1 1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received a faith as precious as ours through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: 2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you through knowing our Father and Jesus our Lord.
Partakers of the Father's Nature
3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness, through knowing him who called us by his own glory and excellence, 4 Through these he has given us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in this world that comes from evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add goodness to your faith; and to your goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly affection; and to brotherly affection, love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they will keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever lacks these qualities is nearsighted to the point of blindness, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his past sins. 10 Therefore, brothers and sisters, be all the more eager to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never stumble. 11 For in this way an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.
12 So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. 13 I think it right, as long as I am in this tent, to keep stirring you up with reminders, a a v13 Peter calls his physical body a 'tent' — a temporary dwelling he will soon leave behind (see 2 Corinthians 5:1–4). 14 since I know that I will soon lay this tent aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort so that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.
16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths 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 our Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory: "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." b b v17 These are the Father's own words at the mountain — he delights in his Son and calls him beloved, the same voice Peter, James, and John heard at the transfiguration.
18 We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.
19 And we have the prophetic word confirmed all the more, and you would do well to pay attention to it, like 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 prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from our Father as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.