*2 Peter 1:2-21
Peter encourages believers to grow in their faith by adding moral qualities to their knowledge of Christ and emphasizes the divine inspiration of scripture.
- Grace and Peace Through Knowledge:
- Peter opens by wishing grace and peace to the readers through the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.
- He emphasizes that God’s divine power has given believers everything they need for a godly life through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.
- Participation in the Divine Nature:
- By these promises, believers can participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
- Call to Spiritual Growth:
- Peter urges believers to make every effort to add to their faith goodness, and to goodness, knowledge.
- Further, they should add self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love to their lives.
- These qualities, if increasing, will keep believers from being ineffective and unproductive in their knowledge of Jesus Christ.
- Warning Against Spiritual Stagnation:
- A lack of these qualities makes one nearsighted and blind, forgetting they have been cleansed from their past sins.
- Believers are encouraged to be diligent in confirming their calling and election, as doing these things will prevent them from falling.
- Entrance into the Eternal Kingdom:
- Practicing these qualities will ensure an abundant provision for believers into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
- The Trustworthiness of the Apostolic Witness:
- Peter asserts that he and the other apostles did not follow cleverly devised stories when they told of the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
- He refers to the event of the Transfiguration where God the Father honored and glorified Jesus, affirming His sonship with the words, “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.”
- The Role of Prophecy:
- Peter emphasizes that the prophetic message is something to be taken very seriously, shining as a light in a dark place until the day dawns and the morning star rises in believers’ hearts.
- He clarifies that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation.
- Prophecy was not produced by human will, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
2 Peter 1:2-21 encourages us to grow in our faith by developing qualities like goodness, self-control, patience, and love. It reminds us that God has given us everything we need to live a life that honors Him. We can apply this by making an effort each day to grow in kindness, trust in God’s promises, and live in a way that reflects His goodness. When we keep our focus on Him, we will stay strong in our faith and be a light to others.
2 Peter 1:2-21 (WEB)
1:2 Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 seeing that his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and virtue, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and exceedingly great promises; that through these you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust. 5 Yes, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence; and in moral excellence, knowledge; 6 and in knowledge, self-control; and in self-control, perseverance; and in perseverance, godliness; 7 and in godliness, brotherly affection; and in brotherly affection, love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to not be idle or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be more diligent to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble. 11 For thus you will be richly supplied with the entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.12 Therefore I will not be negligent to remind you of these things, though you know them and are established in the present truth. 13 I think it right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, 14 knowing that the putting off of my tent comes swiftly, even as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. 15 Yes, I will make every effort that you may always be able to remember these things even after my departure.16 For we didn’t follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received from God the Father honor and glory when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 18 We heard this voice come out of heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.19 We have the more sure word of prophecy; and you do well that you heed it as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation. 21 For no prophecy ever came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit.