5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, 6 knowledge with self-control,k self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, 7 godliness with brotherly affection,l and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being uselessm or unfruitfuln in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 The person who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins. 10 Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election,o because if you do these things you will never stumble. 11 For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdomp of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.

12 Therefore I will always remind you about these things, even though you know them and are established in the truthq you now have. 13 I think it is right, as long as I am in this bodily tent,r to wake you up with a reminder, 14 since I know that I will soon lay aside my tent, as our Lord Jesus Christ has indeed made clear to me.s 15 And I will also make every effort so that you are able to recall these things at any time after my departure.D

THE TRUSTWORTHY PROPHETIC WORD

16 For we did not follow cleverly contrived myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ;t instead, we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.u 17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying “This is my beloved Son,E with whom I am well-pleased!”v 18 We ourselves heard this voice when it came from heaven while we were with him on the holy mountain.w 19 We also have the prophetic word strongly confirmed, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place,x until the day dawnsy and the morning starz rises in your hearts. 20 Above all, you know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from the prophet’s own interpretation, 21 because no prophecy ever came by the will of man;aa instead, men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.ab