Bible in 90 Days
Heavenly Versus Demonic Wisdom
13 (A)Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have (B)bitter envy and [a]self-seeking in your hearts, (C)do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 (D)This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For (E)where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But (F)the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, (G)without partiality (H)and without hypocrisy. 18 (I)Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Pride Promotes Strife
4 Where do [b]wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure (J)that war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and [c]war. [d]Yet you do not have because you do not ask. 3 (K)You ask and do not receive, (L)because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 [e]Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that (M)friendship with the world is enmity with God? (N)Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, (O)“The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?
6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:
(P)“God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”
Humility Cures Worldliness
7 Therefore submit to God. (Q)Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 (R)Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. (S)Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and (T)purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 (U)Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 (V)Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
Do Not Judge a Brother
11 (W)Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother (X)and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is one [f]Lawgiver, (Y)who is able to save and to destroy. (Z)Who[g] are you to judge [h]another?
Do Not Boast About Tomorrow
13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow [i]we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? (AA)It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, (AB)“If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” 16 But now you boast in your arrogance. (AC)All such boasting is evil.
17 Therefore, (AD)to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
Rich Oppressors Will Be Judged
5 Come now, you (AE)rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! 2 Your (AF)riches [j]are corrupted, and (AG)your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. (AH)You have heaped up treasure in the last days. 4 Indeed (AI)the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and (AJ)the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of [k]Sabaoth. 5 You have lived on the earth in pleasure and [l]luxury; you have [m]fattened your hearts [n]as in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you.
Be Patient and Persevering
7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord [o]is at hand.
9 Do not [p]grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be [q]condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! 10 (AK)My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and (AL)patience. 11 Indeed (AM)we count them blessed who (AN)endure. You have heard of (AO)the perseverance of Job and seen (AP)the end intended by the Lord—that (AQ)the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
12 But above all, my brethren, (AR)do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into [r]judgment.
Meeting Specific Needs(AS)
13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him (AT)pray. Is anyone cheerful? (AU)Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, (AV)anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. (AW)And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 [s]Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. (AX)The effective, [t]fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 17 Elijah was a man (AY)with a nature like ours, and (AZ)he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed (BA)again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.
Bring Back the Erring One
19 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone (BB)turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way (BC)will save [u]a soul from death and (BD)cover a multitude of sins.
Greeting to the Elect Pilgrims
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To the [v]pilgrims (BE)of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 (BF)elect (BG)according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, (BH)in sanctification of the Spirit, for (BI)obedience and (BJ)sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:
(BK)Grace to you and peace be multiplied.
A Heavenly Inheritance
3 (BL)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who (BM)according to His abundant mercy (BN)has begotten us again to a living hope (BO)through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance [w]incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, (BP)reserved in heaven for you, 5 (BQ)who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 (BR)In this you greatly rejoice, though now (BS)for a little while, if need be, (BT)you have been [x]grieved by various trials, 7 that (BU)the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though (BV)it is tested by fire, (BW)may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 (BX)whom having not [y]seen you love. (BY)Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what, or what manner of time, (BZ)the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to [z]us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which (CA)angels desire to look into.
Living Before God Our Father
13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not (CB)conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 (CC)but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, (CD)“Be holy, for I am holy.”
17 And if you call on the Father, who (CE)without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your [aa]stay here in fear; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with [ab]corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but (CF)with the precious blood of Christ, (CG)as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 (CH)He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was [ac]manifest (CI)in these last times for you 21 who through Him believe in God, (CJ)who raised Him from the dead and (CK)gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
The Enduring Word
22 Since you (CL)have purified your souls in obeying the truth [ad]through the Spirit in [ae]sincere (CM)love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 23 (CN)having been born again, not of [af]corruptible seed but [ag]incorruptible, (CO)through the word of God which lives and abides [ah]forever, 24 because
(CP)“All flesh is as grass,
And all [ai]the glory of man as the flower of the grass.
The grass withers,
And its flower falls away,
25 (CQ)But the [aj]word of the Lord endures forever.”
