2 Peter 1:5-9

⁵ But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,

⁶ to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness,

⁷ to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.

⁸ For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁹ For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

for this reason (v.5) — because they were “partakers of the divine nature” (v.4)

diligence (v.5) = speed, haste, earnestness, enthusiasm

add (v.5) = supply, provide, lavish provision. Used in classical Greek to describe the munificence of rich citizens who would finance a theatrical performance or fit out a warship for the state.

Peter now instructs his hearers to “add” to their faith seven things … Although some of these virtues are attributes that the world seeks after to become more refined and cultured, “whatsoever is not of faith is sin” (Romans 14:23).

If these things abounded in them it was an evidence that they were bearing fruit. These seven virtues were the fruits that sprung forth from the new nature they possessed This is another distinction between the kingdom gospel and the gospel of the grace of God. Today, believers may or may not bear fruits; therefore, it is sometimes difficult to ascertain whether or not someone is saved. Paul says regarding good works after salvation, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10 cf. 2 Corinthians 8:11). Notice believers “should walk in them,” implying that they may not always increase in the fruits of righteousness.

Under the kingdom gospel this wasn’t an option, it was an absolute necessity. As Peter says, “neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Our Lord cursed the barren fig tree because it was of no profit. Thus, He emphatically declared, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits … Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7:15-20). …

If those of their number only bore a very small amount of fruit, it was an indication that there was life, but that they obviously didn’t take the things of the Lord seriously. Peter calls these saints blind because they had forgotten that they had been purged from the very sins they were again committing. — Sadler, pages 181-182.

faith (v.5) = belief, trust, confidence, fidelity, faithfulness

virtue (v.5) = goodness, uprightness

knowledge (v.5) = knowledge gained by experience and direct relationship, moral wisdom

self-control (v.6) = mastering desires and passions, especially of the sensual appetites

perseverance (v.6) = endurance, patient waiting for. The characteristic of one who is unswerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and virtue even in the greatest trials and sufferings

godliness (v.6) = devotion, respect toward God

brotherly kindness (v.7) = philadelphia, affection for the brethren, the love of Christians for one another as “brethren” in Christ

love (v.7) = agape, love, to refer one—in this case, to prefer and esteem another because he or she is a fellow believer

barren nor unfruitful in knowledge (v.8) — To be barren is to be idle or lazy, unprofitable, shunning the labor one should be performing. To be unfruitful is to not be yielding what one ought to yield, contributing nothing.

shortsighted (v.9) = see dimly, closing the eyes.

I think what Peter was doing here was instructing his Jewish readers on how to do what he was instructing them to do. He had just reminded them of what they had through Christ (v.4). Now he was telling them how to be sure they had these things—how to be sure that they were “partakers of the divine nature.” Partaking of the divine nature is an abstract idea that may be hard to grasp and it can be hard to know if you are doing it correctly, or at all. But if you are treating others kindly, controlling your passions, respecting God, etc. then you know you’re on the right path. In other words, the easiest way to know if you’re a kind person is to do kind things. The easiest way to know if you have your passions under control is to avoid the things that cause you to fall. If you do the right things, you will bear fruit and you will grow in knowledge of the Lord. If you don’t do these things, you’ve obviously closed your eyes to the truth (another deliberate act).

As Sadler points out (above) for kingdom Jews, it was required that they do these things to prove their faith. For us, under the dispensation of grace, our faith is sure and the good works are our response. By application, if we demonstrate none of these virtues, our sanctification will suffer and we will not grow—but it doesn’t mean we aren’t saved. Salvation is by faith alone through grace alone apart from works.