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.

Peter’s Approaching Death

12 For this reason nI will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, othough you know and are established in the present truth. 13 Yes, I think it is right, pas long as I am in this 6tent, qto stir you up by reminding you, 14 rknowing that shortly I must 7put off my tent, just as sour Lord Jesus Christ showed me. 15 Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my 8decease.

The Trustworthy Prophetic Word

16 For we did not follow tcunningly devised fables when we made known to you the upower and vcoming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were weyewitnesses 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: x“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 ythe holy mountain.

19 9And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a zlight that shines in a dark place, auntil bthe day dawns and the morning star rises in your chearts; 20 knowing this first, that dno prophecy of Scripture is of any private 1interpretation, 21 for eprophecy never came by the will of man, fbut 2holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.