2 Peter 1:5-11 (NKJV) But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
V5 “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge…” For the reasons given in 2 Peter 1:4 (salvation), we are to advance in our Christian faith. The Holy Spirit prompts, but we must comply, for God holds us accountable. See James 4:17 and Romans 14:12. The Greek word for “add” is (G2023) ἐπιχορηγέω epichorēgéō, which means to supply or furnish. Compare Galatians 3:5 (supplies). God gives us the motivation and raw materials; we are to supply the effort to do it. The first step for the Christian is to be diligent. The Greek word for “diligence” is (G4710) σπουδή spoudḗ, which means speed up, so haste, earnestness, diligence, and zeal. So, it is to be our attitude for spiritual growth. It is a commitment. Faith is the first which has already happened when they believed. These are the Greek words for:
Virtue (G703) ἀρετή aretḗ, which means a quality of character that God approves of influencing society, church, work, family, marriage, personal, etc. See same word in 1 Peter 2:9 (praises in KJV) which carries the idea of God’s superior moral and strength of character.
Knowledge (G1108) γνῶσις gnṓsis, which means knowledge, not a complete knowledge but some facts about spiritual knowledge. (Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Abridged – Little Kittel)) “The ordinary use is for intelligent comprehension (‘to perceive,’ ‘to understand,’ ‘to know’), at first with a stress on the act. As distinct from aisthánesthai, ginṓskō emphasizes understanding rather than sensory perception, and as distinct from dokeín it is a perception of things as they are, not an opinion about them.”
V6 “…to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness…”
These are the Greek words for:
Self-control (G1466) ἐγκράτεια egkráteia, which means power or control over ourselves.
Perseverance (G5281) ὑπομονή hypomonē, which means staying in one place, thus, effort to maintain something.
Godliness (G2150) εὐσέβεια eusebeia, which means the idea of worship. We will be like the God we worship. Godliness then is having character traits, worldview, and way of life like God does as revealed in the New Testament (for the church).
V7 “…to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.”
These are the Greek words for:
Brotherly kindness (G5360) φιλαδελφία philadelphia, which means brotherly love, an enjoyment in fellowship and helping one another. All believers are related to our eldest brother, the Crown Prince, the Lord Jesus (Romans 8:29).
Love (G0026) ἀγάπη agapē, which is a dedicated, loyal, enjoyable, choice to be with someone and treat them as we would want for ourselves. It is a choice and is active. Compare Matthew 6:24 (we need to make a choice to whom we will serve in loyalty and passion). Romans 5:8 where God (Jesus) makes a choice to come as Messiah to be the Passover Lamb for our salvation. Galatians 6:10 where love motivates us to be kind, compassionate, and helping to all especially to other believers.
V8 “For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” When we have the traits of verses 5-7, we will bear fruit. The more we know about Jesus and His character, the more we will choose to live with those desires and character traits.
V9 “For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins” This is addressed to Christians who hesitate or neglect to desire and live these traits. They are shortsighted because they forget about the Bema Seat judgment (to Christians regarding their life and actions in our earthly time here) rewards and eternity. They have forgotten how God in love saved them from their sins and punishment. All sins have been atoned for. There is no more sacrifice for sin. All my sins were future and all forgiven. Nevertheless, we still sin daily, and we need forgiveness for our daily sins (1 John 1:8-10).
V10 “Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble…” This should fire us up to live God’s ways and its fruit will be a testimony of our salvation. They show that our salvation is not just words but words and actions. The Greek word for “sure” is (G949) βέβαιος bébaios, which means certain–the certainty that something is true (Hebrews 2:2) and/or will happen (Romans 4:16 and Hebrews 6:17-20).
V11 “…for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Implying God’s rewards for faithful service. This kingdom starts in the Millennium.
(Holman Commentary) “The picture is that of a march, and the point here is that the true believer will never fall out of the march to heaven. You will never be left behind, but you can be assured of a glorious welcome into your eternal home. God will never change his mind about you, nor will he alter the means by which you get to heaven. True believers can be assured that God will never send us away from heaven because we are not good enough.”
We learn:
- More Christian character traits and their application
- The joy of doing so