2 Peter 1
1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
This letter comes from Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who share with us the same priceless trust in our God and Savior Jesus Christ, the one who is truly good and right.
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
May you have ever more grace and peace as you grow in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
Through his divine power we have been given everything that's important to live a God-centered life. This comes through knowing him who called us to himself by his own glory and goodness. In this way he's given us wonderful, priceless promises.
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Through these promises you can share in the divine nature, being rid of the corruption caused by this world's evil desires.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
For this same reason, do everything you can! Add to your trust in God, goodness; add to goodness, knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
add to knowledge, self-control; add to self-control, patience; add to patience, reverence;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
add to reverence, affection for fellow-believers, add to affection for fellow-believers, love.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The more you have these qualities, the more they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
For anyone who doesn't have such qualities is short-sighted, or blind. They forget that they've been cleansed from their past sins.
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
So, brothers and sisters, be all the more determined to make sure you are truly “called and chosen.” If you do this, you won't ever fall.
11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (aiōnios g166)
You will receive a tremendous welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (aiōnios g166)
12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.
That's why I always remind you about these things, even though you know them already, and you stand firm in the truth that you possess.
13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;
But I still think it's a good idea to encourage you by giving you reminders while I live.
14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.
I know the time when I shall leave this life will be coming soon— our Lord Jesus Christ has made this clear to me.
15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.
I will do my best so that when I'm gone you will always be able to remember these things.
16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
We didn't follow made-up myths when we told you about the coming in power of our Lord Jesus Christ—we saw his majesty for ourselves.
17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice of majestic glory spoke to him and announced, “This is my Son, the one I love, and who truly pleases me.”
18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
We ourselves heard this voice speak from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
We also have the confirming word of prophecy that's absolutely trustworthy, and you will benefit from paying close attention to it. It's like a lamp that shines in a dark place until the day dawns, and the morning star shines to illuminate your minds.
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
Most of all you should realize that no prophecy of scripture is a matter for interpretation based on the whims of an individual,
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
for no prophecy originated in human ideas, but prophets spoke for God as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
