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Simon Petrus, servus et apostolus Jesu Christi, iis qui coaequalem nobiscum sortiti sunt fidem in justitia Dei nostri, et Salvatoris Jesu Christi.

Gratia vobis, et pax adimpleatur in cognitione Dei, et Christi Jesu Domini nostri:

Quomodo omnia nobis divinae virtutis suae, quae ad vitam et pietatem donata sunt, per cognitionem ejus, qui vocavit nos propria gloria, et virtute,

per quem maxima, et pretiosa nobis promissa donavit: ut per haec efficiamini divinae consortes naturae: fugientes ejus, quae in mundo est, concupiscentiae corruptionem.

Vos autem curam omnem subinferentes, ministrate in fide vestra virtutem, in virtute autem scientiam,

in scientia autem abstinentiam, in abstinentia autem patientiam, in patientia autem pietatem,

in pietate autem amorem fraternitatis, in amore autem fraternitatis caritatem.

Haec enim si vobiscum adsint, et superent, non vacuos nec sine fructu vos constituent in Domini nostri Jesu Christi cognitione.

Cui enim non praesto sunt haec, caecus est, et manu tentans, oblivionem accipiens purgationis veterum suorum delictorum.

10 Quapropter fratres, magis satagite ut per bona opera certam vestram vocationem, et electionem faciatis: haec enim facientes, non peccabitis aliquando.

11 Sic enim abundanter ministrabitur vobis introitus in aeternum regnum Domini nostri et Salvatoris Jesu Christi.

12 Propter quod incipiam vos semper commonere de his: et quidem scientes et confirmatos vos in praesenti veritate.

13 Justum autem arbitror quamdiu sum in hoc tabernaculo, suscitare vos in commonitione:

14 certus quod velox est depositio tabernaculi mei secundum quod et Dominus noster Jesus Christus significavit mihi.

15 Dabo autem operam et frequenter habere vos post obitum meum, ut horum memoriam faciatis.

16 Non enim doctas fabulas secuti notam fecimus vobis Domini nostri Jesu Christi virtutem et praesentiam: sed speculatores facti illius magnitudinis.

17 Accipiens enim a Deo Patre honorem et gloriam, voce delapsa ad eum hujuscemodi a magnifica gloria: Hic est Filius meus dilectus, in quo mihi complacui, ipsum audite.

18 Et hanc vocem nos audivimus de caelo allatam, cum essemus cum ipso in monte sancto.

19 Et habemus firmiorem propheticum sermonem: cui benefacitis attendentes quasi lucernae lucenti in caliginoso loco donec dies elucescat, et lucifer oriatur in cordibus vestris:

20 hoc primum intelligentes quod omnis prophetia Scripturae propria interpretatione non fit.

21 Non enim voluntate humana allata est aliquando prophetia: sed Spiritu Sancto inspirati, locuti sunt sancti Dei homines.

Fuerunt vero et pseudoprophetae in populo, sicut et in vobis erunt magistri mendaces, qui introducent sectas perditionis: et eum qui emit eos, Dominum negant, superducentes sibi celerem perditionem.

Et multi sequentur eorum luxurias, per quos via veritatis blasphemabitur:

et in avaritia fictis verbis de vobis negotiabuntur: quibus judicium jam olim non cessat: et perditio eorum non dormitat.

Si enim Deus angelis peccantibus non pepercit, sed rudentibus inferni detractos in tartarum tradidit cruciandos, in judicium reservari.

Et originali mundo non pepercit, sed octavum Noe justitiae praeconem custodivit, diluvium mundo impiorum inducens.

Et civitates Sodomorum et Gomorrhaeorum in cinerem redigens, eversione damnavit: exemplum eorum, qui impie acturi sunt, ponens:

et justum Lot oppressum a nefandorum injuria, ac luxuriosa conversatione eripuit:

aspectu enim, et auditu justus erat: habitans apud eos, qui de die in diem animam justam iniquis operibus cruciabant.

Novit Dominus pios de tentatione eripere: iniquos vero in diem judicii reservare cruciandos.

10 Magis autem eos, qui post carnem in concupiscentia immunditiae ambulant, dominationemque contemnunt, audaces, sibi placentes, sectas non metuunt introducere blasphemantes:

11 ubi angeli fortitudine, et virtute cum sint majores, non portant adversum se execrabile judicium.

