2 Peter 1:10
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: | Therefore, brothers, strive to make your calling and election sure. For if you practice these things you will never stumble, | Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble: |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedSo believers should be all the more diligent to make their calling and election firm. If they practise these qualities (1:5-7), they will never stumble. Growth gives assurance. 2 Peter 1:52 Peter 1:92 Peter 1:10
SpeakingSimon Peter, "a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ," who saw Christ's majesty on the holy mount. 2 Peter overview
To"Them that have obtained like precious faith"; traditionally the same believers as 1 Peter, in Asia Minor. 2 Peter overview
Also involvedThe believers, whom Peter calls "brethren." 2 Peter 1:10
"Wherefore" draws the conclusion of 1:5-9. Verse 11 tells the reward. 2 Peter 1:92 Peter 1:102 Peter 1:11
The letter names no place. If the readers are those of 1 Peter, they were in Asia Minor; tradition places Peter in Rome at the end of his life. 2 Peter overview
The eventsThe verse gives no date of its own. Peter writes near the end of his life. 2 Peter overview
WrittenTraditional: about AD 64-68, shortly before Peter's death. Scholarly: many hold a follower wrote it in Peter's name, perhaps AD 100-150; others accept that Peter wrote it near the end of his life. 2 Peter overview
HerePeter wants believers to be sure of God's call and to stand firm, especially with false teachers coming (2:1). 2 Peter 1:102 Peter overview
In the whole of Scripture"We desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end" (Hebrews 6:11). "Hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him" (1 John 3:19). Jesus said the one who hears and does his sayings builds "upon a rock" (Matthew 7:24). Peter warns again at the end, "beware lest ye also ... fall from your own stedfastness" (3:17). Hebrews 6:111 John 3:19Matthew 7:242 Peter 3:17
For readersDiligent growth gives believers confidence in God's call and keeps them steady. 2 Peter 1:101 John 3:19
Christians read this differently
Peter tells believers to make their calling and election "sure" by doing these things, and promises they "shall never fall." Some read "sure" as making it certain to themselves and others, as fruit confirms a real calling (1 John 3:19). Others read it as a warning that a believer who neglects growth may fall away (3:17). Both agree that God calls and that believers must be diligent. 2 Peter 1:101 John 3:192 Peter 3:17
- give diligenceσπουδάζω
The word means to be eager, to make every effort. Strong's G4704
- sureβέβαιος
The word means firm, steadfast, secure. The lexicon lists Hebrews 6:19 among its uses. Strong's G0949
- callingκλῆσις
The word means a calling, God's call. Strong's G2821
- electionἐκλογή
The word means choosing, selection. The lexicon lists Romans 9:11 and 1 Thessalonians 1:4 among its uses. Strong's G1589
- fallπταίω
The word means to stumble. The lexicon lists Romans 11:11 and James 2:10 among its uses. Strong's G4417
Takeaway
Be diligent to make your calling and election firm; doing these things, you will never stumble. 2 Peter 1:10Hebrews 6:11
Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-28.
Original Greek words
| English | Greek | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Therefore | διὸ | dio | G1352 | thereforeδιό (dio) διό conjunct. for δι᾽ ὅ, wherefore, on which account: Mat.27:8, Luk.7:7, Act.15:19, Rom.1:24, al.; δ. καί, Luk.1:35, Act.10:29 24:26, Rom.4:22 15:22, 2Co.1:20 4:13 5:9, Php.2:9, Heb.11:12 13:12 (see Ellic. on Gal.4:31). (AS) |
