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

Greeting

Simeon[a] Peter, a servant[b] and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have obtained (A)a faith of equal standing with ours (B)by the righteousness of our (C)God and Savior Jesus Christ:

(D)May grace and peace be multiplied to you (E)in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Confirm Your Calling and Election

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him (F)who called us to[c] his own glory and excellence,[d] by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become (G)partakers of the divine nature, (H)having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith (I)with virtue,[e] and virtue (J)with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control (K)with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness (L)with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection (M)with love. For if these qualities[f] are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or (N)unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he (O)is blind, having forgotten that he was (P)cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers,[g] be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and (Q)election, for if you practice these qualities (R)you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you (S)an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

12 Therefore I intend (T)always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in (U)the truth that you have. 13 I think it right, as long as I am in this (V)body,[h] (W)to stir you up by way of reminder, 14 (X)since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, (Y)as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

Christ's Glory and the Prophetic Word

16 For we did not follow (Z)cleverly devised (AA)myths when we made known to you (AB)the power and (AC)coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but (AD)we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, (AE)“This is my beloved Son,[i] with whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on (AF)the holy mountain. 19 And (AG)we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention (AH)as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until (AI)the day (AJ)dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 21 For (AK)no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God (AL)as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 1:1 Some manuscripts Simon
  2. 2 Peter 1:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface
  3. 2 Peter 1:3 Or by
  4. 2 Peter 1:3 Or virtue
  5. 2 Peter 1:5 Or excellence; twice in this verse
  6. 2 Peter 1:8 Greek these things; also verses 9, 10, 12
  7. 2 Peter 1:10 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters
  8. 2 Peter 1:13 Greek tent; also verse 14
  9. 2 Peter 1:17 Or my Son, my (or the) Beloved

Simeon[a] Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ, to the ones having received an equally-precious faith with us by-means-of [b] the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: May grace and peace be multiplied to you in[c] the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.

Because of All That God Has Given Us, Diligently Add To Your Faith These God-Like Qualities

Because-of His divine power having granted[d] us all things pertaining-to life and godliness through the knowledge of the One having called us by [e] His own glory and virtue[f], through which qualities[g] He has granted us the precious and greatest things-promised in order that through these[h] you might become sharers of the divine nature[i], having escaped-from the corruption in the world by evil desire; and indeed for this very reason you having applied all diligence— in[j] your faith supply[k] virtue; and in your virtue, knowledge; and in your knowledge, self-control; and in your self-control, endurance; and in your endurance, godliness; and in your godliness, brotherly-love; and in your brotherly-love, love.

These Qualities Make You Useful And Fruitful

For these qualities being-present in you and increasing make[l] you neither useless[m] nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the one in whom these qualities are not present is blind, being shortsighted[n], having forgotten[o] the purification of his former sins.

So Be Diligent To Make Your Calling And Election Firm

10 Therefore brothers, be more diligent to be making your calling and election[p] firm[q]. For while doing these things you will by no means ever stumble. 11 For in this manner the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly supplied to you.

I Will Always Be Reminding You of These Things As Long As I Live

12 Therefore, I will-certainly[r] always be reminding you about these things, even though you are ones knowing and having been established in the truth being present with you. 13 And I regard it right for as long as I am in this [bodily] tent to be arousing you with a reminder, 14 knowing that the putting-off of my [bodily] tent is imminent, just as indeed our Lord Jesus Christ made-clear to me. 15 And I will also be diligent that at-any-time after my departure[s], you may have the ability to produce the memory of these things.

For We Were Eyewitnesses of Christ’s Majesty And Glory

16 For we made-known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ not having followed-after cleverly-devised myths, but having been made[t] eyewitnesses of the majesty of that One. 17 For He having received from God the Father the honor and glory of such a voice[u] having been carried[v] to Him by the Majestic Glory— “This is My Son, My Beloved, in Whom I was[w] well-pleased” 18 we ourselves also heard this voice having been carried out of heaven, being with Him on the holy mountain.

And We Have God’s Prophetic Word More Firm

19 And we have the prophetic[x] word as more-firm[y], to which you are doing well to be paying-attention as to a lamp shining in a dismal[z] place, until which time the day dawns and the morning-star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first— that no prophecy of Scripture comes[aa] from one’s own[ab] interpretation[ac]. 21 For no prophecy was ever carried[ad] by the will of a human, but people being carried by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 1:1 This is the Aramaic spelling of ‘Simon’, found also in Act 15:14.
  2. 2 Peter 1:1 Or, through.
  3. 2 Peter 1:2 Or, by, in the sphere of.
  4. 2 Peter 1:3 Or, bestowed, given as a gift.
  5. 2 Peter 1:3 Or, to.
  6. 2 Peter 1:3 Or, moral-excellence, excellence of character.
  7. 2 Peter 1:4 That is, the glory and virtue.
  8. 2 Peter 1:4 That is, the things promised.
  9. 2 Peter 1:4 That is, God’s character qualities.
  10. 2 Peter 1:5 That is, in connection with; or, in the sphere of.
  11. 2 Peter 1:5 Or, provide, furnish.
  12. 2 Peter 1:8 Or, render.
  13. 2 Peter 1:8 Or, idle, unproductive.
  14. 2 Peter 1:9 Such ones do not see the distant reality.
  15. 2 Peter 1:9 Lit, received forgetfulness of.
  16. 2 Peter 1:10 Or, choosing, selection.
  17. 2 Peter 1:10 Or, secure, sure, steadfast, reliable.
  18. 2 Peter 1:12 Or, must.
  19. 2 Peter 1:15 That is, his death.
  20. 2 Peter 1:16 Or, having come-to-be.
  21. 2 Peter 1:17 That is, such a unique voice. Or, of an utterance such-as-this.
  22. 2 Peter 1:17 Or, borne-along, brought-forth.
  23. 2 Peter 1:17 Or, I delighted, I took-pleasure. See Mt 3:17.
  24. 2 Peter 1:19 That is, the words written by the prophets; in particular, about the Messiah.
  25. 2 Peter 1:19 That is, more certain as to its meaning, because we were eyewitnesses of its fulfillment. Or, we have the more-firm prophetic word, the OT prophecies, an even stronger witness than our eyewitness account of the voice from heaven.
  26. 2 Peter 1:19 Or, squalid, dark.
  27. 2 Peter 1:20 That is, comes to be written; or, comes to pass; or, comes to be understood.
  28. 2 Peter 1:20 Or, personal, private.
  29. 2 Peter 1:20 Or, explanation. God is the author and fulfiller of prophecy. The key to Isa 53, for example, is how God fulfilled it, not how humans interpret it. Thus, Peter has the prophetic word more firm because he was an eyewitness of its fulfillment.
  30. 2 Peter 1:21 That is, carried out of heaven, as in v 18.