12 Hi vero velut irrationabilia pecora, naturaliter in captionem, et in perniciem in his quae ignorant blasphemantes in corruptione sua peribunt,

13 percipientes mercedem injustitiae, voluptatem existimantes diei delicias: coinquinationes, et maculae deliciis affluentes, in conviviis suis luxuriantes vobiscum,

14 oculos habentes plenos adulterii, et incessabilis delicti. Pellicientes animas instabiles, cor exercitatum avaritia habentes, maledictionis filii:

15 derelinquentes rectam viam erraverunt, secuti viam Balaam ex Bosor, qui mercedem iniquitatis amavit:

16 correptionem vero habuit suae vesaniae: subjugale mutum animal, hominis voce loquens, prohibuit prophetae insipientiam.

17 Hi sunt fontes sine aqua, et nebulae turbinibus exagitatae, quibus caligo tenebrarum reservatur.

18 Superba enim vanitatis loquentes, pelliciunt in desideriis carnis luxuriae eos, qui paululum effugiunt, qui in errore conversantur:

19 libertatem illis promittentes, cum ipsi servi sint corruptionem: a quo enim quis superatus est, hujus et servus est.

20 Si enim refugientes coinquinationes mundi in cognitione Domini nostri, et Salvatoris Jesu Christi, his rursus implicati superantur: facta sunt eis posteriora deteriora prioribus.

21 Melius enim erat illis non cognoscere viam justitiae, quam post agnitionem, retrorsum converti ab eo, quod illis traditum est, sancto mandato.

22 Contigit enim eis illud veri proverbii: Canis reversus ad suum vomitum: et, Sus lota in volutabro luti.

Hanc ecce vobis, carissimi, secundam scribo epistolam, in quibus vestram excito in commonitione sinceram mentem:

ut memores sitis eorum, quae praedixi, verborum, a sanctis prophetis et apostolorum vestrorum, praeceptorum Domini et Salvatoris.

Hoc primum scientes, quod venient in novissimis diebus in deceptione illusores, juxta proprias concupiscentias ambulantes,

dicentes: Ubi est promissio, aut adventus ejus? ex quo enim patres dormierunt, omnia sic perseverant ab initio creaturae.

Latet enim eos hoc volentes, quod caeli erant prius, et terra de aqua, et per aquam consistens Dei verbo:

per quae, ille tunc mundus aqua inundatus, periit.

Caeli autem, qui nunc sunt, et terra eodem verbo repositi sunt, igni reservati in diem judicii, et perditionis impiorum hominum.

Unum vero hoc non lateat vos, carissimi, quia unus dies apud Dominum sicut mille anni, et mille anni sicut dies unus.

Non tardat Dominus promissionem suam, sicut quidam existimant: sed patienter agit propter vos, nolens aliquos perire, sed omnes ad poenitentiam reverti.

10 Adveniet autem dies Domini ut fur: in quo caeli magno impetu transient, elementa vero calore solventur, terra autem et quae in ipsa sunt opera, exurentur.

11 Cum igitur haec omnia dissolvenda sunt, quales oportet vos esse in sanctis conversationibus, et pietatibus,

12 exspectantes, et properantes in adventum diei Domini, per quem caeli ardentes solventur, et elementa ignis ardore tabescent?

13 Novos vero caelos, et novam terram secundum promissa ipsius exspectamus, in quibus justitia habitat.

14 Propter quod, carissimi, haec exspectantes, satagite immaculati, et inviolati ei inveniri in pace:

15 et Domini nostri longanimitatem, salutem arbitremini: sicut et carissimus frater noster Paulus secundum datam sibi sapientiam scripsit vobis,

16 sicut et omnibus epistolis, loquens in eis de his in quibus sunt quaedam difficilia intellectu, quae indocti et instabiles depravant, sicut et ceteras Scripturas, ad suam ipsorum perditionem.

17 Vos igitur fratres, praescientes custodite, ne insipientium errore traducti excidatis a propria firmitate:

18 crescite vero in gratia, et in cognitione Domini nostri, et Salvatoris Jesu Christi. Ipsi gloria et nunc, et in diem aeternitatis. Amen.