| rather, | μᾶλλον, | mallon | G3123H | moreμᾶλλον (mallon) μάλα adv., [in LXX for אֲבָל, 3Ki.1:43, Dan LXX 10:21, al.; compar. for מ, Num.13:32 (31), al.; μᾶλλον ἠ (מ), Gen.19:9, al.; superlat., 2Ma.8:7, 4Ma.4:22 12:9 15:4 ;] I. Pos., very, very much, exceedingly (cl.; LXX ut supr.; in NT its place is taken by λίαν, σφόδρα, etc.). II. Compar., μᾶλλον. 1. Of increase, more; with qualifying words: πολλῷ, Mrk.10:48, Luk.18:39, Rom.5:15, 17, Php.2:12, al.; πόσῳ, Luk.12:24, Rom.11:12, al.; τοσούτῳ . . . ὅσῳ, Heb.10:25. … |
| brothers, | ἀδελφοί, | adelphoi | G0080 | brotherἀδελφός (adelphos) ἀδελφός, -οῦ, ὁ (ἀ- copul., δελφύς, womb), in cl., a brother, born of the same parent or parents. [In LXX (Hort, Ja., 102f.), for אָח ;] 1. lit. of a brother (Gen.4:2, al.). 2. Of a neighbour (Lev.19:17). 3. Of a member of the same nation (Exo.2:14, Deu.15:3). In NT in each of these senses (1. Mat.1:2, al.; 2. Mat.7:3; 3. Rom.9:3) and also, … |
| do be diligent | σπουδάσατε | spoudasate | G4704 | be eagerσπουδάζω (spoudazō) σπουδάζω (σπουδή), [in LXX chiefly for בָּהַל ;] to make haste; hence, to be zealous or eager, to give diligence: with inf. (see M, Pr., 205 f.), Gal.2:10, Eph.4:3, 1Th.2:17, 2Ti.2:15 4:9 4:21, Tit.3:12, Heb.4:11, 2Pe.1:10 3:14; with accusative and inf. (on this construction see Mayor in l; MM, xxiii), 2Pe.1:15 (for other constructions see LS, see word).† (AS) |
| sure | βεβαίαν | bebaian | G0949 | firmβέβαιος (bebaios) βέβαιος, -ον (also -α, -ον; βαίνω), [in LXX: Est.3:13, Wis.7:23, 3Ma.5:31 7:7, 4Ma.17:4 * ;] firm, secure: ἄγκυρα, Heb.6:19; metaphorically, sure (esp. "in the sense of legally guaranteed security," Deiss., BS, 109; cf . two foll. words): ἐπαγγελία, Rom.4:16; ἐλπίς, 2Co.1:6; λόγος, Heb.2:2; παρρησία, Heb.3:6; ἀρχή (τ. ὑποστάσεως), Heb.3:14; διαθήκη, Heb.9:17; κλῆσις κ. ἐκλογή, 2Pe.1:10; comp. (-ότερος), προφητικὸς λόγος, 2Pe.1:19.† (AS) |
| your | ὑμῶν | humōn | G4771 | youσέ (se) αὐτός, -ή, -ό, determinative pron., in late Gk. much more frequently than in cl. (WM, 178f.; Jannaris, HGG, §1399). 1. Emphatic (so always in nom. exc. when preceded by the art., see infr., iii); (1) self (ipse), expressing opposition, distinction, exclusion, etc., αὐ. ἐκχυθήσεται, Luk.5:37; αὐ. ἐγινώσκεν, Jhn.2:25; αὐ.ὑμεῖς, Jhn.3:28; καὶ αὐ. ἐγώ, Rom.15:14; αὐ. Ἰησοῦς, Jhn.2:24; αὐ. καὶ οἱ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ, Mrk.2:25; ὑμεῖς αὐ., Mrk.6:31; esp. (as freq in cl.) αὐ. ὁ, Mat.3:4, Mrk.6:17, Jhn.16:27, 1Th.3:11, al.; in late Gk., sometimes weakened, ἐν αὐτῇ τ. ὥρᾳ, in that hour, Luk.10:21 (M, Pr., 91; … |
| calling | κλῆσιν | klēsin | G2821 | callingκλῆσις (klēsis) κλῆσις, -εως, ἡ (καλέω) [in LXX: Jer.31:6 (קָרָא), Jdth.12:10 A, 3Ma.5:14 * ;] a calling, call; in NT, always of the Divine call to salvation: Rom.11:29, 1Co.1:26 7:20, Eph.1:18 4:1, 4, Php.3:14, 2Th.1:11, 2Ti.1:9, Heb.3:1, 2Pe.1:10 (Cremer, 332).† (AS) |
| and | καὶ | kai | G2532 | andκαί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. … |
| election | ἐκλογὴν | eklogēn | G1589 | selectingἐκλογή (eklogē) ἐκλογή, ῆς ἡ (ἐκλέγω), [in Aq.: Isa.22:7; Sm., Th.: Isa.37:24 * ;] a choice, selection; in NT, always of the Divine choice (EV, election): σκεῦος ἐκλογῆς, genitive qual., a chosen vessel; κατ ἐ., Rom.9:11 11:5, 28; with genitive of person(s), 1Th.1:4, 2Pe.1:10; by meton., ἡ ἐ. = οἱ ἐκλεκτοί, Rom.11:7.† (AS) |
| to make; | ποιεῖσθαι· | poieisthai | G4160G | to do/make: doποιέω (poieō) ποιέω, -ῶ, [in LXX for a great variety of words, but chiefly for עשׂה ;] 1. to make, produce, create, cause: with accusative of thing(s), Mat.17:4, Mrk.9:5, Jhn.9:11, Act.9:39, Rom.9:20, al.; of God as Creator (with accusative of person(s) also), Mat.19:4, Mrk.10:6, Luk.11:40, Act.4:24, Heb.1:2, al.; like Heb. עשׂה, absol. = ἐργάζομαι, to work, Mat.20:12 (cf. Rut.2:19; so AV, but see infr.), Rev.13:5, R, mg. (but see infr.); σκάνδαλα, Rom.16:17; εἰρεήνην, Eph.2:15, Jas.3:18; ἐπίστασιν, Act.24:12; συστροφήν, Act.23:12; with accusative of thing(s) and dative of person(s), Luk.1:68, Act.15:3; w … |
