1 Peter 4–5 · 2 Peter 1–2

1Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind; for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,

2that you no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

3For we have spent enough of our past time doing the desire of the Gentiles, and having walked in lewdness, lusts, drunken binges, orgies, carousings, and abominable idolatries.

4They think it is strange that you don’t run with them into the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you.

5They will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

6For to this end the Good News was preached even to the dead, that they might be judged indeed as men in the flesh, but live as to God in the spirit.

7But the end of all things is near. Therefore be of sound mind, self-controlled, and sober in prayer.

8And above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins.

9Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.

10As each has received a gift, employ it in serving one another, as good managers of the grace of God in its various forms.

11If anyone speaks, let it be as it were the very words of God. If anyone serves, let it be as of the strength which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

12Beloved, don’t be astonished at the fiery trial which has come upon you to test you, as though a strange thing happened to you.

13But because you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, rejoice, that at the revelation of his glory you also may rejoice with exceeding joy.

14If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. On their part he is blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified.

15But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil doer, or a meddler in other men’s matters.

16But if one of you suffers for being a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this matter.

17For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God. If it begins first with us, what will happen to those who don’t obey the Good News of God?

18“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will happen to the ungodly and the sinner?”

19Therefore let them also who suffer according to the will of God in doing good entrust their souls to him, as to a faithful Creator.

1Therefore I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and who will also share in the glory that will be revealed:

2shepherd the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion, but voluntarily; not for dishonest gain, but willingly;

3not as lording it over those entrusted to you, but making yourselves examples to the flock.

4When the chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive the crown of glory that doesn’t fade away.

5Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you clothe yourselves with humility and subject yourselves to one another; for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time,

7casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you.

8Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

9Withstand him steadfast in your faith, knowing that your brothers who are in the world are undergoing the same sufferings.

10But may the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

11To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

12Through Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand.

13She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, greets you. So does Mark, my son.

14Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to all of you who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

1Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:

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

3seeing that his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and virtue,

4by which he has granted to us his precious and exceedingly great promises; that through these you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.

5Yes, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence; and in moral excellence, knowledge;

6and in knowledge, self-control; and in self-control, perseverance; and in perseverance, godliness;

7and in godliness, brotherly affection; and in brotherly affection, love.

8For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to not be idle or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9For he who lacks these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins.

10Therefore, brothers, be more diligent to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble.

11For thus you will be richly supplied with the entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

12Therefore I will not be negligent to remind you of these things, though you know them and are established in the present truth.

13I think it right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you,

14knowing that the putting off of my tent comes swiftly, even as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.

15Yes, I will make every effort that you may always be able to remember these things even after my departure.

16For we didn’t follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

17For he received from God the Father honor and glory when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

18We heard this voice come out of heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.

19We have the more sure word of prophecy; and you do well that you heed it as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts,

20knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation.

21For no prophecy ever came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit.

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

2Many will follow their immoral ways, and as a result, the way of the truth will be maligned.

3In covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words: whose sentence now from of old doesn’t linger, and their destruction will not slumber.

4For if God didn’t spare angels when they sinned, but cast them down to Tartarus, and committed them to pits of darkness to be reserved for judgment;

5and didn’t spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah with seven others, a preacher of righteousness, when he brought a flood on the world of the ungodly,

6and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, having made them an example to those who would live in an ungodly way,

7and delivered righteous Lot, who was very distressed by the lustful life of the wicked

8(for that righteous man dwelling among them was tormented in his righteous soul from day to day with seeing and hearing lawless deeds),

9then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment,

10but chiefly those who walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries,

11whereas angels, though greater in might and power, don’t bring a slanderous judgment against them before the Lord.

12But these, as unreasoning creatures, born natural animals to be taken and destroyed, speaking evil in matters about which they are ignorant, will in their destroying surely be destroyed,

13receiving the wages of unrighteousness; people who count it pleasure to revel in the daytime, spots and defects, reveling in their deceit while they feast with you;

14having eyes full of adultery, and who can’t cease from sin, enticing unsettled souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children!

15Forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of wrongdoing;

16but he was rebuked for his own disobedience. A speechless donkey spoke with a man’s voice and stopped the madness of the prophet.

17These are wells without water, clouds driven by a storm, for whom the blackness of darkness has been reserved forever.

18For, uttering great swelling words of emptiness, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by licentiousness, those who are indeed escaping from those who live in error;

19promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for a man is brought into bondage by whoever overcomes him.

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

21For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.

22But it has happened to them according to the true proverb, “The dog turns to his own vomit again,” and “the sow that has washed to wallowing in the mire.”