New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Growth in Christian Virtue

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:

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

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.

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

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

6 and inyourknowledge, self-control, and inyourself-control, perseverance, and inyourperseverance, godliness,

7 and inyourgodliness, brotherly kindness, and inyourbrotherly kindness, love.

8 For if thesequalitiesare yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 For he who lacks thesequalitiesis blindorshort-sighted, having forgottenhispurification from his former sins.

10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;

11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.

12 Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though youalreadyknowthem,and have been established in the truth which is present withyou.

13 I consider it right, as long as I am in thisearthlydwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder,

14 knowing that the laying aside of myearthlydwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.

15 And I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you will be able to call these things to mind.

Eyewitnesses

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 were eyewitnesses of His majesty.

17 For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased”-

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

19 Sowe have the prophetic wordmademore 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.

20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture isa matterof one’s own interpretation,

21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/2PE/1-89c523e62da41e04f65fcbffb463adef.mp3?version_id=100—

The Rise of False Prophets

1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.

2 Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned;

3 and intheirgreed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment;

5 and did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;

6 andifHe condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducingthemto ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodlylivesthereafter;

7 andifHe rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men

8 (for by what he saw and heardthatrighteous man, while living among them, felthisrighteous soul tormented day after day bytheirlawless deeds),

9 thenthe Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment,

10 and especially those who indulge the flesh initscorrupt desires and despise authority.

Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties,

11 whereas angels who are greater in might and power do not bring a reviling judgment against them before the Lord.

12 But these, like unreasoning animals, born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed, reviling where they have no knowledge, will in the destruction of those creatures also be destroyed,

13 suffering wrong as the wages of doing wrong. They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are stains and blemishes, reveling in theirdeceptions, as they carouse with you,

14 having eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children;

15 forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, thesonof Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

16 but he received a rebuke for his own transgression,fora mute donkey, speaking with a voice of a man, restrained the madness of the prophet.

17 These are springs without water and mists driven by a storm, for whom the black darkness has been reserved.

18 For speaking out arrogantwordsof vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error,

19 promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.

20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.

21 For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them.

22 It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “Adog returns to its own vomit,” and, “A sow, after washing,returnsto wallowing in the mire.”

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/2PE/2-74ecbd109d75584e10a14bbd7e87e47d.mp3?version_id=100—

Purpose of This Letter

1 This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder,

2 that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Saviorspokenby your apostles.

The Coming Day of the Lord

3 Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come withtheirmocking, following after their own lusts,

4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? Foreversince the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.”

5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of Godtheheavens existed long ago andtheearth was formed out of water and by water,

6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water.

7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

8 But do not let this onefactescape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.

9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

A New Heaven and Earth

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will beburned up.

11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,

12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!

13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless,

15 and regard the patience of our Lordassalvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you,

16 as also in allhisletters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, asthey doalso the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.

17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness,

18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Himbethe glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/2PE/3-fb26ee338f38f589ad56869e5279efe9.mp3?version_id=100—

A Living Hope, and a Sure Salvation

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen

2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4 toobtainan inheritancewhich isimperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,

7 so that the proof of your faith,beingmore precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation ofyour souls.

10 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace thatwould cometo you made careful searches and inquiries,

11 seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.

12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven-things into which angels long to look.

13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep soberin spirit,fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lustswhich were yoursin your ignorance,

15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in allyourbehavior;

16 because it is written, “You shall be holy,forIam holy.”

17 If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stayon earth;

18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,

19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless,the bloodof Christ.

20 For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you

21 who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another fromthe heart,

23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable,that is,through the living and enduring word of God.

24 For,

“All flesh is like grass,

And all its glory like the flower of grass.

The grass withers,

And the flower falls off,

25 But the word of theLord endures forever.”

And this is the word which was preached to you.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/1PE/1-c60c5f7d92f019acdb8460d289f79f1b.mp3?version_id=100—

As Newborn Babes

1 Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander,

2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,

3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.

As Living Stones

4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God,

5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

6 Forthisis contained in Scripture:

“Behold, Ilay inZion a choice stone,aprecious cornerstone,

And he who believes inHim will not bedisappointed.”

7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve,

“The stone which the buildersrejected,

This became the very cornerstone,”

8 and,

“Astone of stumbling and a rock of offense”;

for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to thisdoomthey were also appointed.

9 But you area chosen race,aroyalpriesthood,aholy nation,a people forGod’sown possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

10 for you once werenot a people, but now you arethe people ofGod; you hadnot received mercy,but now you havereceived mercy.

11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.

12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observethem,glorify God in the day ofvisitation.

Honor Authority

13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority,

14 or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.

15 For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.

16 Actas free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, butuse itas bondslaves of God.

17 Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.

18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable.

19 For thisfindsfavor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.

20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and sufferfor ityou patiently endure it, thisfindsfavor with God.

Christ Is Our Example

21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,

22 whocommitted no sin,nor was any deceit found inHis mouth;

23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrustingHimselfto Him who judges righteously;

24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

25 For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/1PE/2-3621a89df91859066a25f20086b650ad.mp3?version_id=100—

Godly Living

1 In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if anyof themare disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives,

2 as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior.

3 Your adornment must not bemerelyexternal-braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses;

4 butlet it bethe hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.

5 For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands;

6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.

7 You husbands in the same way, live withyour wivesin an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

8 To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit;

9 not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.

10 For,

“The one who desires life,to love and see good days,

Must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.

11 “He must turn away from evil and do good;

He must seek peace and pursue it.

12 “For the eyes of theLord are toward the righteous,

AndHis ears attend to their prayer,

But the face of theLord is against those who do evil.”

13 Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?

14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear theirintimidation,and do not be troubled,

15 butsanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, alwaysbeingready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;

16 and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.

17 For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.

18 For Christ also died for sins once for all,thejust fortheunjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;

19 in which also He went and made proclamation to the spiritsnowin prison,

20 who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely throughthewater.

21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you-not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience-through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/1PE/3-99d65887255e8d54e9058ffa12c03654.mp3?version_id=100—

Keep Fervent in Your Love

1 Therefore, since Christ hassuffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,

2 so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

3 For the time already past is sufficientfor youto have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.

4 Inallthis, they are surprised that you do not run withtheminto the same excesses of dissipation, and they malignyou;

5 but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

6 For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according tothe will ofGod.

7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and soberspiritfor the purpose of prayer.

8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.

9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint.

10 As each one has received aspecialgift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

11 Whoever speaks,is to do soas one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever servesis to do soas one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Share the Sufferings of Christ

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;

13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.

14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

15 Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler;

16 but ifanyone suffersas a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.

17 Forit istime for judgment to begin with the household of God; and ifitbeginswith us first, whatwill bethe outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

18 And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved,what will become of thegodless man and the sinner?

19 Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/1PE/4-8c9b27d8c5e15afb01eccfae1113bf23.mp3?version_id=100—

Serve God Willingly

1 Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, asyourfellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed,

2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according tothe will ofGod; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness;

3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.

4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

5 You younger men, likewise, be subject toyourelders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud,but gives grace to the humble.

6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,

7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

8 Be of soberspirit,be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

9 But resist him, firm inyourfaith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.

10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthenandestablish you.

11 To Himbedominion forever and ever. Amen.

12 Through Silvanus, our faithful brother (for so I regardhim), I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it!

13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, andso doesmy son, Mark.

14 Greet one another with a kiss of love.

Peace be to you all who are in Christ.

—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/80/32k/1PE/5-3be30f230637dc63736705f72ed71db2.mp3?version_id=100—