1:1  Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:

1:2   May grace and peace multiply to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;

1:3   seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

1:4  For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that remains in the world by lust.

1:5   Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,

1:6   and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness,

1:7   and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.

1:8   For if these qualities belong to you and have increased, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1:9   For he who lacks these qualities has become blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.

1:10   Therefore, brethren, show more diligence to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;

1:11   for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Who will abundantly supply them to you.

1:12   Therefore, I will always readily remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have become established in the truth which resides with you.

1:13   I consider it right, as long as I reside in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder,

1:14  knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling has become imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.

1:15   And I will diligently make sure that at any time after my departure you will have the capability of calling these things to mind.

1:16  For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we witnessed His majesty first hand.

1:17  For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this God the Father made to Him by the Majestic Glory, "This one I designate as My beloved Son with whom I feel well-pleased"--

1:18   and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we stayed with Him on the holy mountain.

1:19   So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.

1:20   But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture becomes a matter of one's own interpretation,

1:21   for no prophecy ever came about by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.