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Growth in Christian Virtue

^1 (F1)Simon Peter, a ^(C1)bond-servant and ^(C2)apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Jesus Christ, To those who have ^(F2)received and possess by God's will a precious ^(C3)faith of the ^(F3)same kind as ours, by ^(C4)the righteousness of ^(C5)our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:^2 (C1)Grace and peace that special sense of spiritual well-being be multiplied to you in ^(C2)the true, intimate knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.³ For His ^(C1)divine power has bestowed on us absolutely everything necessary for a dynamic spiritual life and godliness, through ^(F1)true and personal ^(C2)knowledge of Him who ^(C3)called us by His own glory and excellence.⁴ For by these He has bestowed on us His precious and magnificent ^(C1)promises of inexpressible value, so that by them you may ^(C2)escape from the ^(C3)immoral freedom that is in ^(C4)the world because of disreputable desire, and become ^(C5)sharers of the divine nature.⁵ For this very reason, applying your diligence to the divine promises, make every effort in exercising your faith to ^(F1)(C1)develop ^(C2)moral excellence, and in moral excellence, ^(C3)knowledge (insight, understanding),⁶ and in your knowledge, ^(C1)self-control, and in your self-control, ^(C2)steadfastness, and in your steadfastness, ^(C3)godliness,⁷ and in your godliness, ^(C1)brotherly affection, and in your brotherly affection, develop Christian love that is, learn to unselfishly seek the best for others and to do things for their benefit.⁸ For as these qualities are yours and are increasing in you as you grow toward spiritual maturity, they will keep you from being useless and ^(C1)unproductive in regard to the true ^(C2)knowledge and greater understanding of our Lord Jesus Christ.⁹ For whoever lacks these qualities is ^(C1)blind—shortsighted closing his spiritual eyes to the truth, having become oblivious to the fact that he was ^(C2)cleansed from his old sins.¹⁰ Therefore, believers, be all the more diligent to make certain about His ^(C1)calling and ^(C2)choosing you be sure that your behavior reflects and confirms your relationship with God; for by ^(F1)doing these things actively developing these virtues, you will never ^(C3)stumble in your spiritual growth and will live a life that leads others away from sin;¹¹ for in this way entry into ^(C1)the eternal kingdom of our ^(C2)Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be ^(C3)abundantly ^(C4)provided to you.

¹² Therefore, ^(C1)I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them and are established in ^(C2)the truth which is ^(F1)held firmly in your grasp.¹³ I think it ^(C1)right, as long as I am in ^(C2)this earthly tent, to ^(C3)inspire you by reminding you,¹⁴ knowing that ^(C1)the laying aside of this earthly tent of mine is imminent, ^(C2)as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.¹⁵ Moreover, I will diligently endeavor to see to it that even after my ^(C1)departure you will be able, at all times, to call these things to mind.

Eyewitnesses

¹⁶ For we did not follow cleverly devised ^(C1)stories or myths when we made known to you the ^(C2)power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were ^(F1)(C3)eyewitnesses of His majesty His grandeur, His authority, His sovereignty.¹⁷ For when He was invested with honor and the radiance of the ^(F1)Shekinah glory from God the Father, such a ^(C1)voice as this came to Him from the splendid ^(C2)Majestic Glory in the bright cloud that overshadowed Him, saying, ^(F2)"This is My Son, My Beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased and delighted"— ^(VR1)18 and we actually heard this voice made from heaven when we were together with Him on the ^(C1)holy mountain. ^(VR1)

¹⁹ So we have ^(C1)the prophetic word made more ^(C2)certain. You do well to pay close attention to it as to ^(C3)a lamp shining in a dark place, until the ^(C4)day dawns and light breaks through the gloom and the ^(F1)(C5)morning star arises ^(C6)in your hearts. ^{(VR1)20 (F1)}But ^(C1)understand this first of all, that ^(C2)no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of or comes from one's own personal or special interpretation,²¹ for ^(C1)no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men ^(C2)moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.