(CR)Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.
Our Inheritance Through Christ’s Blood
2 Therefore, (CS)laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 (CT)as newborn babes, desire the pure (CU)milk of the word, that you may grow [ak]thereby, 3 if indeed you have (CV)tasted that the Lord is gracious.
The Chosen Stone and His Chosen People(CW)
4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, (CX)rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,
(CY)“Behold, I lay in Zion
A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”
7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who [al]are disobedient,
(CZ)“The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone,”
8 and
(DA)“A stone of stumbling
And a rock of offense.”
(DB)They stumble, being disobedient to the word, (DC)to which they also were appointed.
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of (DD)darkness into His marvelous light; 10 (DE)who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
Living Before the World
11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts (DF)which war against the soul, 12 (DG)having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, (DH)they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Submission to Government(DI)
13 (DJ)Therefore submit yourselves to every [am]ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— 16 (DK)as free, yet not (DL)using liberty as a cloak for [an]vice, but as bondservants of God. 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear (DM)God. Honor the king.
Submission to Masters(DN)
18 (DO)Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. 19 For this is (DP)commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For (DQ)what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21 For (DR)to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for [ao]us, (DS)leaving [ap]us an example, that you should follow His steps:
22 “Who(DT) committed no sin,
Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;
23 (DU)who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but (DV)committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 (DW)who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, (DX)that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—(DY)by whose [aq]stripes you were healed. 25 For (DZ)you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned (EA)to the Shepherd and [ar]Overseer of your souls.
Submission to Husbands
3 Wives, likewise, be (EB)submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, (EC)they, without a word, may (ED)be won by the conduct of their wives, 2 (EE)when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. 3 (EF)Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— 4 rather let it be (EG)the hidden person of the heart, with the [as]incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 5 For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, (EH)calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.
A Word to Husbands
7 (EI)Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, (EJ)as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, (EK)that your prayers may not be hindered.
Called to Blessing
8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be [at]courteous; 9 (EL)not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary (EM)blessing, knowing that you were called to this, (EN)that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For
(EO)“He who would love life
And see good days,
(EP)Let him [au]refrain his tongue from evil,
And his lips from speaking deceit.
11 Let him (EQ)turn away from evil and do good;
(ER)Let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
(ES)And His ears are open to their prayers;
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
Suffering for Right and Wrong
13 (ET)And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? 14 (EU)But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. (EV)“And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” 15 But [av]sanctify [aw]the Lord God in your hearts, and always (EW)be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the (EX)hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 (EY)having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
Christ’s Suffering and Ours
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring [ax]us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who formerly were disobedient, [ay]when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 21 (EZ)There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (FA)(not the removal of the filth of the flesh, (FB)but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and (FC)is at the right hand of God, (FD)angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.
Christ’s Example to Be Followed
4 Therefore, since Christ suffered [az]for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, (FE)but for the will of God. 3 For we have spent enough of our past [ba]lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. 5 They will give an account to Him who is ready (FF)to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this reason (FG)the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but (FH)live according to God in the spirit.
Serving for God’s Glory
7 But (FI)the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for (FJ)“love will cover a multitude of sins.” 9 (FK)Be hospitable to one another (FL)without grumbling. 10 (FM)As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, (FN)as good stewards of (FO)the manifold grace of God. 11 (FP)If anyone speaks, let him speak as the [bb]oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that (FQ)in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the [bc]dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Suffering for God’s Glory
12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice (FR)to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that (FS)when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are [bd]reproached for the name of Christ, (FT)blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. [be]On their part He is blasphemed, (FU)but on your part He is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a [bf]busybody in other people’s matters. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this [bg]matter.
17 For the time has come (FV)for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, (FW)what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 Now
(FX)“If the righteous one is scarcely saved,
Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”
19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God (FY)commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.
