D EPISTLE OF PETER.

BABYLON, A.D. 67.

CHAPTER I.

THE PURSUIT OF THE VIRTUES, THE GLORY OF CHRIST, FALSE TEACHERS, ETC.

1 [1:1]SIMEON Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those
who have obtained a like precious faith with us by the righteousness of
our God and Saviour Jesus Christ. [1:2]Grace and peace be multiplied to
you by a knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

2 [1:3]As his divine power has given us all things which pertain to
life and piety, through the knowledge of him that has called us to his
own glory and virtue, [1:4]through which have been given us very great
and precious promises, that by these you might be partakers of the
divine nature, having escaped from the corruption which is in the world
by inordinate desire, [1:5]and for the same purpose also, giving all
diligence add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, [1:6]and
to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience, and to patience
piety, [1:7]and to piety brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness
love. [1:8]For if these are in you and abound, they will make you not
inactive nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ;
[1:9]for a man that is without these is blind, not seeing to a
distance, and has forgotten the purification from his former errors.
[1:10]Wherefore, brothers, use the greater diligence to make your
calling and election sure; for doing these things you shall never fall.
[1:11]For thus shall you have an abundant entrance given you into the
eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

3 [1:12]Wherefore I will not neglect always to remind you of these
things, although you have known them, and have been established in the
present truth. [1:13]I think it right as long as I am in this
tabernacle, to excite you by remembrance, [1:14]knowing that the
putting off of my tabernacle is at hand, as our Lord Jesus Christ
showed me. [1:15]But I will also be diligent and especially that you
may be able to make mention of these things after my departure.
[1:16]For we did not follow skilfully constructed myths in making known
to you the power and appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eye
witnesses of his majesty. [1:17]For he received from God the Father
honor and glory, when this voice was brought to him from the
magnificent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
[1:18]And this voice we heard brought from heaven when we were with him
on the holy mount. [1:19]An