| these things | ταῦτα | tauta | G3778 | this/he/she/itοὗτος (ohutos) οὗτος, αὕτη, τοῦτο, genitive, τούτου, ταύτης, τούτου, [in LXX chiefly for זֹאת ,זֶה ;] demonstr. pron. (related to ἐκεῖνος as hic to ille), this; 1. as subst., this one, he; (a) absol.: Mat.3:17, Mrk.9:7, Luk.7:44, 45, Jhn.1:15, Act.2:15, al.; expressing contempt (cl.), Mat.13:55, 56, Mrk.6:2, 3, Jhn.6:42, al.; εἰς τοῦτο, Mrk.1:38, Rom.14:9; μετὰ τοῦτο (ταῦτα; V. Westc. on Jhn.5:1), Jhn.2:12 11:7, al.; (b) epanaleptic (referring to what precedes): Mat.5:19, Mrk.3:35, Luk.9:48, Jhn.6:46, Rom.7:10, al.; … |
| for | γὰρ | gar | G1063 | forγάρ (gar) γάρ, co-ordinating particle, contr. of γε ἄρα, verily then, hence, in truth, indeed, yea, then, why, and when giving a reason or explanation, for, the usage in NT being in general accord with that of cl.; 1. explicative and epexegetic: Mat.4:18 19:12, Mrk.1:16 5:42 16:4, Luk.11:3o, Rom.7:1, 1Co.16:5, al. 2. Conclusive, in questions, answers and exclamations: Mat.9:5 27:23, Luk.9:25 22:27, Jhn.9:30, Act.8:31 16:37 19:35, Rom.15:26, 1Co.9:10, Php.1:18 (Ellic., in l.), 1Th.2:20, al. … |
| practicing | ποιοῦντες | poiountes | G4160G | to do/make: doποιέω (poieō) ποιέω, -ῶ, [in LXX for a great variety of words, but chiefly for עשׂה ;] 1. to make, produce, create, cause: with accusative of thing(s), Mat.17:4, Mrk.9:5, Jhn.9:11, Act.9:39, Rom.9:20, al.; of God as Creator (with accusative of person(s) also), Mat.19:4, Mrk.10:6, Luk.11:40, Act.4:24, Heb.1:2, al.; like Heb. עשׂה, absol. = ἐργάζομαι, to work, Mat.20:12 (cf. Rut.2:19; so AV, but see infr.), Rev.13:5, R, mg. (but see infr.); σκάνδαλα, Rom.16:17; εἰρεήνην, Eph.2:15, Jas.3:18; ἐπίστασιν, Act.24:12; συστροφήν, Act.23:12; with accusative of thing(s) and dative of person(s), Luk.1:68, Act.15:3; w … |
| certainly | οὐ | ou | G3756 | noοὐ (ou) οὐ, before a vowel with smooth breathing οὐκ, before one with rough breathing οὐχ (but improperly οὐχ ἰδού, Act.2:7, WH, mg.; cf. WH, Intr., §409; M, Pr., 44, 244), [in LXX for אֵין ,אַיִן ,לֹא ;] neg. particle, not, no, used generally with indic, and for a denial of fact (cf . μή); 1. absol. (accented), οὔ, no: Mat.13:29 Jhn.1:21 21:5; οὒ οὕ, Mat.5:37 Jas.5:12. … |
| not | μὴ | mē | G3361 | notμή (mē) μή, subjective negative particle, used where the negation depends on a condition or hypothesis, expressed or understood, as distinct from οὐ, which denies absolutely. μή is used where one thinks a thing is not, as distinct from an absolute negation. As a general rule, οὐ negatives the indic, μή the other moods, incl, ptcp. [In LXX for אֵין ,אַיִן ,אַל ] I. As a neg. adv., not; 1. with ref. to thought or opinion: Jhn.3:18, Tit.1:11, 2Pe.1:9. 2. In delib. questions, with subjc. (M, Pr., 185): Mrk.12:14, Rom.3:8. … |
| shall you stumble | πταίσητέ | ptaisēte | G4417 | to stumbleπταίω (ptaiō) πταίω [in LXX chiefly for נָגַף ni. ;] 1. trans., to cause to stumble (1Ki.4:3, cf. Deiss., BS, 681). 2. Intrans., to stumble. Metaphorical, in moral sense, Rom.11:11, Jas.2:10 3:2, 2Pe.1:10.† (AS) |
| at any time. | ποτε. | pote | G4218 | once/whenποτέ (pote) ποτέ enclitic particle, 1. once, formerly, sometime: of the past, Jhn.9:13 Rom.7:9 11:30, Gal.1:13, 23 2:6 (Lft., in l), Eph.2:2-3, 11 2:13 5:8, Col.1:21 3:7, 1Th.2:5, Tit.3:3, Phm 11, 1Pe.2:10 3:5 3:20; ἤδη ποτέ, now at length, Php.4:10; of the fut., Luk.22:32; εἴ πως ἤδη ποτέ, if sometime soon at length, Rom.1:10. 2. ever: after a neg., Eph.5:29, 2Pe.1:10 1:21; in a question, τίς π., 1Co.9:7, Heb.1:5, 13.† (AS) |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.