2 Peter 1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Peter 1:2

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you ,.... By a multiplication of grace may be meant a larger discovery of the love and favour of God; which though it admits of no degrees in itself, being never more or less in God's heart, yet, as to the manifestations of it, it is different, and capable of being increased, and drawn out to a greater length; or else an increase of the internal graces of the Spirit of God, as to the actings and exercise of them; or a larger measure of the gifts of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Peter 1:3

According as his divine power ,.... Meaning either the power of God the Father, to whom belong eternal power and Godhead; and he is sometimes called by the name of power itself; see Matthew 26:64 being all powerful and mighty; or rather the power of Christ, since he is the next and immediate antecedent to this relative; and who, as he has the fulness of the Godhead in him, is almighty, and can do all things; and is "El-shaddai", God all-sufficient, and can communicate all things whatsoever... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Peter 1:4

Whereby are given unto us ,.... Or "by which", that is, glory and virtue; by the glorious power of Christ, or by the glorious and powerful Gospel of Christ; and so the Arabic version renders it, "by both of which"; or "by whom", as the Vulgate Latin version reads; that is, by Christ; for as in him are all the promises of God, so they are at his dispose, and by him are given unto the saints: exceeding great and precious promises ; meaning the promises of the new and everlasting covenant,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Peter 1:5

And besides this, giving all diligence ,.... "Or upon this", as the Syriac and Arabic versions read, bestow all your labour, diligence, and care; namely, on what follows, and that from the consideration of what goes before; for nothing can more strongly animate, and engage to the diligent exercise of grace and discharge of duty, than a consideration of the high favours, and free grace gifts of God, and the exceeding great and precious promises of his Gospel: add to your faith virtue ; or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Peter 1:6

And to knowledge, temperance ,.... Avoiding all excess in eating and drinking, and all impure and unclean lusts; for it signifies nothing what a man knows, or professes to know, if his life is a scene of intemperance and debauchery: this seems to be levelled against the followers or Simon Magus, who ascertained salvation to knowledge, though the life was ever so impure, Moreover, this may include abstinence, not only from hurtful lusts, but from the use of things indifferent, when the peace... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Peter 1:7

Without which, godliness, or external worship, or a profession of religion, is a vain show; for this is both the evidence of regeneration, and of the truth and power of real godliness; and also the beauty, comfort, and security of Christian society and worship, and without which they cannot be maintained with peace, profit, and honour: and to brotherly kindness, charity : or "love"; that is, to all men, enemies, as well as to the household of faith; and to God and Christ, to his house,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Peter 1:8

For if these things be in you ,.... Are wrought in you by the Spirit of God, and exercised and performed by his assistance, who works in his people both to will and do: and abound ; increase in their acts and exercises by the frequent performance of them: they make you; both by way of influence and evidence, that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ . There is a knowledge of Christ which is barren and fruitless; and those that have... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Peter 1:9

But he that lacketh these things ,.... Or in, and with whom, they are not; that is, these virtues, as the Arabic version reads, as faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity; where the principles of those things are not, and they are not exercised and performed, such an one is blind : let him boast ever so much of his light and knowledge, and value himself upon it, and expect to be saved by it, let him live as he will; for he has no true... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Peter 1:10

Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence ,.... To exercise the afore mentioned graces, and to perform the above duties, since this is the way to make your calling and election sure ; by calling is not meant a call to any office in the church, nor an external call, either by the voice of nature, or by the ministry of the word; but an internal and effectual call by special grace, to grace here, and glory hereafter; instead of "calling", the Alexandrian copy reads, "comfort": and by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Peter 1:11

For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly ,.... An abundant supply of grace and strength shall be freely afforded, to carry you through all the duties and trials of life; and when that shall be ended, an admission will be granted into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ ; meaning, not the Gospel dispensation, or the spiritual kingdom of Christ, which is not of this world, but lies among his people, who are called out of it, in whom he reigns by... read more

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