\NormalFont\ShortTitle{2 Kefa}

{\MT Moshiachʼs Letter through the Shliach Shim'on Kefa to the Brit Chadasha Kehillah (II)



\par }\ChapOne{1}{\PP \VerseOne{1}Shim'on Kefa, an eved and Shliach of Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua:

\par }{\PP to the ones having obtained, with us,\FTNT{*}{{\FR 1:1 }{\FT{Shlichim of Moshiach}}} equally precious\FTNT{†}{{\FR 1:1 }{\FT{orthodox Jewish}}} emunah
{\ADD{(faith)}}\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 1:1 }{\FT{the Emunah of the true Dat HaYehudit}}} in the Tzedek
{\ND{Hashem}}\FTNT{§}{{\FR 1:1 }{\FT{}}{\XT{Dan 9:24}}} of Eloheinu and Moshieinu Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua.


\par }{\PP \VS{2}Chesed
{\ND{Hashem}} and Shalom
{\ND{Hashem}} to you abundantly in the da'as
{\ADD{(personal, saving knowledge)}} of
{\ND{Hashem}} and Adoneinu Yehoshua.


\par }{\PP \VS{3}As the gevurat
{\ND{Hashem}}{\ADD{(the power of G-d)}} has given us everything for Chayyim
{\ADD{(life)}} and chasidus through the da'as
{\ADD{(personal, saving knowledge)}} of the One Who bestows on us the kri'ah
{\ADD{(calling)}} to His own Kavod
{\ADD{(Glory)}} and Tzidkanut
{\ADD{(Righteousness)}},\FTNT{*}{{\FR 1:3 }{\FT{See
}}{\XT{1:5-7; 2:5,21; 3:13}}}

\VS{4}So
{\ND{Hashem}} has given us precious havtachot gedolot\FTNT{†}{{\FR 1:4 }{\FT{}}{\XT{3:4,9,13}}{\FT{ cf.
}}{\XT{2:19}}}{\ADD{(great promises)}} that through these promises you might become [regenerate] deveykus participants with the life of the teva haelohi\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 1:4 }{\FT{cf.
}}{\XT{Yn 1:13}}}{\ADD{(divine nature)}}, having escaped the [degenerate] Olam Hazehʼs lust engendered corruption.

\VS{5}For this very reason, you must apply all zerizut
{\ADD{(diligence)}} to supply emunah with midah hatov
{\ADD{(the attribute of virtue)}}, and midah hatov with da'as
{\ADD{(knowledge)}},

\VS{6}And da'as with shlitah atzmit
{\ADD{(self-control)}}, and shlitah atzmit with chozek
{\ADD{(fortitude)}} and chozek with chasidus
{\ADD{(piety)}},

\VS{7}And chassidus with ahavah shel achvah
{\ADD{(brotherly love)}}, and ahavah shel achvah with ahavah
{\ADD{(agape)}}.

\VS{8}For if these midos are in you increasingly, they will forestall you from being batlanim
{\ADD{(idlers)}} and lo poreh
{\ADD{(unfruitful)}} in the da'as
{\ADD{(personal saving knowledge)}} of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Adoneinu Yehoshua.

\VS{9}For the one with whom these middos chasidus
{\ADD{(qualities of piety)}} are not present is an ivver
{\ADD{(blind man)}}, being shortsighted, having forgotten the tohorah
{\ADD{(cleansing)}} of his past averos.

\VS{10}Therefore, Achim b'Moshiach, be eagerly diligent to make your kri'ah
{\ADD{(summons)}} and bechirah
{\ADD{(election)}} sure, for, if you do these things, you will never fall over a michshol
{\ADD{(stumbling block)}}.

\VS{11}For thus will be richly provided for you the entrance into the Malchut Olam of Adoneinu and Moshieinu Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua.


\par }{\PP \VS{12}Therefore, it is my tachlis
{\ADD{(purpose, final end)}} always to remind you concerning these things, even though you have da'as of them and have been stabilized in HaEmes that you have.

\VS{13}But I consider it befitting, as long as I am in this ohel, to arouse you with a tizkoret
{\ADD{(reminder)}},

\VS{14}Als
{\ADD{(since)}} I know that the putting off of my mishkan is imminent, as indeed Adoneinu Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua made clear to me.

