Growth in Christian Virtue

1 1Simon Peter, a abond-servant and bapostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have received ca faith of the same 2kind as ours, 3by dthe righteousness of eour God and Savior, Jesus Christ:

2 aGrace and peace be multiplied to you in bthe knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;

3 seeing that His adivine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true bknowledge of Him who ccalled us 1by His own glory and 2excellence.

4 1For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent apromises, so that by them you may become bpartakers of the divine nature, having cescaped the dcorruption that is in ethe world by lust.

5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith asupply bmoral 1excellence, and in your moral excellence, cknowledge,

6 and in your knowledge, aself-control, and in your self-control, bperseverance, and in your perseverance, cgodliness,

7 and in your godliness, abrotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.

8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor aunfruitful in the true bknowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 For he who lacks these qualities is ablind or short-sighted, having forgotten his bpurification from his former sins.

10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His acalling and bchoosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never cstumble;

11 for in this way the entrance into athe eternal kingdom of our bLord and Savior Jesus Christ will be cabundantly dsupplied to you.

12 Therefore, aI will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in bthe truth which is present with you.

13 I consider it aright, as long as I am in bthis earthly dwelling, to cstir you up by way of reminder,

14 knowing that athe laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, bas also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.

15 And I will also be diligent that at any time after my adeparture you will be able to call these things to mind.