Greeting the Faithful
1 Simon Peter, a bondservant and Gal. 2:8apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who have obtained Eph. 4:5like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:
2 Dan. 4:1Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His 1 Pet. 1:5divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him 1 Thess. 2:12; 2 Thess. 2:14; 1 Pet. 5:10who called us by glory and virtue, 4 2 Cor. 1:20; 7:1by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be (2 Cor. 3:18)partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption thatis in the world through lust.
Fruitful Growth in the Faith
5 But also for this very reason, 2 Pet. 3:18giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue 2 Pet. 1:2knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and Gal. 6:10to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren (John 15:2)nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is 1 John 2:9–11shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent 2 Cor. 13:5; 1 John 3:19to 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 Phil. 3:1; 1 John 2:21; Jude 5I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, 1 Pet. 5:12though you know and are established in the present truth. 13 Yes, I think it is right, (2 Cor. 5:1, 4); 2 Pet. 1:14as long as I am in this tent, 2 Pet. 3:1to stir you up by reminding you, 14 (2 Cor. 5:1; 2 Tim. 4:6)knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as John 13:36; 21:18, 19our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. 15 Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease.
The Trustworthy Prophetic Word
16 For we did not follow 1 Cor. 1:17cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the (Matt. 28:18; Eph. 1:19–22)power and (1 Pet. 5:4)coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were Matt. 17:1–5; Luke 1:2eyewitnesses 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: Ps. 2:7; Is. 42:1; Matt. 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 1:35; 9:35"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 Matt. 17:1the holy mountain.
19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a (John 1:4, 5, 9)light that shines in a dark place, Prov. 4:18until Rev. 2:28; 22:16the day dawns and the morning star rises in your (2 Cor. 4:5–7)hearts; 20 knowing this first, that (Rom. 12:6)no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for Jer. 23:26; (2 Tim. 3:16)prophecy never came by the will of man, 2 Sam. 23:2; Luke 1:70; Acts 1:16; 3:18; 1 Pet. 1:11but holy men of God spoke astheywere moved by the Holy Spirit.