\VS{15}And also I am eager to cause you to always possess the zichron
{\ADD{(memory)}} of these things after my exodus.\FTNT{§}{{\FR 1:15 }{\FT{T.N. Written shortly before his death al kiddush ha-Shem for his Moshiach. See Bodmer papyrus p72 showing early attestation of this authentic last will and testament of Kefa whom Nero caused to be killed.}}}


\par }{\PP \VS{16}For we had not followed cleverly crafted aggadot or doichek
{\ADD{(farfetched)}} bubbemeises or reid
{\ADD{(hearsay)}} when we made known to you the gevurah
{\ADD{(miraculous power)}} of Adoneinu Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua and the Bi'as HaMoshiach of him; no, we had been edei re'iyah
{\ADD{(eyewitnesses)}} of Moshiachʼs majestic gedulah
{\ADD{(greatness)}}.

\VS{17}For having received from Elohim HaAv kavod va'oz, the bat kol was conveyed to Moshiach by the Majestic Glory, ZEH BENI AHUVI ASHER BO CHAFATSTI\FTNT{*}{{\FR 1:17 }{\FT{}}{\XT{Ps 2:7; Gn 22:2; Isa 42:1}}}{\ADD{(This is my Son, the beloved, with whom I am well pleased)}}.

\VS{18}And this bat kol we heard out of Shomayim, having been brought with Moshiach upon the Har HaKodesh.

\VS{19}And we have the Dvar HaNevu'ah
{\ADD{(Word of Prophecy)}} made more sure, to which you do well in giving heed as to a menorah shining in a place of choshech until HaYom\FTNT{†}{{\FR 1:19 }{\FT{}}{\XT{3:18}}} [of Olam Habah] dawns and the Kochav\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 1:19 }{\FT{}}{\XT{Num 24:17}}}{\ADD{(Star)}} haNogah
{\ADD{(of Brightness, Venus)}} rises in your levavot
{\ADD{(hearts)}}.

\VS{20}Knowing this first: that every nevu'ah
{\ADD{(prophecy)}} of the Kitvei Hakodesh is not of the prophetʼs own explanation.

\VS{21}For no nevu'ah was at any time brought by the ratzon HaBnei Adam
{\ADD{(will of Man)}}, but men being carried along by the Ruach Hakodesh spoke from
{\ND{Hashem}}.




\par }\Chap{2}{\PP \VerseOne{1}But there were also nevi'ei sheker
{\ADD{(false prophets)}} among Am Yisroel just as also there will be morei sheker among you. These false teachers will secretly bring in heretical doctrines of koferim ba-ikkarim
{\ADD{(deniers of fundamentals)}}, producing machshelah
{\ADD{(ruin)}}, as these heretics even become meshummad, denying the Ribbono Shel Olam who redeemed them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.

\VS{2}And many will follow them in walking in darchei zimah
{\ADD{(the ways of licentiousness)}}, and because of them the Derech HaEmes will be libeled with lashon hora.

\VS{3}And in their chomed
{\ADD{(covetous)}} greed, they will exploit you with deceptive words. For them the Mishpat
{\ADD{(Judgment)}} of old is not drei
{\ADD{(idle)}} and their churban
{\ADD{(ruin)}} does not slumber.


\par }{\PP \VS{4}For if
{\ND{Hashem}} did not spare malachim that sinned, but cast them into Gehinnom, consigning them to the sharsherot
{\ADD{(chains)}} of choshech to be kept for Mishpat;

\VS{5}And if
{\ND{Hashem}}, when he brought a mabbul
{\ADD{(flood)}} upon the world of resha'im
{\ADD{(evildoers)}}, did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noach, the eighth of the nefashot\FTNT{*}{{\FR 2:5 }{\FT{in the Teva (Ark)}}} and a maggid of Tzidkanut
{\ADD{(Righteousness)}};

\VS{6}And if
{\ND{Hashem}} judged the cities of S'dom and Amora, reducing them to ashes by a churban catastrophe, making them a mofet
{\ADD{(an example)}} for the ones intending to be resha'im;

\VS{7}And if
{\ND{Hashem}} delivered Lot, a tzaddik distressed by the hitnahagut
{\ADD{(conduct)}} of the mufkarim\FTNT{†}{{\FR 2:7 }{\FT{}}{\XT{2:8,10; 3:17}}}{\ADD{(lawless)}} walking in darchei zimah
{\ADD{(the ways of licentiousness)}}

