benwisdom

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

But 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.

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

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

We 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:

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

For 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.”

For we did not 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful to the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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

and in knowledge, self-control; and in self-control patience; and in patience godliness;

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

by 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.

seeing 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;

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

Simon 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:

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

She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, greets you; and so does Mark, my son.

Through 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.

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

But 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

neither as lording it over those entrusted to you, but making yourselves examples to the flock.

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

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.

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

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

For 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?

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

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

If 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.

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

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

If 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.

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

Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.

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

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

For 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.

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

They think it is strange that you don’t run with them into the same excess of riot, blaspheming:

For 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.

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

Forasmuch then as 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;

who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him.

This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you–not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

who before were disobedient, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, while the ship was being built. In it, few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.

in which he also went and preached to the spirits in prison,

Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;

For it is better, if it is God’s will, that you suffer for doing well than for doing evil.

having a good conscience; that, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who curse your good way of life in Christ.

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear:

But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “Don’t fear what they fear, neither be troubled.”

Now who is he who will harm you, if you become imitators of that which is good?

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears open to their prayer; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Let him turn away from evil, and do good. Let him seek peace, and pursue it.

For, “He who would love life, and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit.

not rendering evil for evil, or insult for insult; but instead blessing; knowing that to this were you called, that you may inherit a blessing.

Finally, be all like-minded, compassionate, loving as brothers, tenderhearted, courteous,

You husbands, in the same way, live with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor to the woman, as to the weaker vessel, as being also joint heirs of the grace of life; that your prayers may not be hindered.

as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose children you now are, if you do well, and are not put in fear by any terror.

For this is how the holy women before, who hoped in God also adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands:

but in the hidden person of the heart, in the incorruptible adornment of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God very precious.

Let your beauty be not just the outward adorning of braiding the hair, and of wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on fine clothing;

seeing your pure behavior in fear.

In the same way, wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; so that, even if any don’t obey the Word, they may be won by the behavior of their wives without a word;

For you were going astray like sheep; but now have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

who his own self bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.

Who, when he was cursed, didn’t curse back. When he suffered, didn’t threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously;

who did not sin, “neither was deceit found in his mouth.”

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps,

For what glory is it if, when you sin, you patiently endure beating? But if, when you do well, you patiently endure suffering, this is commendable with God.

For it is commendable if someone endures pain, suffering unjustly, because of conscience toward God.

Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the wicked.

Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.

For this is the will of God, that by well-doing you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

or to governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evildoers and for praise to those who do well.

Therefore subject yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether to the king, as supreme;

having good behavior among the nations, so in that of which they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they see, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

who in time past were no people, but now are God’s people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

and, “a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” For they stumble at the word, being disobedient, to which also they were appointed.

For you who believe therefore is the honor, but for those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected, has become the chief cornerstone,”

Because it is contained in Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, chosen, and precious: He who believes in him will not be disappointed.”

You also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

coming to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, precious.