The Gift Of God's Great Promise

Consequently Peter introduces his first imperative or command in the book, which is to “make every effort/giving all diligence” to add (epi-choregeo/choreography = full supply) or participate in the divine nature (v 5). Effort may be translated as haste (Mark 6:25, Luke 1:39) or care (2 Cor 7:11, 7:12, 8:16).

The seven qualities of the divine nature added to faith can be divided into three pairs and the peak, which is love:

1. Goodness/virtue (arete). This touches one’s being, the character level, one’s moral excellence.

2. Knowledge (gnosis). This touches one’s believing, the cognitive level, one’s mental comprehension.

3. Self-control (egkrateia). This is one’s temperament – internal emotions, feelings and passion, the composure without mention of external pressure.

4. Perseverance (hupo-mone). This is one’s tenacity - mental toughness, durability and capacity under external pressure, from outside adversity. It is to continue (-mone) under (hupo-) stress.

5. Godliness (eusebeia). This refers to the vertical relationship with God - to be reverential, committed, to honor Christ.

6. Brotherly kindness (philadelphia). This refers to the horizontal relationship with others - to be relational, caring, to humble yourself.

7. Love (agape). Love is the center, the climax, the cohesive. It is the greatest, the glue that fastens and the gravity that pulls. Love is the heartbeat, the hallmark, the health.

The first six additions may be divided into two categories: the internal and external makeup. The internal includes our being, thinking and temperament. The external includes circumstances, God and brother.

The presence of these attributes result in a breakthrough but absence of these qualities results in a breakdown; function versus malfunction (v 8). First (gar), the breakdown means they are ineffective (argos) and unproductive (akarpos), the former (argos = a + ergon)) is popularly translated as idle (Matt 12:36, 20:3, 6 – parable of the vineyard), slow (Titus 1:12) and dead (James 2:20), the latter (akarpos = a + karpos) is unfruitful. The former uses the analogy of physical activity and the latter plant life. The first is function and the second is fruit, workless versus fruitless, no output versus no outcome. The sphere or scope is in the knowledge (4x, NT most - 2 Peter 1:2, 1:3, 1:8, 2:20) of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Second (gar) – the breakdown, the absence means they are blind (tuphlos - adjective) and nearsighting (mu-opazo/myopic - verb), the latter means mysterious eyes (participle), forgetfulness (hapax) of receiving (participle) cleansing from his previous sins. Blind means seeing nothing, but nearsighted means seeing near things.

Remember God’s Perfection in Christ

10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 12 So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. 13 I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, 14 because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things. (2 Peter 1:10-15)