Shepherd the Flock
5 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a (FZ)witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the (GA)glory that will be revealed: 2 (GB)Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, (GC)not by compulsion but [bh]willingly, (GD)not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as (GE)being [bi]lords over (GF)those entrusted to you, but (GG)being examples to the flock; 4 and when (GH)the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive (GI)the crown of glory that does not fade away.
Submit to God, Resist the Devil
5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, (GJ)all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
8 Be [bj]sober, be [bk]vigilant; [bl]because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10 But [bm]may the God of all grace, (GM)who called [bn]us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, [bo]perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11 (GN)To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Farewell and Peace
12 By (GO)Silvanus, our faithful brother as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying (GP)that this is the true grace of God in which you stand.
13 She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you; and so does (GQ)Mark my son. 14 Greet one another with a kiss of love.
Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Greeting the Faithful
1 Simon Peter, a bondservant and (GR)apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who have [bp]obtained (GS)like[bq] precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:
2 (GT)Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His (GU)divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him (GV)who called us by glory and virtue, 4 (GW)by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be (GX)partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the [br]corruption that is in the world through lust.
Fruitful Growth in the Faith
5 But also for this very reason, (GY)giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue (GZ)knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control [bs]perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and (HA)to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither [bt]barren (HB)nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is (HC)shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent (HD)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 (HE)I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, (HF)though you know and are established in the present truth. 13 Yes, I think it is right, (HG)as long as I am in this [bu]tent, (HH)to stir you up by reminding you, 14 (HI)knowing that shortly I must [bv]put off my tent, just as (HJ)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 [bw]decease.
The Trustworthy Prophetic Word(HK)
16 For we did not follow (HL)cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the (HM)power and (HN)coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were (HO)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: (HP)“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 (HQ)the holy mountain.
19 [bx]And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a (HR)light that shines in a dark place, (HS)until (HT)the day dawns and the morning star rises in your (HU)hearts; 20 knowing this first, that (HV)no prophecy of Scripture is of any private [by]interpretation, 21 for (HW)prophecy never came by the will of man, (HX)but [bz]holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
Destructive Doctrines
2 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be (HY)false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction [ca]does not slumber.
Doom of False Teachers
4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to [cb]hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; 5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; 6 and turning the cities of (HZ)Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; 7 and (IA)delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked 8 (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, (IB)tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)— 9 then (IC)the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, 10 and especially (ID)those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. (IE)They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of [cc]dignitaries, 11 whereas (IF)angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.
Depravity of False Teachers
12 But these, (IG)like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, 13 (IH)and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure (II)to [cd]carouse in the daytime. (IJ)They are spots and blemishes, [ce]carousing in their own deceptions while (IK)they feast with you, 14 having eyes full of [cf]adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. (IL)They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. 15 They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of (IM)Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet.
17 (IN)These are wells without water, [cg]clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness [ch]forever.
Deceptions of False Teachers
18 For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who [ci]have actually escaped from those who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of [cj]corruption; (IO)for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into [ck]bondage. 20 For if, after they (IP)have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are (IQ)again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. 21 For (IR)it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: (IS)“A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”
God’s Promise Is Not Slack(IT)
3 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which (IU)I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2 that you may be mindful of the words (IV)which were spoken before by the holy prophets, (IW)and of the commandment of [cl]us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, 3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, (IX)walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of (IY)creation.” 5 For this they willfully forget: that (IZ)by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth (JA)standing out of water and in the water, 6 (JB)by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But (JC)the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for (JD)fire until the day of judgment and [cm]perdition of ungodly men.
8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and (JE)a thousand years as one day. 9 (JF)The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but (JG)is longsuffering toward [cn]us, (JH)not willing that any should perish but (JI)that all should come to repentance.
The Day of the Lord
10 But (JJ)the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which (JK)the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be [co]burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be (JL)in holy conduct and godliness, 12 (JM)looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will (JN)be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will (JO)melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for (JP)new heavens and a (JQ)new earth in which righteousness dwells.
Be Steadfast
14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent (JR)to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that (JS)the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his (JT)epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the (JU)rest of the Scriptures.
