2 Peter 1 : Easy-to-Read Version
1 Greetings from Simon Peter, a servant and apostle* of Jesus Christ. To all you people who have a faith that is so valuable, like ours. You received that faith because our God and Savior Jesus Christ is fair. He does what is right. 2Grace (kindness) and peace be given to you more and more. You will have grace and peace because you truly know God and Jesus our Lord.
God Has Given Us Everything We Need
3Jesus has the power of God. His power has given us everything we need to live and to serve God. We have these things because we know him. Jesus called us by his glory and goodness. 4Through his glory and goodness, Jesus gave us the very great and rich gifts that he promised us. With those gifts you can share in being like God. And so the world will not ruin you with the evil things it wants. 5Because you have these blessings, you should try as much as you can to add these things [to your life]: to your faith add goodness; and to your goodness add knowledge; 6and to your knowledge add self-control; and to your self-control add patience; and to your patience add service for God; 7and to your service for God add kindness for your brothers and sisters [in Christ]; and to this kindness for your brothers and sisters add love. 8If all these things are in you and they are growing, then these things will help you to never be useless. These things will help you to never be worthless in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But if a person does not have these things, then he cannot see clearly. That person is blind. He has forgotten that he was cleansed (forgiven) from his past sins. 10My brothers [and sisters], God called you and chose you to be his. Try hard to show that you really are God's called and chosen people. If you do all those things, you will never fall. 11And you will be given a very great welcome into the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That kingdom continues forever. 12You know these things. You are very strong in the truth you have. But I will always help you to remember these things. 13I think it is right for me to help you remember these things while I am still living here on earth. 14I know that I must soon leave this body. Our Lord Jesus Christ has shown me that. 15I will try the best I can to help you remember these things always. I want you to be able to remember these things after I am gone.
We Saw Christ's Glory
16We told you about the power of our Lord Jesus Christ. We told you about his coming. Those things we told you were not just smart stories that people invented. No! We saw the greatness of Jesus with our own eyes. 17Jesus heard the voice of the Greatest Glory (God). That was when Jesus received honor and glory from God the Father. The voice said, "This is my Son, and I love him. I am very pleased with him." 18And we heard that voice. It came from heaven while we were with Jesus on the holy mountain. 19This makes us more sure about the things the prophets* said. And it is good for you to follow closely what the prophets said. The things they said are like a light shining in a dark place. You have that light until the day begins and the morning star brings new light to your minds. 20Most important, you must understand this: No prophecy* in the Scriptures* ever comes from a person's own interpretation. 21No! No prophecy ever came from what a man wanted to say. But people were led by the Holy Spirit* and spoke things from God.
apostle A person Jesus chose to represent him in a special way. prophets People that spoke for God. Sometimes prophets told things that would happen in the future. prophecy A teaching or a message from God. Scriptures Holy Writings--the Old Testament. Spirit, Holy Spirit Also called the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, and the Comforter. Joined with God and Christ, he does God's work among people in the world.