but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The ESV translation smooths over a powerful nuance: Peter isn't just saying a word of the Lord, but the word of the Lord, referencing Isaiah's prophecy about God's enduring decree. This "word" is then explicitly identified not just as Scripture, but as the very good news of the Gospel, emphasizing its living power and eternal relevance.
but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Peter is reminding his readers that while earthly glory and beauty fade, the message they've heard about Jesus is eternal and unshakable. He’s drawing from Isaiah to emphasize that the Good News isn't a fleeting trend, but God's unchanging truth that will endure through all of life's trials and the eventual passing of this world. This eternal message is the foundation of their hope, unlike anything else in creation.
Everything around us changes – trends, seasons, even our own feelings. But Peter reminds us of something that stands firm, always.
The verse boldly declares that "the word of the Lord remains forever." This isn't just a nice saying; it's a profound statement about God's faithfulness and the eternal nature of His truth. Unlike human words that fade or are forgotten, God's promises and pronouncements have an everlasting quality. In a world that constantly shifts, this unchanging Word is our stable foundation.
Peter doesn't just talk about 'the Word' in the abstract. He immediately connects it to something incredibly personal and vital for us.
The passage clarifies that this eternal Word is specifically "the good news that was preached to you." This good news is the Gospel – the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. It’s not a dusty, ancient text irrelevant to our lives. It's a living, active message that has the power to transform us and offers eternal life. This is the good news that God has made sure endures, a message of hope that never loses its power.
Understand the original words
Ask a follow-up
euangelizomai · Greek Verb
Good news, or gospel, refers to the proclamation of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the announcement of the arrival of God's kingdom and the offer of reconciliation, forgiveness, and eternal life to all who repent and believe.
This passage from Isaiah echoes the permanence of God's Word, directly preceding the New Testament's affirmation that this Word, the gospel, stands firm through all ages.
Matthew 24:35Jesus Himself declared the enduring nature of His words, providing a powerful foundation for Peter's later assertion about the everlasting quality of the gospel message.
Psalm 119:89The Psalmist's deep conviction about the eternal stability of God's commands and decrees is a beautiful Old Testament parallel to Peter's message about the unchanging truth of the gospel.
John 1:1This opening of John's Gospel identifies Jesus, the Word made flesh, as eternal, reinforcing Peter's message that the good news preached is rooted in an unchanging, divine reality.
The ESV translation smooths over a powerful nuance: Peter isn't just saying a word of the Lord, but the word of the Lord, referencing Isaiah's prophecy about God's enduring decree. This "word" is then explicitly identified not just as Scripture, but as the very good news of the Gospel, emphasizing its living power and eternal relevance.
Peter is reminding his readers that while earthly glory and beauty fade, the message they've heard about Jesus is eternal and unshakable. He’s drawing from Isaiah to emphasize that the Good News isn't a fleeting trend, but God's unchanging truth that will endure through all of life's trials and the eventual passing of this world. This eternal message is the foundation of their hope, unlike anything else in creation.
Peter is reminding his readers that while earthly glory and beauty fade, the message they've heard about Jesus is eternal and unshakable. He’s drawing from Isaiah to emphasize that the Good News isn't a fleeting trend, but God's unchanging truth that will endure through all of life's trials and the eventual passing of this world. This eternal message is the foundation of their hope, unlike anything else in creation.
"but the word of the Lord remains forever.”
And this word is the good news that was preached to you." — The ESV translation smooths over a powerful nuance: Peter isn't just saying *a* word of the Lord, but *the* word of the Lord, referencing Isaiah's prophecy about God's enduring decree. This "word" is…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026