¹Simon Peter, a ^abond-servant and ^bapostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Jesus Christ,

To those who have ²received and possess by God’s will a precious ^cfaith of the ³same kind as ours, by ^dthe righteousness of ^eour God and Savior, Jesus Christ: 2 ^aGrace and peace that special sense of spiritual well-being be multiplied to you in ^bthe true, intimate knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3 For His ^adivine power has bestowed on us absolutely everything necessary for a dynamic spiritual life and godliness, through ¹true and personal ^bknowledge of Him who ^ccalled us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has bestowed on us His precious and magnificent ^apromises of inexpressible value, so that by them you may ^bescape from the ^cimmoral freedom that is in ^dthe world because of disreputable desire, and become ^esharers of the divine nature. 5 For this very reason, applying your diligence to the divine promises, make every effort in exercising your faith to ^1adevelop ^bmoral excellence, and in moral excellence, ^cknowledge (insight, understanding) , 6 and in your knowledge, ^aself-control, and in your self-control, ^bsteadfastness, and in your steadfastness, ^cgodliness, 7 and in your godliness, ^abrotherly affection, and in your brotherly affection, develop Christian love that is, learn to unselfishly seek the best for others and to do things for their benefit. 8 For as these qualities are yours and are increasing in you as you grow toward spiritual maturity, they will keep you from being useless and ^aunproductive in regard to the true ^bknowledge and greater understanding of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is ^ablind—shortsighted closing his spiritual eyes to the truth, having become oblivious to the fact that he was ^bcleansed from his old sins. 10 Therefore, believers, be all the more diligent to make certain about His ^acalling and ^bchoosing you be sure that your behavior reflects and confirms your relationship with God; for by ¹doing these things actively developing these virtues, you will never ^cstumble in your spiritual growth and will live a life that leads others away from sin; 11 for in this way entry into ^athe eternal kingdom of our ^bLord and Savior Jesus Christ will be ^cabundantly ^dprovided to you.

12 Therefore, ^aI will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them and are established in ^bthe truth which is ¹held firmly in your grasp. 13 I think it ^aright, as long as I am in ^bthis earthly tent, to ^cinspire you by reminding you, 14 knowing that ^athe laying aside of this earthly tent of mine is imminent, ^bas our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15 Moreover, I will diligently endeavor to see to it that even after my ^adeparture you will be able, at all times, to call these things to mind.

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised ^astories or myths when we made known to you the ^bpower and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were ^1ceyewitnesses of His majesty His grandeur, His authority, His sovereignty. 17 For when He was invested with honor and the radiance of the ¹Shekinah glory from God the Father, such a ^avoice as this came to Him from the splendid ^bMajestic Glory in the bright cloud that overshadowed Him, saying,² “This is My Son, My Beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased and delighted”— Matt 17:5 18 and we actually heard this voice made from heaven when we were together with Him on the ^aholy mountain. Matt 17:6

19 So we have ^athe prophetic word made more ^bcertain. You do well to pay close attention to it as to ^ca lamp shining in a dark place, until the ^dday dawns and light breaks through the gloom and the ^1emorning star arises ^fin your hearts. Num 24:17 20 ¹But ^aunderstand this first of all, that ^bno prophecy of Scripture is a matter of or comes from one’s own personal or special interpretation, 21 for ^ano prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men ^bmoved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.