And for this very reason, you people should make every effort to develop goodness along with your faith,

Above all, [you should realize] that no prophecy of Scripture originates from a person's own initiative [Note: This passage is discussing the source of Scripture, not the understanding of it].

First of all, you should understand that, in the final days, mockers with evil desires will come [to you] saying, mockingly,

Since all these things are [certain] to be destroyed, what kind of persons should you be, [if not like those] living holy lives, and in a godly manner,