A Greeting from Peter (2 Peter 1:1–2)
1 UST { I am} Peter, whom Jesus the Messiah sent{ to represent him}.{ I am writing this letter} to you whom God has chosen to belong to himself.{ I am writing to you} who are temporarily living in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, far away{ from your true home in heaven}. BSB BSB: Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the elect who are exiles of the Dispersion throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen
2 UST God our Father{ chose you} according to what he had already decided.{ He did this} by his Spirit, setting you apart in order that you may obey{ him} and in order that the death of Jesus the Messiah may make you members of a covenant with God.{ I pray that} God will increase his kind acts toward you and make you more peaceful. BSB BSB: according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
A Living Hope 3 UST Praise God, who is the Father of our Lord Jesus the Messiah! Because he is very merciful to us, he has caused us to experience the new birth by bringing Jesus the Messiah back to life after he had died.{ God did this} in order that we would have hope that will never disappoint us, BSB BSB: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 UST { that is,} in order that we might inherit what cannot perish, be defiled, or fade, which is what God has kept for us in heaven. BSB BSB: and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you,
5 UST God’ s power is guarding you by means of your trust{ in Jesus}.{ He is guarding you} in order to reveal your salvation at the final time{ when Jesus returns to judge everyone}. BSB BSB: who through faith are shielded by God’s power for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 UST You rejoice a lot because of what will happen then, even though now for a short time many different hardships must grieve you. BSB BSB: In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials
7 UST { These hardships} happen in order to prove that you really trust{ in Jesus}.{ That trust} is more valuable to God than gold, which someone can destroy even though someone has tested it by{ passing it through} fire. Because you trust in Jesus, God will praise, glorify, and honor you when Jesus the Messiah{ returns and} reveals himself. BSB BSB: so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
8 UST You love Jesus, although you have not seen him. Although you do not see him now, you trust him and rejoice with joy that you can hardly express, BSB BSB: Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
9 UST because you are experiencing the result of trusting him: God is saving you from the guilt of your sins. BSB BSB: now that you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
10 UST { Long ago} prophets investigated very carefully about God saving you. They spoke what God told them about God graciously saving you. BSB BSB: Concerning this salvation, the prophets who foretold the grace to come to you searched and investigated carefully,
11 UST They were trying to find out to whom the Spirit of the Messiah that was in them was referring to, and to what time the Spirit was referring to.{ The Spirit was referring to these things} when he told them beforehand that the Messiah would suffer and that glorious things would happen afterwards. BSB BSB: trying to determine the time and setting to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.
12 UST God told these prophets that it was not for their own benefit that he was revealing these things to them, but that it was for your benefit. Those people who preached the good news to you now have declared these things to you by the Holy Spirit, whom God sent from heaven,{ enabling them to do that}. Angels would like to know more about what these people declared to you. BSB BSB: It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, when they foretold the things now announced by those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
A Call to Holiness (Hebrews 12:14–17)
13 UST As a result of all these things, prepare your minds for action. Be alert. Be completely confident that God will graciously save you when Jesus the Messiah{ returns and} reveals himself. BSB BSB: Therefore prepare your minds for action. Be sober-minded. Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
14 UST Because you obey God like children ought to obey their fathers, do not allow yourself to be controlled by the{ sinful} desires you used to have when you did not know{ the truth about God}. BSB BSB: As obedient children, do not conform to the passions of your former ignorance.
15 UST Instead, just like God, the one who chose you{ to belong to him}, is holy, act in a holy manner when you do anything. BSB BSB: But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do,
16 UST Be holy, because Moses wrote{ in the scriptures that God said},“Be holy, because I am holy.” BSB BSB: for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
17 UST God is the one who judges what each person does, and he judges without bias. Since you call him“Father,” behave in a way that shows you fear him while you are temporarily living{ far away from your true home in heaven}. BSB BSB: Since you call on a Father who judges each one’s work impartially, conduct yourselves in reverent fear during your stay as foreigners.
18 UST { Behave in that way} because you know that{ God paid to free you} from behaving foolishly, as your ancestors taught you{ to behave}. God did not pay to free you with things like silver or gold that will not last forever. BSB BSB: For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers,
19 UST Instead,{ God paid for you to be free} by the Messiah’ s priceless death{ on the cross}.{ That death was} like{ the deaths} of the entirely perfect lambs{ that the Jewish priests sacrificed}. BSB BSB: but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.
21 UST Because of what the Messiah has done, you are trusting in God. He caused the Messiah to become alive again after he had died and has shown how great he is. As a result, you are trusting God and expecting{ him to do great things}. BSB BSB: Through Him you believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him; and so your faith and hope are in God.
The Enduring Word (Isaiah 40:6–8)
22 UST Because you have made yourselves pure by obeying the true teachings{ of Jesus} in order to genuinely love other believers, love each other sincerely and fervently. BSB BSB: Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart.
23 UST { Do this} because God has caused you to experience the new birth.{ You did not experience this new birth} by means of something that will perish. Rather,{ you experienced it} by means of something that will never perish: the message{ about Jesus} that came from God and truly lasts forever. BSB BSB: For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
25 UST but God’ s message lasts forever.” This message{ that lasts forever} is the good news{ about the Messiah} that we have declared to you. BSB BSB: but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was proclaimed to you.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.