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

Greetings from Peter

This letter is from Simon[a] Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ.

I am writing to you who share the same precious faith we have. This faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness[b] of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior.

May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.

Growing in Faith

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.

The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.

10 So, dear brothers and sisters,[c] work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. 11 Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Paying Attention to Scripture

12 Therefore, I will always remind you about these things—even though you already know them and are standing firm in the truth you have been taught. 13 And it is only right that I should keep on reminding you as long as I live.[d] 14 For our Lord Jesus Christ has shown me that I must soon leave this earthly life,[e] 15 so I will work hard to make sure you always remember these things after I am gone.

16 For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We saw his majestic splendor with our own eyes 17 when he received honor and glory from God the Father. The voice from the majestic glory of God said to him, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”[f] 18 We ourselves heard that voice from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.

19 Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines[g] in your hearts. 20 Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding,[h] 21 or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.

Footnotes

  1. 1:1a Greek Simeon.
  2. 1:1b Or to you in the righteousness.
  3. 1:10 Greek brothers.
  4. 1:13 Greek as long as I am in this tent [or tabernacle].
  5. 1:14 Greek I must soon put off my tent [or tabernacle].
  6. 1:17 Matt 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35.
  7. 1:19 Or rises.
  8. 1:20 Or is a matter of one’s own interpretation.

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.

[a]Simon Peter, a [b]servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained [c]a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of [d]our God and the Saviour Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us [e]by his own glory and virtue; whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of [f]the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust. Yea, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply virtue; and in your virtue knowledge; and in your knowledge self-control; and in your self-control [g]patience; and in your [h]patience godliness; and in your godliness [i]brotherly kindness; and in your [j]brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful unto the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he that lacketh these things is blind, [k]seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins. 10 Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble: 11 for thus shall be richly supplied unto you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

12 Wherefore I shall be ready always to put you in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and are established in the truth which is with you. 13 And I think it right, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; 14 knowing that the putting off of my tabernacle cometh swiftly, even as our Lord Jesus Christ signified unto me. 15 Yea, I will give diligence that at every time ye may be able after my [l]decease to call these things to remembrance. 16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and [m]coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he [n]received from God the Father honor and glory, when there was borne such a voice to him by the Majestic Glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: 18 and this voice we ourselves heard borne out of heaven, when we were with him in the holy mount. 19 And we have the word of prophecy made more sure; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a lamp shining in a [o]dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts: 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of [p]private interpretation. 21 For no prophecy ever [q]came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 1:1 Many ancient authorities read Symeon. See Acts 15:14.
  2. 2 Peter 1:1 Greek bondservant.
  3. 2 Peter 1:1 Greek an equally precious.
  4. 2 Peter 1:1 Or, our God and Saviour. Compare verse 11; 2:20; 3:18; Titus 2:13.
  5. 2 Peter 1:3 Some ancient authorities read through glory and virtue.
  6. 2 Peter 1:4 Or, a
  7. 2 Peter 1:6 Or, stedfastness
  8. 2 Peter 1:6 Or, stedfastness
  9. 2 Peter 1:7 Greek love of the brethren.
  10. 2 Peter 1:7 Greek love of the brethren.
  11. 2 Peter 1:9 Or, closing his eyes
  12. 2 Peter 1:15 Or, departure
  13. 2 Peter 1:16 Greek presence.
  14. 2 Peter 1:17 Greek having received.
  15. 2 Peter 1:19 Greek squalid.
  16. 2 Peter 1:20 Or, special
  17. 2 Peter 1:21 Greek was brought.