2 Peter
Summary
Peter writes his second epistle to those who have obtained "like precious faith," emphasizing the believers' participation in the "divine nature" and their escape from worldly corruption. He exhorts them to "give all diligence" to add to their faith a series of virtues, including virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, and love, so that they may not be "unfruitful" in the knowledge of Christ. Peter recalls the eyewitness account of the Transfiguration to confirm the "power and coming" of the Lord. He concludes by elevating the "sure word of prophecy" over human myths, noting that prophecy is not of private interpretation but comes from holy people moved by the Holy Spirit.
Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
Grace and peace be multiplied to us through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
According as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who has called us to glory and virtue:
By which are given to us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness love.
For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
But he who lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
Wherefore the rather, brothers, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if you do these things, you shall never fall:
For so an entrance shall be ministered to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though you know them, and be established in the present truth.
Yes, I think it right, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;
Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ has showed me.
Moreover I will endeavour that you may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.
For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
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."
And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with Him in the holy mount.
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; to which you do well that you take heed, as to a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of person: but holy people of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.