Category Archives: 2 Peter

A thriving life, a productive relationship, an abundant reward!
Reading:

2 Peter 1:8,9

These Things
2 Peter 1:5-7

virtue
knowledge
self dominion
endurance
piety
brotherly affection
charity

  1. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
  2. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

When I have a generous supply of “these things,” I will be active and fruitful “in the knowledge of” Jesus. I am so intrigued by this concept. No, more than a concept — a reality of How Things Really Are. It sounds like knowing Jesus is meant to be something far more than intellectual acquaintance or cuddly relationship. Knowing Jesus is something active that bears fruit — in contrast to the idleness and fruitlessness mentioned in verse 8.

Have your fruit unto holiness (Romans 6:22)

And somehow, having “these things” abounding in me brings Continue reading →

Things I must contribute to my faith in Jesus
Reading:

2 Peter 1:5-7

  1. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
  2. And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
  3. And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

My Spanish Bible punctuates verses 3-7 as one sentence. So here you have my translation of the beginnings of verse 3 and verse 5:

As all things that pertain to life and piety have been given to us by his divine power…

you also, putting forth all diligence for this very thing, add to your faith virtue…

Since God has done and continues to do His part in working in me by His divine power, I ought to do my own part very diligently. I don’t know what all the truths and implications are in all that adding I’m supposed to do, but I’m certain of this: I must grow in Christ. Continue reading →