2 Peter 1:5

Since believers have resources that are adequate for a godly life, we should use them diligently to grow in grace (cf. 2 Peter 3:18). Escaping the corruption of lust takes effort (cf. 1 Timothy 6:11-12; 2 Timothy 2:2). It is possible to frustrate the grace of God by having "faith without works" (James 2:20). [Note: Hiebert, Second Peter . . ., p. 51.] Therefore we must apply all diligence. This is the most basic requirement for experiencing effective Christian growth (cf. 2 Peter 1:10; 2 Peter 1:15; 2 Peter 3:14).

"Spiritual growth in the Christian life calls for the strenuous involvement of the believer." [Note: Ibid., p. 50.]

"The Christian must engage in this sort of cooperation with God in the production of a Christian life which is a credit to Him." [Note: Michael Green, The Second Epistle General of Peter and the General Epistle of Jude, p. 67.]

"Spirituality, then, is a choice. It does not come automatically or inevitably.

"Indeed, if the Christian fails to add ’virtue’ to his faith, his faith will soon become what James described as ’dead faith’ (James 2:14-26). Its vitality and productivity will disappear. In fact, Peter says this same thing in his own way in 2 Peter 1:8-9." [Note: Hodges, 1:3:2.]

To his faith, as a foundation, the believer needs to add seven qualities with God’s help. Each virtue contributes to the total growth of the saint. Note that Peter placed responsibility for attaining them on the Christian. Though, again, we can only make progress in godliness as God enables us.

"The Christian life is like power steering on a car. The engine provides the power for the steering, but the driver must actually turn the wheel. So the Lord provides the power to run our lives, but we must ’turn the wheel.’ To a great extent the Christian determines the course of his life." [Note: Barbieri, p. 96.]

Peter said add in and mix together, as in a recipe, the following ingredients to produce a mature godly life. He used a literary device common in his day to impress upon us the importance of giving attention to each virtue. Unlike other New Testament ethical lists (except Romans 5:3-5) Peter used a literary device called sorites (also called climax or gradatio). Sorites (from the Gr. soros, a heap) is a set of statements that proceed, step by step, to a climactic conclusion through the force of logic or reliance upon a series of indisputable facts. Each new statement picks up the last key word or phrase of the preceding one. [Note: See H. A. Fischel, "The Uses of Sorites (Climax, Gradatio) in the Tannaitic Period," Hebrew Union College Annual 44 (1973):119.] Other examples of sorites are in Romans 8:29-30; Romans 10:14-15; and James 1:15. We should not infer that before we can work on the third virtue we must master the second, and so on. This literary device simply arranges the virtues in a random order but presents them so each one receives emphasis. The total effect is to create the impression of growing a healthy tree, for example, in which several branches are vital.

Often children want to grow up faster than they can. They sometimes ask their parents to measure their height again, perhaps only a week or two after their last measuring. The wise parent will tell the child not to be so concerned about constantly measuring his or her growth. Rather the child should give attention to certain basic activities that will insure good growth over time: drink your milk, eat your vegetables, get enough exercise and rest. This is the spirit of Peter’s advice.

"Moral excellence" (Gr. areten) is virtue or goodness (2 Peter 1:3; cf. 1 Peter 2:9). Moral purity and uprightness of character through obedience to God are in view. This Greek word describes anything that fulfills its purpose or function properly. In this context it means a Christian who fulfills his or her calling (i.e., Matthew 22:37-39; Matthew 28:19-20; et al.).

"Knowledge" (Gr. gnosis) refers to acquired information. In particular the Christian needs to know all that God has revealed in His Word, not just the gospel (cf. Matthew 28:19-20).

"Gnosis here is the wisdom and discernment which the Christian needs for a virtuous life and which is progressively acquired. It is practical rather than purely speculative wisdom (cf. Philippians 1:9)." [Note: Bauckham, p. 186.]