2 Peter 1:8-9 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Peter 1:5-11

In these words the apostle comes to the chief thing intended in this epistle?to excite and engage them to advance in grace and holiness, they having already obtained precious faith, and been made partakers of the divine nature. This is a very good beginning, but it is not to be rested in, as if we were already perfect. The apostle had prayed that grace and peace might be multiplied to them, and now he exhorts them to press forward for the obtaining of more grace. We should, as we have... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 2 Peter 1:8-11

1:8-11 For, if these things exist and increase within you, they will make you not ineffective and not unfruitful in your progress towards the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever does not possess these things is blind, short-sighted, and has lapsed into forgetfulness that the sins of his old way of life have been cleansed away, So, brothers, be the more eager to confirm your calling and your choice. For, if you do practise these virtues, you will never slip, for you will be richly... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 1:8

For if these things be in you and abound - If ye possess all there graces, and they increase and abound in your souls, they will make - show, you to be neither αργους , idle, nor ακαρπους , unfruitful, in the acknowledgment of our Lord Jesus Christ. The common translation is here very unhappy: barren and unfruitful certainly convey the same ideas; but idle or inactive, which is the proper sense of αργους , takes away this tautology, and restores the sense. The graces already mentioned... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 1:9

But he that lacketh these things - He, whether Jew or Gentile, who professes to have Faith in God, and has not added to that Faith fortitude, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and universal love; is blind - his understanding is darkened, and cannot see afar off, μυωπαζων , shutting his eyes against the light, winking, not able to look truth in the face, nor to behold that God whom he once knew was reconciled to him: and thus it appears he is wilfully blind,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 1:8

Verse 8 8.For if these things be in you. Then, he says, you will at length prove that Christ is really known by you, if ye be endued with virtue, temperance, and the other endowments. For the knowledge of Christ is an efficacious thing and a living root, which brings forth fruit. For by saying that these things would make them neither barren nor unfruitful, he shews that all those glory, in vain and falsely, that they have the knowledge of Christ, who boast of it without love, patience, and the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 1:9

Verse 9 9.But he that lacketh these things. He now expresses more clearly that they who profess a naked faith are wholly without any true knowledge. He then says that they go astray like the blind in darkness, because they do not see the right way which is shewn to us by the light of the gospel. (151) This he also confirms by adding this reason, because such have forgotten that through the benefit of Christ they had been cleansed from sin, and yet this is the beginning of our Christianity. It... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Peter 1:5-11

Exhortation to earnest effort. I. OUR DUTY . 1 . To use all diligence. God's Divine power is with us; he has granted us all necessary helps. But this, says the apostle, is the very reason why we should work all the more strenuously. It would be heartless work, if we had not the great power of God to help us; but he hath endued his Church with power from on high. This gift of power is the very ground on which the apostle bases his exhortations; the great argument, not for... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Peter 1:5-11

Personal diligence needed for sanctification. The former verses say that God gives the knowledge of himself in the Word of promise, as the means by which grace and peace are to be multiplied; these verses say, to that must be added by you "all diligence." I. WE HAVE HERE AN ENUMERATION OF CERTAIN GRACES OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE . It begins with "faith" and ends with "love," and between these are two or three words which need attention. Next to "faith," "virtue" is... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Peter 1:5-11

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 2 Peter 1:8-11

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

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 1:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 1:9

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 1:8

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 1:9

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Peter 1:5-11

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Peter 1:5-11

Group of Brands