The Second Epistle General of Peter

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- Chapter 1 -

(1 Peter 1:1–2)

Simon Peter, servant and Apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have been allotted an equal faith with us in the justice of our God and in our Savior Jesus Christ.(a)

Grace to you. And may peace be fulfilled according to the plan of God and of Christ Jesus our Lord,

Partakers of the Divine Nature

in the same manner that all things which are for life and piety have been given to us by his Divine virtue, through the plan of him who has called us to our own glory and virtue.

Through Christ, he has given us the greatest and most precious promises, so that by these things you may become sharers in the Divine Nature, fleeing from the corruption of that desire which is in the world.

But as for you, taking up every concern, minister virtue in your faith; and in virtue, knowledge;

and in knowledge, moderation; and in moderation, patience; and in patience, piety;

and in piety, love of brotherhood; and in love of brotherhood, charity.

For if these things are with you, and if they abound, they will cause you to be neither empty, nor without fruit, within the plan of our Lord Jesus Christ.

For he who does not have these things at hand is blind and groping, being forgetful of his purification from his former offenses.

Because of this, brothers, be all the more diligent, so that by good works you may make certain your calling and election. For in doing these things, you do not sin at any time.

For in this way, you shall be provided abundantly with an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

For this reason, I will always begin to admonish you about these things, even though, certainly, you know them and are confirmed in the present truth.

But I consider it just, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up with admonishments.

For it is certain that the laying to rest of this, my tabernacle, is approaching swiftly, just as our Lord Jesus Christ has also indicated to me.

Therefore, I will present a work for you to have, so that, frequently after my passing, you may call to mind these things.

Eyewitnesses of His Majesty

(Matthew 17:1–13; Mark 9:1–13; Luke 9:28–36)

For it was not by following fanciful doctrines that we made known to you the power and presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were made eyewitnesses of his greatness.

For he received honor and glory from God the Father, whose voice descended to him from the magnificent glory: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.”

We also heard this voice conveyed from heaven, when we were with him on the holy mountain.

And so, we have an even firmer prophetic word, to which you would do well to listen, as to a light shining within a dark place, until the day dawns, and the daystar rises, in your hearts.

Understand this first: that every prophecy of Scripture does not result from one’s own interpretation.(b)

For prophecy was not conveyed by human will at any time. Instead, holy men were speaking about God while inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Footnotes

(a)1:1 This letter is addressed especially to the Gentiles who became Christians.(Conte)

(b)1:20 No prophecy of scripture is made by private interpretation:This shows plainly that the scriptures are not to be expounded by any one’s private judgment or private spirit, because every part of the holy scriptures were written by men inspired by the Holy Ghost, and declared as such by the Church; therefore they are not to be interpreted but by the Spirit of God, which he has left, and promised to remain with his Church to guide her in all truth to the end of the world. Some may tell us, that many of our divines interpret the scriptures: they may do so, but they do it always with a submission to the judgment of the Church, and not otherwise.(Challoner)

(1 Peter 1:1–2)

Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,(a) to those who have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:

Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,

Partakers of the Divine Nature

seeing that his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and virtue,

by which he has granted to us his precious and exceedingly great promises; that through these you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.

Yes, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence; and in moral excellence, knowledge;

and in knowledge, self-control; and in self-control, perseverance; and in perseverance, godliness;

and in godliness, brotherly affection; and in brotherly affection, love.

For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to not be idle or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

For he who lacks these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins.

Therefore, brothers,(b) be more diligent to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble.

For thus you will be richly supplied with the entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Therefore I will not be negligent to remind you of these things, though you know them and are established in the present truth.

I think it right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you,

knowing that the putting off of my tent comes swiftly, even as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.

Yes, I will make every effort that you may always be able to remember these things even after my departure.

Eyewitnesses of His Majesty

(Matthew 17:1–13; Mark 9:1–13; Luke 9:28–36)

For we didn’t follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

For he received from God the Father honor and glory when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”(c)

We heard this voice come out of heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.

We have the more sure word of prophecy; and you do well that you heed it as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts,

knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation.

For no prophecy ever came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit.

Footnotes

(a)1:1 “Christ” means “Anointed One”.

(b)1:10 The word for “brothers” here and where context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”