\VS{8}— For that tzaddik, living among them day after day, was tortured in his nefesh hayesharah
{\ADD{(honest soul)}} by the darchei mufkarim
{\ADD{(the ways of lawless ones)}} that he saw and heard

\VS{9}— Then
{\ND{Hashem}} knows how to rescue the chasidim from trial and how to preserve the anshei resha
{\ADD{(men of wickedness)}} for punishment for the Yom HaDin,

\VS{10}Especially the ones going after the basar
{\ADD{(flesh)}} in ta'avah
{\ADD{(lust)}} producing tum'a
{\ADD{(defilement)}} and the ones despising kol samchut.\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 2:10 }{\FT{}}{\XT{Mt 28:18}}} Bold and self-willed, these have no yirat Shomayim and therefore commit Chillul
{\ND{Hashem}} as they slander the glorious ones,

\VS{11}Whereas malachim, being greater b'oz and koach
{\ADD{(in strength and power)}}, al kol panim
{\ADD{(nevertheless)}} do not bring against them a slanderous judgment before
{\ND{Hashem}}.

\VS{12}But these men, like irrational beasts born b'derech hatevah
{\ADD{(naturally)}} to be caught and killed, commit Chillul
{\ND{Hashem}} in matters where they lack da'as. In the destruction of [the beasts], they also will be destroyed,

\VS{13}Suffering harm as onesh
{\ADD{(penalty)}} for harm done. They actually think there is ta'anug
{\ADD{(pleasure)}} in reveling in broad daylight. They are mumim
{\ADD{(defects)}} and spots reveling in their ta'nugot
{\ADD{(evil pleasures)}} even while they sit at seudot
{\ADD{(banquet dinners)}} with you.

\VS{14}Having eyes full of ni'uf
{\ADD{(adultery)}}, ceaselessly committing averos
{\ADD{(sins)}}, enticing unstable nefashot
{\ADD{(souls)}}, having levavot trained in chomed
{\ADD{(covetous)}} greed — banim mekulalim
{\ADD{(accursed children)}}!

\VS{15}Forsaking the Derech HaYashar
{\ADD{(Straight Way)}}, they went astray, having followed the Derech HaBil'am Ben-B'or, who loved the sachar haresha
{\ADD{(reward of unrighteousness)}}.

\VS{16}But he had tochachah
{\ADD{(reproof)}} for his own peysha
{\ADD{(transgression)}}: a dumb chamor
{\ADD{(donkey)}}, having spoken in a manʼs voice, hindered the madness of the meshuga navi.


\par }{\PP \VS{17}These men are mikva'ot without mayim and mists being driven by storms, for whom has been reserved the gloom of choshech
{\ADD{(darkness)}}.

\VS{18}Using high sounding words of hevel, they entice, with licentious ta'avot of the basar, the ones barely escaped from those living in toyus
{\ADD{(error)}} and delusion.

\VS{19}They offer them the havtachah
{\ADD{(promise)}} of cherut
{\ADD{(freedom)}}, but they themselves are avadim
{\ADD{(slaves)}} of shachat
{\ADD{(corruption)}}, for whatever defeats a man also enslaves him.

\VS{20}For if, having escaped the tumot
{\ADD{(defilements)}} of Olam Hazeh by da'as of Adoneinu and Moshieinu Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua, they are again entangled in these, then their last state is worse for them than their first.

\VS{21}For better it was for them not to have da'as of the Derech HaTzidkanut
{\ADD{(the Way of Righteousness)}} than, having known it, to turn away from the mitzvah hakedosha handed down to them.

\VS{22}The word of the true mashal
{\ADD{(proverb)}} has overtaken them: KECHELEV SHAV AL KE'O\FTNT{§}{{\FR 2:22 }{\XT{Prov 26:11}}}{\ADD{(As a dog having returned to its own vomit)}}, and a “chazir
{\ADD{(swine)}} is washed only to wallow in the mud.”




\par }\Chap{3}{\PP \VerseOne{1}Chaverim, this now is the second iggeret I am writing to you; in these iggrot my tachlis is to arouse your sincere levavot by way of tizkoret
{\ADD{(reminder)}}:

\VS{2}Remember the divrei torah having been previously spoken by the Nevi'im HaKedoshim and the mitzvot of\FTNT{*}{{\FR 3:2 }{\FT{Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach}}} Adoneinu and Moshieinu spoken by your Shluchim.

