Greeting the Faithful

1 Simon Peter, a bondservant and aapostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have 1obtained blike 2precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

2 cGrace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His ddivine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him ewho called us by glory and virtue, 4 fby which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be gpartakers of the divine nature, having escaped the 3corruption that is in the world through lust.

Fruitful Growth in the Faith

5 But also for this very reason, hgiving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue iknowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control 4perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and jto brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither 5barren knor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is lshortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent mto 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.