³ Because by his power he has given us everything necessary for life and righteousness, through the knowledge of him who has been our guide by his glory and virtue; ⁴ And through this he has given us the hope of great rewards highly to be valued; so that by them we might have our part in God's being, and be made free from the destruction which is in the world through the desires of the flesh. ⁵ So, for this very cause, take every care; joining virtue to faith, and knowledge to virtue, ⁶ And self-control to knowledge, and a quiet mind to self-control, and fear of God to a quiet mind, ⁷ And love of the brothers to fear of God, and to love of the brothers, love itself. ⁸ For if you have these things in good measure, they will make you fertile and full of fruit in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ For the man who has not these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having no memory of how he was made clean from his old sins. ¹⁰ For this reason, my brothers, take all the more care to make your selection and approval certain; for if you do these things you will never have a fall: ¹¹ For so the way will be open to you into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

¹² For this reason I will be ready at all times to keep your memory of these things awake, though you have the knowledge of them now and are well based in your present faith. ¹³ And it seems right to me, as long as I am in this tent of flesh, to keep your minds awake by working on your memory; ¹⁴ For I am conscious that in a short time I will have to put off this tent of flesh, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. ¹⁵ And I will take every care so that you may have a clear memory of these things after my death.