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General Letters · WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE

2 Peter 1

Growth in virtue and confidence in Christ's return answer destructive teaching.

2 Peter overview
New Testament

2 Peter 1

1Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:

2Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,

3seeing 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,

4by 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.

5Yes, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence; and in moral excellence, knowledge;

6and in knowledge, self-control; and in self-control, perseverance; and in perseverance, godliness;

7and in godliness, brotherly affection; and in brotherly affection, love.

8For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to not be idle or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9For he who lacks these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins.

10Therefore, brothers, be more diligent to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble.

11For thus you will be richly supplied with the entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

12Therefore I will not be negligent to remind you of these things, though you know them and are established in the present truth.

13I think it right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you,

14knowing that the putting off of my tent comes swiftly, even as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.

15Yes, I will make every effort that you may always be able to remember these things even after my departure.

16For 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.

17For 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.”

18We heard this voice come out of heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.

19We 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,

20knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation.

21For no prophecy ever came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit.

READ IN CONTEXT

Before applying this chapter

Growth in virtue and confidence in Christ's return answer destructive teaching. Read 2 Peter 1 within the complete 2 Peter overview, and use the contextual Bible reading guide before forming a personal application. Chapter divisions aid navigation, but the literary unit may begin earlier or continue into the next chapter.

Observe first

Mark repeated words, changes of speaker, commands, promises, contrasts, questions, and the relationship between paragraphs.

Apply responsibly

Distinguish description from command and immediate audience from later readers before forming a personal application.

TEXT-DERIVED READING NOTES

What to notice in 2 Peter 1

2 Peter 1 contains 21 verses and about 469 words in this translation. These observations come from the chapter itself; they are prompts for close reading, not claims about its only possible meaning.

The opening movement

Verse 1 begins: “Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:” Ask what situation, voice, image, or argument this opening establishes for everything that follows.

The closing movement

Verse 21 closes: “For no prophecy ever came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit.” Compare the ending with the opening and note what changed, resolved, intensified, or remained open.

Vocabulary worth tracing

Recurring or prominent content words include christ, things, knowledge, will, godliness, glory. Follow where each word appears and whether its meaning shifts with the speaker or setting.

COMMON QUESTIONS

About 2 Peter 1

Which Bible translation is shown here?+

This page reproduces the World English Bible Protestant edition (WEBP), a modern-English translation dedicated to the public domain.

How should I cite a specific verse?+

Use the book, chapter, and verse—for example, 2 Peter 1:1—and name the World English Bible if the wording matters. Each verse number above is a direct anchor link.

Does the chapter number define the complete literary unit?+

Not always. Chapter and verse numbers were added for navigation. Check the paragraphs, scenes, poetic stanzas, or argument before and after this chapter.

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