A Greeting from Peter

¹ Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who through the righteousness^* of our God^* and Savior^* Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:

² Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Partakers of the Divine Nature

³ His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. ⁴ Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers^* of the divine nature,^* now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; ⁶ and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷ and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. ⁸ For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ But whoever lacks these traits is nearsighted to the point of blindness, having forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

¹⁰ Therefore, brothers, strive to make your calling and election sure. For if you practice these things you will never stumble,^{* 11} and you will receive a lavish reception into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

¹² Therefore I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are established in the truth you now have. ¹³ I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of my body,¹⁴ because I know that this tent will soon be laid aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. ¹⁵ And I will make every effort to ensure that after my departure, you will be able to recall these things at all times.

Eyewitnesses of His Majesty

¹⁶ For we did not follow cleverly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming^* of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 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, in whom I am well pleased.”¹⁸ And we ourselves heard this voice from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.

¹⁹ We also have the word of the prophets as confirmed beyond doubt. And you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. ²⁰ Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own^* interpretation. ²¹ For no such prophecy was ever brought forth by the will^* of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.