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

Simon Peter, a servant(A) and apostle of Jesus Christ,(B)

To those who through the righteousness(C) of our God and Savior Jesus Christ(D) have received a faith as precious as ours:

Grace and peace be yours in abundance(E) through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.(F)

Confirming One’s Calling and Election

His divine power(G) has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him(H) who called us(I) by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises,(J) so that through them you may participate in the divine nature,(K) having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.(L)

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;(M) and to knowledge, self-control;(N) and to self-control, perseverance;(O) and to perseverance, godliness;(P) and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.(Q) For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive(R) in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.(S) But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind,(T) forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.(U)

10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters,[a] make every effort to confirm your calling(V) and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble,(W) 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom(X) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.(Y)

Prophecy of Scripture

12 So I will always remind you of these things,(Z) even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth(AA) you now have. 13 I think it is right to refresh your memory(AB) as long as I live in the tent of this body,(AC) 14 because I know that I will soon put it aside,(AD) as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.(AE) 15 And I will make every effort to see that after my departure(AF) you will always be able to remember these things.

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power,(AG) but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.(AH) 17 He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”[b](AI) 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.(AJ)

19 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable,(AK) and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light(AL) shining in a dark place, until the day dawns(AM) and the morning star(AN) rises in your hearts.(AO) 20 Above all, you must understand(AP) that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God(AQ) as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.(AR)

Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 1:10 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family.
  2. 2 Peter 1:17 Matt. 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35