Peter wrote about God’s promises in his second letter and then told his readers to respond to God’s promises. 2 Peter 1: 5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.[1]
As We Respond, We Grow in Faith
Peter told his readers explicitly that they are to make every effort to respond to God’s promises. This requires taking the initiative. Faith is knowledge about God that results in action. Peter listed eight virtues in four pairs, suggesting that one virtue develops from the other. Some see these as rungs on a ladder where one progresses to the next. Others see these virtues as spokes of a wheel to be developed simultaneously. [2]
No matter which image we use, we must be willing to cooperate with God. Maturing our faith is not easy and requires work. But God is always with us to help us discern how we understand and apply these virtues.
Faith is the basis for all these virtues. We should desire moral excellence because Jesus gave us that model, and as His followers, we are to mirror Him. Peter speaks of knowledge that leads to wisdom and discernment to live the Christian life. Self-control is allowing the Holy Spirit to control our actions so that we overcome sinful desires. Faith in God’s goodness will enable us to trust Him when the going gets tough and to endure. Godliness refers to seeing God in all areas of life, giving us the correct attitude toward God and others.
Peter Spoke from Experience
Peter wrote his second letter just months before his death. His faith had come a long way from the frightened disciple who denied Jesus three times. In John 21, Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him with agape or self-sacrificing love, but Peter could only commit to a phileo or brotherly love. Then Jesus predicted that Peter would be martyred. Years have passed, and Peter has pastored the church in Jerusalem and traveled around the Empire to tell about Jesus. His relationship with Jesus has progressed into a self-sacrificing love that culmulated in martyrdom.
English only has one word for love, no matter what kind. Greek has several words. Looking at the progression in our text, we can see how Peter grew. (The Greek words behind the translation are in parentheses.) 2 Peter 1:7 and godliness with brotherly affection (phileo), and brotherly affection (phileo) with love (agape) for everyone. I believe Peter wants all the followers of Jesus to know that they, too, can grow in their love for God and one another. It is a way that we can respond to God’s promises.
To learn more, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/jesus-promises
[1]Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.
[2] Barton, B. B. (1995). 1 Peter, 2 Peter, Jude (p. 164). Tyndale House Pub.