\VS{3}Knowing this first, that during the acharit hayamim there will come leitzim
{\ADD{(mockers, scorners)}} mocking, going after their own ta'avot
{\ADD{(lusts)}},

\VS{4}And saying, “Where is the havtachah
{\ADD{(promise)}} of the Bias HaMoshiach? From the time Avoteinu fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of HaBri'ah
{\ADD{(Creation)}}.”

\VS{5}For this is hidden from them
{\ADD{(but they want it that way)}}: that the Shomayim existed from long ago and ha'Aretz out of mayim and through mayim BIDVAR
{\ND{Hashem}} NA'ASU\FTNT{†}{{\FR 3:5 }{\FT{}}{\XT{Ps 33:6}}}{\ADD{(By the word of the L-rd were made)}}.

\VS{6}Through this very mayim, the tevel
{\ADD{(world)}} of that time perished in the mabbul
{\ADD{(flood)}}.

\VS{7}But the present Shomayim v'ha'Aretz are being reserved by the same Dvar
{\ND{Hashem}}, being kept for Eish
{\ADD{(Fire)}} for Yom HaDin and for the destruction of anshei resha
{\ADD{(men of wickedness)}}.


\par }{\PP \VS{8}Chaverim, let not this one thing escape your notice, that “A thousand years in the eyes of
{\ND{Hashem}} is like one day”\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 3:8 }{\FT{}}{\XT{Ps 90:4}}} and one day like a thousand years.

\VS{9}But
{\ND{Hashem}} is not slow concerning his havtachah
{\ADD{(promise)}}, as some consider slowness, but is demonstrating savlanut
{\ADD{(patience)}}\FTNT{§}{{\FR 3:9 }{\XT{3:15}}} toward you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to teshuva
{\ADD{(repentance)}}.

\VS{10}But the Yom
{\ND{Hashem}} will come as a ganav
{\ADD{(thief)}}, in which the Shomayim with great suddenness will pass away and the elements, burning up, will be destroyed, and the Olam Hazeh and its ma'asim will be found ou.\FTNT{*}{{\FR 3:10 }{\FT{}}{\XT{Num 32:23}}}


\par }{\PP \VS{11}Als
{\ADD{(Since)}} all these things will thus be destroyed, what kinds of persons ought you to be in hitnahagut
{\ADD{(conduct)}} that is characterized by kedushah and chasidus,

\VS{12}Awaiting and hastening the Bias HaMoshiach of the Yom
{\ND{Hashem}}, because of which the Shomayim will be turned into Eish
{\ADD{(Fire)}} and destroyed, and the elements set ablaze and melted.

\VS{13}But SHOMAYIM CHADASHIM VA'ARETZ CHADASHA\FTNT{†}{{\FR 3:13 }{\FT{}}{\XT{Isa 65:17}}{\FT{ cf.
}}{\XT{Isa 66:22}}} according to the havtachah
{\ADD{(promise)}} of
{\ND{Hashem}} we await, in which Tzidkanut
{\ADD{(Righteousness)}} dwells.


\par }{\PP \VS{14}Chaverim, als you await these things, be eager to be found in shalom by him TAMIM U'MUM\FTNT{‡}{{\FR 3:14 }{\FT{}}{\XT{Ex 12:5; Lv 22:20; Isa 53:7,9}}}{\ADD{(unblemished and unspotted)}}.

\VS{15}And regard the savlanut
{\ADD{(patience)}} of Adoneinu as Yeshu'at Eloheynu. So also our Chaver and Ach b'Moshiach Sha'ul, according to the chochmah
{\ADD{(wisdom)}} having been given to him, wrote to you.

\VS{16}As also in all his iggrot speaking in them concerning these things, in which are some things lomdish
{\ADD{(intricate and complicated to understand)}}, which those unstable and without da'as, twist, as also the other Kitvei Hakodesh, to their own churban
{\ADD{(destruction)}}.

\VS{17}Chaverim, you therefore, knowing beforehand, be shomer over yourselves lest with the toyus
{\ADD{(error)}} of the mufkarim
{\ADD{(lawless ones)}} having been led away, you fall from your own stability.

\VS{18}But grow in the Chen v'Chesed and Da'as of Adoneinu and Moshieinu, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua. Lo HaKavod Gam HaYom V'Gam L'Yom HaOlam. Omein.
{\ADD{(To him be glory both now and to the day of eternity. Omein.)}}

\par }