22 resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is at the right Eph. i. 21. hand of GoD, having gone into heaven; angels

4 I

and authorities and powers being made subject
to him.

FORASMUCH then as Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same

mind; for he who hath suffered in the flesh hath Phil. ii. 5.
2 ceased from sin; that he should live the rest of
his time in the flesh, no longer to the lusts of

3 men, but to the will of GoD. For the time past 1 Cor. vi. 11.
is sufficient to have spent in working the will of
the Gentiles, while walking in lasciviousness,
lusts, excess of wine, revellings, carousings, and
4 profane idolatries; as to which they count it Acts xiii. 45.
strange that ye run not with them to the same
5 excess of profligacy, speaking evil of you; but
they shall give account to him who is ready to
6 judge the living and the dead. For to this end
the gospel was preached also to those who are
dead, that they might be judged according to
men in the flesh, but live according to GOD in the
spirit.

7 BUT the end of all things is at hand; therefore
8 be sober and watchful unto prayer. Above all

other things have fervent love among your9 selves; for love covereth a multitude of sins. Be Pro. x. 12. hospitable to each other without complaining; Heb. xiii. 2. Io as each received a gift, ministering the same one to another as good stewards of the manifold II grace of God. If any one speak, let him speak as it were oracles of GOD; if any one minister, let him do it as of the ability which GOD supplieth; that GOD in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, whose are the glory and the dominion for ever. Amen.

12

1 Cor. x. 31.

BELOVED, let not the fiery trial among you, 1 Cor. iii. 13. which comes to test you, seem strange to you,

as if some strange thing were happening to you;

13 but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye also may rejoice with exceeding joy. 14 If ye are reproached for the name of Christ, Matt. v. 11. blessed are ye, for the Spirit of glory and of GOD 15 resteth upon you. For let none of you suffer as

Isa. x. 12.

Pro. xi. 31.

Psa. xxxi. 5.

Rom. viii. 17.

John xxi. 17.

1 Tim. iv. 12.

Pro. iii. 34.

Psa. lv. 22.

James iv. 7.

Heb. xiii. 21.

a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evil-doer, or as

a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any 16
one suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed;
but let him glorify GOD in this name.
For the 17
time has come for judgment to begin at the
family of GOD; and if it begin first at us, what
will be the end of those who obey not the gospel
of God? And if the righteous scarcely is saved, 18
where will the ungodly and sinful appear? Where- 19
fore let those who suffer according to the will of
GOD Commit their souls, in well doing, to a faith-
ful Creator.

I 5

2

THE elders, therefore, among you, I, who am their fellow-elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory which will be revealed, exhort: Tend the flock of GOD which is among you, not as by constraint, but willingly, according to GOD; not for filthy lucre (a), but of a ready mind; and not as being 3 lords over your charges, but becoming examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye will receive the fadeless crown of glory.

Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves to 5 the elder; yea, gird ye all yourselves with humility one towards another; for GOD resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty 6 hand of GOD, that He may exalt you in due time; casting all your anxiety upon Him; for 7 He careth for you.

9

Be sober, be vigilant; your adversary the 8 devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour; him resist, stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren who are in the world.

And the GOD of all grace, who called you to 10 His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself, after ye have suffered a little while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you. Unto Him II the dominion for ever. Amen.

(a) Or base gain.

12

BY Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I count 2 Cor. i. 19. him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God;

13 unto which stand ye fast. She who is in Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you;

14 and so doth Mark my son. Salute ye one an- Rom. xvi. 16. other with a kiss of love. Peace be with you all who are in Christ.

Eph. iv. 5.

Dan. iv. 1.

2 Tim. i. 9.

Heb. xii. 10.

Phil. i. 9.

James i. 4.
John xiii. 34.

John xv. 2.

1 John ii. 9.

Rev. xxii. 14.

THE SECOND GENERAL EPISTLE

OF

PETER

I

2

SYM
YMEON PETER (a), a servant and apostle 1 1
of Jesus Christ, to those who, in the right-
eousness of our GOD and Saviour (b) Jesus
Christ, obtained a like precious faith with us:
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you in the
knowledge of GOD and of Jesus our Lord; seeing 3
that His divine power hath granted unto us all
things which pertain to life and godliness,
through the knowledge of Him who called us by
His own glory and virtue; whereby He hath
given to us His precious and exceedingly great
promises; that by these ye may become par-
takers of the Divine nature, having escaped the
corruption which is in the world through lust.

4

5

6

7

AND, for this very reason using all diligence, in your faith supply virtue; and in your virtue, knowledge; and in your knowledge, self-control; and in your self-control, patience; and in your patience, godliness; and in your godliness, brotherly kindness; and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these things are in you and abound, they show you to be neither slothful nor unfruitful unto the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacketh these things 9 is blind, and cannot see afar off, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

8

Wherefore, the more, brethren, give diligence 10
to make your calling and election sure; for if ye
do these things ye will never fall; for so will be 11
ministered unto you abundantly an entrance
into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ.

(a) Some MSS. have "Simon Peter." (See note on Acts
XV. 14.)
(b) Or our GOD and the Saviour.

I 2

Wherefore I shall always be ready to put you in remembrance of these things, though ye know them and are established in the present truth.

13 Yea, I think it right, as long as I am in this 2 Pet. iii. 1. tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in

14 remembrance; knowing that shortly I must put John xxi. 18.
off my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ
15 showed me. Moreover I will give all diligence

that ye may be able after my decease to have
these things always in remembrance.

16 For, when we made known to you the power 2 Cor. iv. 2.
and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, we did not
follow cunningly devised fables, but had been
17 eye-witnesses of his majesty. For he received
from God the Father honour and glory, when
there was borne to him from the resplendent

glory such an utterance, "This is My Son, My Matt. iii. 17. 18 beloved, in whom I am well pleased." And this voice borne from heaven we ourselves heard

19

when we were with him on the holy mount.

We have also a surer word of prophecy; Psa. cxix. 105. whereto ye do well to take heed, as to a lamp which shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts; 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of the 21 scripture may be privately interpreted. For

prophecy came not at any time by the will of Luke i. 70. man; but men, being moved by the Holy Spirit,

spoke from GOD.

2 I But there arose false prophets also among the Deut. xiii. 1. people, even as among you there will be false teachers, who will privily bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord (a) who bought them, and bringing on themselves swift de2 struction. And many will follow their licentious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth will 3 be evil spoken of. And through covetousness Jude 4, 7. they will by deceitful utterances make gain of you; but the sentence long ago given against them lingereth not, and their destruction slumbereth not.

4

For if GOD spared not angels when they sinned, but cast them down to hell, and com

(a) Or "Master," as in Acts iv. 24, Jude 4, and Rev. vi. 10.