Growing in Godliness
1:5-7
Because Christ has given us everything we need for godliness (“for this reason”), Peter exhorts us to add good things to our faith. The basis of this sanctification process is grace (“his divine power has granted to us”). With his grace as the basis, we strive to be godly.
In our striving, we add virtues, good qualities, to our faith. (5) Peter gave a chain of eight good qualities to pursue. This does not mean it is an exhaustive list. There are other lists of godly qualities in the New Testament. But it contains the qualities Peter wants, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to emphasize to his first readers in Asia, and now to us.
The first thing we supplement our faith with is virtue. The NIV says “goodness”. The word means “moral excellence”. It is the same word used in verse 3, when Peter said Christ called us to his own glory and excellence\goodness.
Next, we should supplement our faith with knowledge. We need knowledge of God and his will for us. We get this through study of his Word, which teaches us these things. As we know more about God, we know more how to live in a way that pleases him.
We also add the quality of self control. Paul listed this as one of the fruits of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22) We do not give into every impulse. In contrast, the false teachers are often criticized in the New Testament for being driven by sensuality and corruption.
Next, we add steadfastness. The NIV says perseverance. We do not give up and we do not give in when it comes to our faith. Those who would soon endure persecution needed to have this quality so they would not renounce their faith in Jesus when things got bad.
Peter said we must add the quality of godliness. Although Peter said Christ had given us everything we need for godliness, we still pursue it. We attempt to reflect the character of God. We live a life that pleases God.
We also add the quality of brotherly affection. (7) This is the Greek word “philadelphia”. This is the family-like devotion among brothers and sisters in Christ. We support each other and take care of each other. We suffer when others suffer and rejoice when they rejoice.
The last quality is love. Love sums up all the other qualities. One who loves will possess and display the other qualities. False teachers, though, tend to love themselves.
Godly Virtues & the Kingdom
1:8-11
Verse 8 tells us that, if we have these qualities and they are increasing, they will keep us from being ineffective and unfruitful in our faith (the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ).
If we do not have here qualities, we are blind to spiritual truth and have forgotten that Christ paid for our sins. (9) This will lead to our falling away. We will not live as forgiven sinners. There are many people in evangelical life that are this way.
In contrast, if we pursue and practice these qualities, we are assured of eternal life in the kingdom of God. (11) So, we must be diligent in pursuing these qualities, showing that our calling and election are sure, in other words, that we are truly saved. (10) Those in whom these qualities exist and abound are effective and fruitful with respect to their knowledge of Christ. Those who do not have these qualities give no evidence of conversion.
There are many false teachers today. Many of the make a lot of money from their false teaching and spend it on themselves lavishly.
There are also many today who made a profession of faith early in life, but today do not attend church, or have even abandoned the faith. They did not pursue these virtues in their lives. They do not have assurance of salvation.
The Reminder
1:12-15
Peter, as an apostle, urged his right and need to remind his readers of these qualities even though they were established in their faith. (12) He knew that his time was about up, he would put off his body soon. (14) And, he not only wanted to remind them while he was alive, he wanted them to know them well enough to recall them after his death. He wanted them to continue pursuing the virtuous life as long as they lived.
This is why we listen to the same sermons repeatedly and read the same scripture constantly. We want them ingrained in our memories so we easily recall them.
Eyewitness Testimony
1:16-18
The false teachers with whom Peter battled did not believe the Jesus would return. In addition to being false, this teaching removed the the sense of urgency in living the virtuous Christian life in view of his return.
Peter wanted to provide proof and authority for his teaching the Christ would return and in teaching the need to live accordingly. Peter appealed to the Transfiguration.
The Transfiguration is that event when Jesus took Peter, James and John up onto a mountain to pray. Jesus appearance changed and his clothing became a dazzling white. Moses and Elijah appeared in glory and spoke about Jesus’ departure. The disciples saw his glory. This even is recorded in Luke 9:28-36.
First of all, Peter stated that the Apostles (“we”) did not devise myths when the told the power of Jesus and his return, or his “powerful return”. This is what the false prophets accused them of. Instead, he said, they were eyewitnesses to his majesty. Majesty is another word for glory. They also heard the voice of the Father declaring that “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased”. (17)
Peter saw the Transfiguration as a type of Jesus’ return in glory. Jesus received glory and honor at the Transfiguration: glory in the change in his appearance and honor in the stated approval of the Father.
The Transfiguration was history, not myth, and so the Parousia, the return of Christ, is also a truth and not a myth.
The Truth of Christ’s 2nd Coming Is Based on the Prophetic Word
1:19-21
Peter’s first argument for the second coming was the Transfiguration. The second argument for it is the prophetic word, the Old Testament, as interpreted by the apostles. (19)
We must pay attention to the Word because it is a lamp shining in a dark place. It is the light for our path. We must pay attention to it until the Lord returns. When Jesus returns, the prophetic word will be fulfilled. He will give us his light, increasing our understanding. His light as the Living Word will outshine the light of the Prophetic Word.
That being true, the Prophetic Word is still sure and what we look to until Christ returns. Peter emphasized that no prophecy of Scripture came from someone’s own interpretation. This is likely a criticism of the false prophets who referred to Scripture, but interpreted it to fit their own ideas. Their ideas came from the will of man. Because of that, they went against the apostolic teaching and interpretation.
Rather, prophecy came as men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (21) God gave the Word and the interpretation by the apostles.
Because of this, we can trust the Scripture and believe the things it teaches are from God.
Because of this we accept the teaching of the apostles as recorded in the Scripture as the correct teaching of Jesus and the correct interpretation of the Old Testament.
We do not invent new interpretations that contradict the Scripture.
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