsooth I deem just], as long as I am in this tabernacle, to raise you in admonishing;

14 and I am certain, that the putting away [for the putting off] of my tabernacle is swift, by this that our Lord Jesus Christ hath showed to me.

15 But I shall give busyness, that oft after my death ye have mind of these things.

16 For we not following unwise tales, have made known to you the virtue and the before-knowing [the virtue and prescience, or before-knowing,] of our Lord Jesus Christ; but we were made beholders of his greatness [but made beholders of his greatness].

17 For he took of God the Father honour and glory, by such manner voice slid down to him from the great glory, This is my loved Son, in whom I have pleased to me; hear ye him.

18 And we heard this voice brought from heaven, when we were with him in the holy hill.

19 And we have a firmer word of prophecy, to which ye giving attention do well, as to a lantern that giveth light in a dark place, till the day begin to give light, and the day star spring in your hearts.

20 And first understand ye this thing, that each prophecy of scripture is not made by proper interpretation; [First understanding this thing, that each prophecy of scripture is not made by proper, or own, interpretation;]

21 for prophecy was not brought any time by man's will, but the holy men of God inspired with the Holy Ghost spake.

Greeting the Faithful

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:

(C)Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 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, (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

But also for this very reason, (H)giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue (I)knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control [d]perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and (J)to brotherly kindness love. 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. 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.

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