1 From ·Simon [^LSimeon; ^Ca version of Simon closer to the Hebrew name] Peter, a ·servant [slave] and apostle of Jesus Christ.

To ·you [^Lthose] who have received a faith as ·valuable [precious; privileged] as ours, ·because our God and Savior Jesus Christ does what is right [or through the righteousness/justice of our God and Savior Jesus Christ].

² [May] Grace and peace be ·given to you more and more [lavished upon you; multiplied to you], ·because you truly know [or as you grow in your knowledge; ^Lthrough/in the knowledge of] God and Jesus our Lord.

God Has Given Us Blessings

³ ·Jesus has the power of God, by which he has given us [^LHis divine power has given us] everything we need ·to live and to serve God [or to live a godly life; ^Lfor life and godliness]. We have these things ·because we know [or as we better come to know; ^Lthrough the knowledge of] ·Jesus, who called us [^Lthe one who called us; ^Cmay refer to Jesus or God the Father] by his glory and ·goodness [virtue; moral excellence]. ⁴ Through these he gave us the very great and precious promises. [^L…so that] With these gifts you can ·share in [partake of; participate in] ·God’s nature [^Lthe divine nature; ^Cwhich enables us to live forever], ·and the world will not ruin you with its evil desires [or having escaped the world’s decay that was caused by its evil desires].

⁵ ·Because you have these blessings [^LFor this very reason; ^Cthe reasons stated in vv. 3–4], ·do your best [make every effort; strive] to ·add these things to [or increase these things in] your lives: to your faith, add ·goodness [virtue; moral excellence]; and to your ·goodness [virtue; moral excellence], add knowledge; ⁶ and to your knowledge, add self-control; and to your self-control, add ·patience [or perseverance]; and to your ·patience [or perseverance], add ·service for God [devotion; piety; godliness]; ⁷ and to your ·service for God [devotion; piety; godliness], add ·kindness for your brothers and sisters in Christ [affection for fellow believers; ^Lbrotherly love/affection; ^CGreek: philadelphia]; and to ·this kindness [affection; ^Lbrotherly love/affection], add love [^CGreek: agapē]. ⁸ If all these things are in you and are ·growing [increasing], they will ·help you to be useful and productive [^Lkeep you from being ineffective/idle and unfruitful/unproductive] in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ ·But [or For] anyone who does not have these things ·cannot see clearly [is nearsighted]. He is blind [1 John 2:11; Rev. 3:17] ·and [or because he] has forgotten that he was made clean from his past sins.

¹⁰ [^LTherefore] My brothers and sisters, ·try hard [make every effort; strive] to ·be certain that you really are called and chosen by God [^Lconfirm your calling and election]. [^LFor] If you do all these things, you will never ·fall [stumble]. ¹¹ ·And [For in this way] you will be given a very ·great [rich; lavish] ·welcome [entrance; arrival] into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

¹² You know these things, and you are ·very strong [established] in the truth [that has come to you; that you now have], but I will always ·help you remember [remind you of] them. ¹³ I think it is right for me to ·help you remember [^Larouse you with a reminder] as long as I am in this ·body [^Ltent; ^Ca metaphor for the transitory earthly body]. ¹⁴ I know I must soon ·leave this body [^Lput off my tent; ^Cdie; 1:13; 2 Cor. 5:1, 4], as our Lord Jesus Christ ·has shown [made clear to] me [John 21:18]. ¹⁵ I will ·try my best [make every effort; strive] so that you may be able [^Lalways] to remember these things even after ·I am gone [^Lmy departure; ^CPeter’s death].

We Saw Christ’s Glory

¹⁶ [^LFor] When we ·told [made known to] you about the ·powerful coming [or power and coming] of our Lord Jesus Christ, we were not ·telling [following; repeating] ·just clever stories that someone invented [or cleverly-concocted myths]. But we ·saw the greatness of Jesus with our own eyes [^Lwere eyewitness of his majesty]. ¹⁷ [^LFor] ·Jesus heard the voice of God, the Greatest Glory [^LWhen that voice came to him from the Majestic Glory], when he received honor and glory from God the Father. The voice said, “This is my Son, whom I love, and I am very pleased with him [^Ca reference to the Transfiguration; Matt. 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35].” ¹⁸ We heard that voice from heaven while we were with Jesus on the ·holy [sacred] mountain.

¹⁹ ·This makes us more sure about the message the prophets gave [or And we also have a reliable message from the prophets; ^LAnd we have the prophetic word confirmed; ^Cprobably referring to the Old Testament]. ·It is good for you [You do well] to follow closely what they said as you would follow a ·light [^Llamp] shining in a dark place, until the day ·begins [^Ldawns] and the morning star rises in your hearts [Num. 24:17; Rev. 22:16; ^Cthe planet Venus as seen before sunrise, here symbolizing Christ]. ²⁰ ·Most [First] of all, you must understand this: No prophecy in the Scriptures ·ever comes from the prophet’s own interpretation [or is a matter of one’s own interpretation]. ²¹ No prophecy ever came from ·what a person wanted to say [^Lhuman will/intention], but people ·led [carried; moved] by the Holy Spirit spoke words from God. [^CTrue prophecy originates with God, not with the prophet.]