Simon Peter, a servant(A) and apostle of Jesus Christ,(B)

To those who through the righteousness(C) of our God and Savior Jesus Christ(D) have received a faith as precious as ours:

Grace and peace be yours in abundance(E) through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.(F)

Confirming One’s Calling and Election

His divine power(G) has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him(H) who called us(I) by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises,(J) so that through them you may participate in the divine nature,(K) having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.(L)

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;(M) and to knowledge, self-control;(N) and to self-control, perseverance;(O) and to perseverance, godliness;(P) and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.(Q) For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive(R) in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.(S) But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind,(T) forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.(U)

10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters,[a] make every effort to confirm your calling(V) and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble,(W) 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom(X) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.(Y)

Prophecy of Scripture

12 So I will always remind you of these things,(Z) even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth(AA) you now have. 13 I think it is right to refresh your memory(AB) as long as I live in the tent of this body,(AC) 14 because I know that I will soon put it aside,(AD) as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.(AE) 15 And I will make every effort to see that after my departure(AF) you will always be able to remember these things.

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power,(AG) but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.(AH) 17 He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”[b](AI) 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.(AJ)

19 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable,(AK) and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light(AL) shining in a dark place, until the day dawns(AM) and the morning star(AN) rises in your hearts.(AO) 20 Above all, you must understand(AP) that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God(AQ) as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.(AR)

False Teachers and Their Destruction

But there were also false prophets(AS) among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you.(AT) They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord(AU) who bought them(AV)—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct(AW) and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed(AX) these teachers will exploit you(AY) with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

For if God did not spare angels when they sinned,(AZ) but sent them to hell,[c] putting them in chains of darkness[d] to be held for judgment;(BA) if he did not spare the ancient world(BB) when he brought the flood on its ungodly people,(BC) but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others;(BD) if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes,(BE) and made them an example(BF) of what is going to happen to the ungodly;(BG) and if he rescued Lot,(BH) a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless(BI) (for that righteous man,(BJ) living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials(BK) and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.(BL) 10 This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire(BM) of the flesh[e] and despise authority.

Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings;(BN) 11 yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not heap abuse on such beings when bringing judgment on them from[f] the Lord.(BO) 12 But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish.(BP)

13 They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight.(BQ) They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.[g](BR) 14 With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce(BS) the unstable;(BT) they are experts in greed(BU)—an accursed brood!(BV) 15 They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam(BW) son of Bezer,[h] who loved the wages of wickedness. 16 But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—an animal without speech—who spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.(BX)

17 These people are springs without water(BY) and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.(BZ) 18 For they mouth empty, boastful words(CA) and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping(CB) from those who live in error. 19 They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.”(CC) 20 If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing(CD) our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ(CE) and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.(CF) 21 It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.(CG) 22 Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,”[i](CH) and, “A sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud.”

The Day of the Lord

Dear friends,(CI) this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders(CJ) to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets(CK) and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.(CL)

Above all, you must understand that in the last days(CM) scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.(CN) They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised?(CO) Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”(CP) But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word(CQ) the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water.(CR) By these waters also the world of that time(CS) was deluged and destroyed.(CT) By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire,(CU) being kept for the day of judgment(CV) and destruction of the ungodly.

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.(CW) The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise,(CX) as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient(CY) with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.(CZ)

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.(DA) The heavens will disappear with a roar;(DB) the elements will be destroyed by fire,(DC) and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.[j](DD)

11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward(DE) to the day of God and speed its coming.[k](DF) That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.(DG) 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth,(DH) where righteousness dwells.

14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless(DI) and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience(DJ) means salvation,(DK) just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.(DL) 16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable(DM) people distort,(DN) as they do the other Scriptures,(DO) to their own destruction.

17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard(DP) so that you may not be carried away by the error(DQ) of the lawless(DR) and fall from your secure position.(DS) 18 But grow in the grace(DT) and knowledge(DU) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.(DV) To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.(DW)

Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 1:10 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family.
  2. 2 Peter 1:17 Matt. 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35
  3. 2 Peter 2:4 Greek Tartarus
  4. 2 Peter 2:4 Some manuscripts in gloomy dungeons
  5. 2 Peter 2:10 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit; also in verse 18.
  6. 2 Peter 2:11 Many manuscripts beings in the presence of
  7. 2 Peter 2:13 Some manuscripts in their love feasts
  8. 2 Peter 2:15 Greek Bosor
  9. 2 Peter 2:22 Prov. 26:11
  10. 2 Peter 3:10 Some manuscripts be burned up
  11. 2 Peter 3:12 Or as you wait eagerly for the day of God to come

Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;

14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.

15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.

16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;

And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:

(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.

12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;

14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.

17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:

That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.