1 Peter 4:2 - 2 Peter 1:21

New King James Version

²that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, ^(A)but for the will of God. ³For we have spent enough of our past ^[a]lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. ⁴In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. ⁵They will give an account to Him who is ready ^(B)to judge the living and the dead. ⁶For this reason ^(C)the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but ^(D)live according to God in the spirit.

Serving for God’s Glory

⁷But ^(E)the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. ⁸And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ^(F)“love will cover a multitude of sins.” ⁹^(G)Be hospitable to one another ^(H)without grumbling. ¹⁰^(I)As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, ^(J)as good stewards of ^(K)the manifold grace of God. ¹¹^(L)If anyone speaks, let him speak as the ^[b]oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that ^(M)in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the ^[c]dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Suffering for God’s Glory

¹²Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; ¹³but rejoice ^(N)to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that ^(O)when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. ¹⁴If you are ^[d]reproached for the name of Christ, ^(P)blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. ^[e]On their part He is blasphemed, ^(Q)but on your part He is glorified. ¹⁵But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a ^[f]busybody in other people’s matters. ¹⁶Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this ^[g]matter.

¹⁷For the time has come ^(R)for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, ^(S)what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? ¹⁸Now

^(T)“If the righteous one is scarcely saved,
Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”

¹⁹Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God ^(U)commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

Shepherd the Flock

5 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a ^(V)witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the ^(W)glory that will be revealed: ²^(X)Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, ^(Y)not by compulsion but ^[h]willingly, ^(Z)not for dishonest gain but eagerly; ³nor as ^(AA)being ^[i]lords over ^(AB)those entrusted to you, but ^(AC)being examples to the flock; ⁴and when ^(AD)the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive ^(AE)the crown of glory that does not fade away.

Submit to God, Resist the Devil

⁵Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, ^(AF)all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for

^(AG)“God resists the proud,
But ^(AH)gives grace to the humble.”

⁶Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, ⁷casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

⁸Be ^[j]sober, be ^[k]vigilant; ^[l]because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. ⁹Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. ¹⁰But ^[m]may the God of all grace, ^(AI)who called ^[n]us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, ^[o]perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. ¹¹^(AJ)To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Farewell and Peace

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

¹³She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you; and so does ^(AM)Mark my son. ¹⁴Greet one another with a kiss of love.

Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Greeting the Faithful

1 Simon Peter, a bondservant and ^(AN)apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have ^[p]obtained ^(AO)like^[q] precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

²^(AP)Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, ³as His ^(AQ)divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him ^(AR)who called us by glory and virtue, ⁴^(AS)by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be ^(AT)partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the ^[r]corruption that is in the world through lust.

Fruitful Growth in the Faith

⁵But also for this very reason, ^(AU)giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue ^(AV)knowledge, ⁶to knowledge self-control, to self-control ^[s]perseverance, to perseverance godliness, ⁷to godliness brotherly kindness, and ^(AW)to brotherly kindness love. ⁸For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither ^[t]barren ^(AX)nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹For he who lacks these things is ^(AY)shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

¹⁰Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent ^(AZ)to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; ¹¹for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Peter’s Approaching Death

¹²For this reason ^(BA)I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, ^(BB)though you know and are established in the present truth. ¹³Yes, I think it is right, ^(BC)as long as I am in this ^[u]tent, ^(BD)to stir you up by reminding you, ¹⁴^(BE)knowing that shortly I must ^[v]put off my tent, just as ^(BF)our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. ¹⁵Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my ^[w]decease.

The Trustworthy Prophetic Word^(BG)

¹⁶For we did not follow ^(BH)cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the ^(BI)power and ^(BJ)coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were ^(BK)eyewitnesses of His majesty. ¹⁷For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: ^(BL)“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” ¹⁸And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on ^(BM)the holy mountain.

¹⁹^[x]And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a ^(BN)light that shines in a dark place, ^(BO)until ^(BP)the day dawns and the morning star rises in your ^(BQ)hearts; ²⁰knowing this first, that ^(BR)no prophecy of Scripture is of any private ^[y]interpretation, ²¹for ^(BS)prophecy never came by the will of man, ^(BT)but ^[z]holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.