5. This is why you must make every effort to add moral excellence to your faith; and to moral excellence, knowledge;
6. and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, endurance; and to endurance, godliness;
7. and to godliness, affection for others; and to affection for others, love.
8. If all these are yours and they are growing in you, they’ll keep you from becoming inactive and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9. Whoever lacks these things is shortsighted and blind, forgetting that they were cleansed from their past sins.
10. Therefore, brothers and sisters, be eager to confirm your call and election. Do this and you will never ever be lost.
11. In this way you will receive a rich welcome into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.
12. So I’ll keep reminding you about these things, although you already know them and stand secure in the truth you have.
13. I think it’s right that I keep stirring up your memory, as long as I’m alive.
14. After all, our Lord Jesus Christ has shown me that I am about to depart from this life.
15. I’m eager for you always to remember these things after my death.
16. We didn’t repeat crafty myths when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Quite the contrary, we witnessed his majesty with our own eyes.
17. He received honor and glory from God the Father when a voice came to him from the magnificent glory, saying, "This is my dearly loved Son, with whom I am well-pleased."