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

[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.