17 You therefore, beloved, (JV)since you know this beforehand, (JW)beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 (JX)but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
(JY)To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
What Was Heard, Seen, and Touched(JZ)
1 That (KA)which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have (KB)seen with our eyes, (KC)which we have looked upon, and (KD)our hands have handled, concerning the (KE)Word of life— 2 (KF)the life (KG)was manifested, and we have seen, (KH)and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was (KI)with the Father and was manifested to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is (KJ)with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to you (KK)that [cp]your joy may be full.
Fellowship with Him and One Another
5 (KL)This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that (KM)God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 (KN)If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we (KO)walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and (KP)the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we (KQ)confess our sins, He is (KR)faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to (KS)cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we (KT)make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
The Test of Knowing Christ
2 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, (KU)we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And (KV)He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but (KW)also for the whole world.
The Test of Knowing Him
3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a (KX)liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But (KY)whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God [cq]is perfected (KZ)in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 (LA)He who says he abides in Him (LB)ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
7 [cr]Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had (LC)from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard [cs]from the beginning. 8 Again, (LD)a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, (LE)because the darkness is passing away, and (LF)the true light is already shining.
9 (LG)He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. 10 (LH)He who loves his brother abides in the light, and (LI)there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But he who (LJ)hates his brother is in darkness and (LK)walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
Their Spiritual State
12 I write to you, little children,
Because (LL)your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.
13 I write to you, fathers,
Because you have known Him who is (LM)from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
Because you have overcome the wicked one.
I write to you, little children,
Because you have (LN)known the Father.
14 I have written to you, fathers,
Because you have known Him who is from the beginning.
I have written to you, young men,
Because (LO)you are strong, and the word of God abides in you,
And you have overcome the wicked one.
Do Not Love the World
15 (LP)Do not love the world or the things in the world. (LQ)If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, (LR)the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And (LS)the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Deceptions of the Last Hour
18 (LT)Little children, (LU)it is the last hour; and as you have heard that (LV)the[ct] Antichrist is coming, (LW)even now many antichrists have come, by which we know (LX)that it is the last hour. 19 (LY)They went out from us, but they were not of us; for (LZ)if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out (MA)that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.
20 But (MB)you have an anointing (MC)from the Holy One, and (MD)you[cu] know all things. 21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
22 (ME)Who is a liar but he who denies that (MF)Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. 23 (MG)Whoever denies the Son does not have the (MH)Father either; (MI)he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
Let Truth Abide in You
24 Therefore let that abide in you (MJ)which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, (MK)you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 (ML)And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.
26 These things I have written to you concerning those who try to [cv]deceive you. 27 But the (MM)anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and (MN)you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing (MO)teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you [cw]will abide in Him.
The Children of God
28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that [cx]when He appears, we may have (MP)confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. 29 (MQ)If you know that He is righteous, you know that (MR)everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.
The Command to Love
3 Behold (MS)what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that (MT)we should be called children of [cy]God! Therefore the world does not know [cz]us, (MU)because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, (MV)now we are children of God; and (MW)it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, (MX)we shall be like Him, for (MY)we shall see Him as He is. 3 (MZ)And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
Sin and the Child of God
4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and (NA)sin is lawlessness. 5 And you know (NB)that He was manifested (NC)to take away our sins, and (ND)in Him there is no sin. 6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.
7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 (NE)He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, (NF)that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been (NG)born of God does not sin, for (NH)His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.
The Imperative of Love(NI)
10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, (NJ)that we should love one another, 12 not as (NK)Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.
13 Do not marvel, my brethren, if (NL)the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love [da]his brother abides in death. 15 (NM)Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that (NN)no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
The Outworking of Love
16 (NO)By this we know love, (NP)because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But (NQ)whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
18 My little children, (NR)let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19 And by this we [db]know (NS)that we are of the truth, and shall [dc]assure our hearts before Him. 20 (NT)For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, (NU)we have confidence toward God. 22 And (NV)whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments (NW)and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ (NX)and love one another, as He gave [dd]us commandment.
The Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Error
24 Now (NY)he who keeps His commandments (NZ)abides in Him, and He in him. And (OA)by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
Love for God and One Another
4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but (OB)test the spirits, whether they are of God; because (OC)many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: (OD)Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess [de]that Jesus [df]Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than (OE)he who is in the world. 5 (OF)They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and (OG)the world hears them. 6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. (OH)By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
Knowing God Through Love(OI)
7 (OJ)Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who (OK)loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 (OL)In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten (OM)Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, (ON)not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son (OO)to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, (OP)if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
Seeing God Through Love
12 (OQ)No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 13 (OR)By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14 And (OS)we have seen and testify that (OT)the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. 15 (OU)Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and (OV)he who abides in love abides in God, and God (OW)in him.
The Consummation of Love
17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that (OX)we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 (OY)We love [dg]Him because He first loved us.
Obedience by Faith
20 (OZ)If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, [dh]how can he love God (PA)whom he has not seen? 21 And (PB)this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.
Obedience by Faith
5 Whoever believes that (PC)Jesus is the Christ is (PD)born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and (PE)keep His commandments. 3 (PF)For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And (PG)His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For (PH)whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that (PI)has overcome the world—[di]our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but (PJ)he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
The Certainty of God’s Witness
6 This is He who came (PK)by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. (PL)And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear witness [dj]in heaven: the Father, (PM)the Word, and the Holy Spirit; (PN)and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: (PO)the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.
9 If we receive (PP)the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; (PQ)for this is the witness of [dk]God which He has testified of His Son. 10 He who believes in the Son of God (PR)has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God (PS)has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. 11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 (PT)He who has the Son has [dl]life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, [dm]and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
Confidence and Compassion in Prayer
14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that (PU)if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and (PV)He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. (PW)There is sin leading to death. (PX)I do not say that he should pray about that. 17 (PY)All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.
Knowing the True—Rejecting the False
18 We know that (PZ)whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God (QA)keeps[dn] [do]himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.
19 We know that we are of God, and (QB)the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.
20 And we know that the (QC)Son of God has come and (QD)has given us an understanding, (QE)that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. (QF)This is the true God (QG)and eternal life.
21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
Greeting the Elect Lady
1 The Elder,
To the [dp]elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known (QH)the truth, 2 because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever:
3 (QI)Grace, mercy, and peace will be with [dq]you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
Walk in Christ’s Commandments
4 I (QJ)rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father. 5 And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: (QK)that we love one another. 6 (QL)This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that (QM)as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.
Beware of Antichrist Deceivers
7 For (QN)many deceivers have gone out into the world (QO)who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. (QP)This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 (QQ)Look to yourselves, (QR)that [dr]we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.
9 (QS)Whoever [ds]transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and (QT)does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.
John’s Farewell Greeting
12 (QU)Having many things to write to you, I did not wish to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, (QV)that our joy may be full.
13 (QW)The children of your elect sister greet you. Amen.
Greeting to Gaius
1 The Elder,
To the beloved Gaius, (QX)whom I love in truth:
2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3 For I (QY)rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. 4 I have no greater (QZ)joy than to hear that (RA)my children walk in [dt]truth.
Gaius Commended for Generosity
5 Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren [du]and for strangers, 6 who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well, 7 because they went forth for His name’s sake, (RB)taking nothing from the Gentiles. 8 We therefore ought to (RC)receive[dv] such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth.
Diotrephes and Demetrius
9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. 10 Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, (RD)prating[dw] against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.
11 Beloved, (RE)do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. (RF)He who does good is of God, [dx]but he who does evil has not seen (RG)God.
12 Demetrius (RH)has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also [dy]bear witness, (RI)and you know that our testimony is true.
Farewell Greeting
13 (RJ)I had many things to write, but I do not wish to write to you with pen and ink; 14 but I hope to see you shortly, and we shall speak face to face.
Peace to you. Our friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.