This verse continues the thought of verse 10 and mentions in a positive way the reward that comes to believers as they make sure of their call and election. It begins with the word so (Good News Translation “In this way”), again referring back to the virtues mentioned earlier. In many languages this can be rendered as “By doing all these things….”

The idea of an entrance being richly provided stresses that people have the right to enter not because they deserve it but because the privilege is given to them as a free gift. This is captured in many modern translations such as Good News Translation “you will be given the full right to enter,” and New English Bible “you will be afforded full and free admission.” Some other translations interpret richly provided as indicating a warm welcome; hence “a rich welcome awakes you as you enter,” and New International Version “you will receive a rich welcome.” However, many languages cannot reproduce this passive form, so translators will need to state directly the agent (God) of the “providing” and say “God will give you the full right,” “God will open the door wide for you,” or “God will welcome you.” Phillips has “God will open wide to you the gates of the eternal kingdom.” Some languages will need to use a direct quotation here, such as “God will generously say to you, ‘Come….’ ”

The eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ focuses both on a place and a reign, that is, a place where Jesus Christ will reign eternally. The idea of Christ’s kingdom as eternal is also found in Luke 1.33 (and see Rev 11.15). Jesus in his ministry proclaimed the kingdom of God, but in The Second Letter from Peter, what is proclaimed is the kingdom and the glory of Christ himself. This kingdom will be fully revealed at the end of the age, and in particular at the second coming of Christ, at which time Christians will be united with their God through Christ. This kingdom is eternal in the sense that Jesus Christ will be king forever in this kingdom, and those who are in union with him will be citizens of this kingdom forever. In many languages it will be necessary to use a verbal expression for kingdom. In such a case we may say “to enter the place where our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ rules eternally (or, forever).”

Jesus Christ is here referred to as Lord and Savior. This exact combination is found in the New Testament only in this letter (see also 2.20; 3.2, 18). Lord translates a word that can mean “owner” or “master” but has the more precise meaning of one who rules and who is acknowledged as king and as worthy to be served and obeyed (see the comments on 1.2). For Savior see comments on 1.1. The pronoun our should be understood as inclusive, referring to all believers. In some languages it will be necessary to make it clear that Lord and Savior refer to the same person. We can render this as “of our Lord who is our Savior Jesus Christ.”

Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Second Letter from Peter. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .