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2 Peter 1:3
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Greeting the Faithful

1 Simon Peter, a bondservant and aapostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have1 obtained blike precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:  
2 aGrace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,  
3 as His adivine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him bwho called us by glory and virtue,  
4 aby which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be bpartakers of the divine nature, having escaped the1 corruption that is in the world through lust.  

Fruitful Growth in the Faith

5 But also for this very reason, agiving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue bknowledge,  
6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control1 perseverance, to perseverance godliness,  
7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and ato brotherly kindness love.  
8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither1 barren anor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  
9 For he who lacks these things is ashortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.  
10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent ato 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.

Peter’s Approaching Death

12 For this reason aI will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, bthough you know and are established in the present truth.  
13 Yes, I think it is right, aas long as I am in this tent, bto stir you up by reminding you,  
Commentaries:
Forerunner Commentary
What is the Forerunner Commentary?
<< 2 Peter 1:2   2 Peter 1:4 >>

What Does 2 Peter 1:3 Mean?



2 Peter 1:2-8

He mentions that, since the Father and Christ have given us so much—even allowing us to share in God's nature—we should strive to add to our faith. Just believing that God is and that He has forgiven our sins is not enough (James 2:19). Among other things, we must grow in these qualities: virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. If we work to instill these godly attributes into our characters, we will be producing the kind of fruit that God wants to see in us (John 15:1-8).

Peter concludes his instruction in verses 10-11: "Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." Spiritual growth and producing fruit are what make our calling sure. Our maturity as Christians is based upon us zealously, diligently working to move our conversion along.

What is real conversion? It is the transformation of our characters, our intellects, our emotions, our actions, our words, and our very thoughts, from the evil way inspired by Satan and man's carnal nature into the divine nature—the very nature of God Himself!

So, how much like God are we? How straight and true is our trajectory to putting on the image of Christ (Romans 8:29)? How much of the old man have we put off, and how much of the new man have we put on (Colossians 3:9-10)? Are we growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ (II Peter 3:18)? Are we cooperating with God in being transformed to His image (Romans 12:2)? Are we making becoming more like Christ a daily goal (Luke 9:23)?

Though the Corinthians had their problems with carnality—as we all do—they worked to overcome them and began growing. Paul's final words to them in his second epistle should encourage us as we "work out [our] own salvation" (Philippians 2:12): "Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. . . . The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all" (II Corinthians 13:11, 14).

Richard T. Ritenbaugh
What Is Real Conversion? (Part Six)

Related Topics: | Brotherly Kindness | Calling, Making Sure of | Election, Making Sure | God's Nature | Godliness | Growing in Grace and Knowledge | Knowledge | Love | Perseverance | Put off the Old Man | Putting off Carnal Characteristics | Self-Control | Spiritual Growth | Spiritual Maturity | Spiritual Maturity, Process of | Transformation of Our Character | Virtue | What is Real Conversion?



2 Peter 1:2-4

The Holy Spirit is the power of God—not a personage, entity, consciousness, or part of the Godhead or a trinity. The Bible speaks of the Spirit as the power or mind of God, the power of love and of a sound mind. It emanates from Him and thus can be said to be "poured out" (Titus 3:5-6), "breathed" (John 20:22), and used to "fill" (Acts 2:4) and "anoint" (Acts 10:38).

Martin G. Collins
The Holy Spirit




Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing 2 Peter 1:3:

Mark 1:15


 
<< 2 Peter 1:2   2 Peter 1:4 >>

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