2 Peter | Practical Teaching on Coming Conditions

Session 2 | 2 Peter 1:5-11

2 Peter 1:5-11 | Exhortation to Diligence

Verse 5 --
- Peter had prayed that grace and peace be multiplied (v. 2). And now, beside this he asks them to be giving all diligence. The additional things added in verses 5-7 are areas in which the diligence should be seen.
- They are people of faith, and now to their faith they should be diligent to include virtue.
  - The Greek word translated virtue is ἀρετή [arete], and is a word for which no single English equivalent exists.
  - It is only used five times in the New Testament, and four of these are by Peter (1 Peter 2:9, where it is translated praises and verses 3-5 of this chapter, where it is virtue). Paul uses it as virtue in Philippians 4:8.
  - In documents outside the Bible the word is used in the sense of manliness or *valor. *
  - Strong's Enhanced Lexicon says that it is from the root word arsen“male." In essence, Peter is asking them to add muscle to their faith.
- Now to this they should add knowledge.
  - He uses the word γνῶσις [gnosis] (from which we draw our English word knowledge).
  - The Greek word is used for knowledge gained through study or experience.
- “train" in verses 5-7.
  - He uses the word **and **seven times in these verses.
  - This is a figure of speech called polysyndeton and expresses independence of each thought rather than something that builds to a climax. Therefore“train" as successively getting better.
  - In fact, the word givingπαρεισφέρω [paraisphero“to carry alongside." Peter wants his followers to carry these things alongside*** ***the grace and peace of verse 2.
Verse 6 --
- Now Peter adds temperance, It is interesting that this particular word is always only used in lists of virtues (see also Acts 24:25 and Gal. 5:23).
  - It is the word ἐγκράτεια [enkratia], with the root word kratos“control"or“power."
  - “to be in control over yourself."
- Next is added patienceὑπομονή [hupomone“to endure under."
- Finally, Peter asks them to be diligent to add godliness, which is holy living.
Verse 7 --
- Peter adds **brotherly kindness **φιλαδελφία [philadelphia, from philos (love) and adelphos (brother)].
- In closing the list, he adds charity, using ἀγάπη [agape], a love for love's sake.
Verse 8 --
- In verses 8-9, Peter gives reasons for diligence in these matters, starting with a positive reason. The person who has these things in abundance is neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge that matters, that of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Verse 9 --
- Having given the positive, Peter now gives the negative reason to be diligent in the matters listed.
- The one who fails in this regard is blind in that he** cannot see afar off**.
  - Clearly Peter speaks in metaphor. Being short sighted is perhaps the worst kind of blindness, for a short-sighted person cannot be told of the dangers ahead, for he will not hear them.
- Not only is he not seeing the future, but of the past this one hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
  - The word purgedκαθαρισμός [katharismos], and speaks of a Jewish reality more than a Gentile reality.
  - For the Gentiles (that is, the Body of Christ) God is not imputing their tresspasses unto them (2 Cor. 5:19).
  - For the Jew, the sins are cleansed, as noted in Hebrews 1:3.
Verse 10 --
- Having exhorted toward diligence in verses 5-7, Peter comes back to the same theme, give diligence again in verse 10.
- Whereas earlier his theme was to diligently add several things side-by-side, in light of the blindness of not doing so Peter encourages them to be diligent in one singular matter: to make your calling and election sure.
- Though he doesn't give specifics on *how *to fulfill the instruction, It would be hard to take these words in anything other than as a work's-based encouragement.
- Israel had a chance to usher in the Kingdom, and thus bring surety to their calling and election.
- Having failed with the first Kingdom offer, they must now wait for the next offer (which will be after the age of Grace).
Verse 11 --
- While the context should have alerted the reader that Peter was speaking of the Gospel of the Kingdom rather than that of Grace, this verse makes it clear.
- The words for so (using a Greek adverb) describe *the manner of entrance into ***the everlasting **kingdom, and refer back to the words of verse 10 if ye do these things.
- It is without doubt (and a short study would prove) that kingdom entrance is based on works while Pauline salvation is based on grace. Mixing the two causes great confusion.

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