Escape from corruption1From Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ. To those who have obtained a faith as precious as ours in believing the full acceptance we have in our God and Saviour Jesus Christ.2May grace and peace be given you abundantly through your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.3Through His divine power He has given us all we need for life and godliness, because we know Him personally. He has called us to live for His glory and in His goodness, by which He has given us such great and precious promises.4So we have become those who share in His divine nature and escape from the corruption caused by desiring what the world desires.5-7For this reason, make every effort to add goodness to your faith and to add knowledge to your goodness, self-control to your knowledge, perseverance to your self-control and holiness to your perseverance. Add friendship for the brethren to your holiness and to that friendship add God's love.8If all these qualities abound in you, they will prevent you from being ineffective and unproductive in your relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ.9For whoever lacks these things is blind and has forgotten that his past sins have been forgiven.10-11Therefore, my brothers, be more eager to stand firm in the reality of your calling and election, for by doing so you will never fail and you will receive a wonderful welcome into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.Beware of false teachers12Therefore I intend to keep reminding you of these things, even though you already know them and are now well established in the truth.13-14I consider it right, while I remain in this body, to stir you by reminding you of these truths; for I know that it will not be long before I will put this body aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.15I wanted to be sure that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.16For we did not tell you cleverly devised stories when we revealed the power and presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, for we were eye-witnesses of His majesty.17For when He received honour and glory from God the Father, a voice came to Him from the majestic glory, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."18And we heard this voice from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain (where He was transfigured before our eyes).19And we can verify the words the prophets spoke about Him, and you will do well to take careful note of such words. They are like a light shining in a murky place, anticipating the dawning of a new day when the morning-star rises in your hearts.20-21You must understand that no prophecy in scripture is fulfilled by self-interpretation, because no genuine prophecy came from man's will but because men were inspired by the Spirit, and so spoke from God.
Scripture quoted by permission. The passage above is taken from THE TRUTH VERSION. Copyright © 2009 by Colin Urquhart. All rights reserved worldwide. (The Truth New Testament)