2 peter 1:5 - Yes, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence; and in moral excellence, knowledge;

Generated Verse: 2 peter 1:5

What does "2 peter 1:5" mean?


This verse from 2 Peter 1:5 is part of an encouragement to Christians to actively cultivate certain virtues, building upon the foundation of their faith. Let's break it down:

"Yes, and for this very cause..." This refers back to the previous verses (2 Peter 1:3-4), where Peter talks about God's divine power giving us everything we need for life and godliness, and His precious and magnificent promises that enable us to participate in the divine nature, escaping the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. Because of these incredible gifts and promises, we have a responsibility to act.

"...adding on your part all diligence..." This emphasizes that receiving God's grace doesn't mean we passively sit back. We need to actively and diligently apply ourselves to spiritual growth. It requires effort and commitment from our side.

"...in your faith supply moral excellence..." This is the first step in a chain of virtues. "Faith" is the starting point - our trust in God and Jesus Christ. From that foundation of faith, we should "supply" (or add, provide, supplement) "moral excellence" (also translated as virtue, goodness, or uprightness). This means striving to live a life that reflects God's character, marked by integrity, honesty, and ethical behavior.

"...and in moral excellence, knowledge;" This is the next link in the chain. With moral excellence as a foundation, we should then pursue "knowledge" (gnosis in Greek). This isn't just any kind of information; it's a deeper, experiential, and practical understanding of God, His will, and how to live according to His ways. It's knowledge that transforms our lives.

In summary:

The verse is urging believers to be proactive in their spiritual growth. Building upon their initial faith, they should diligently cultivate a life of moral excellence, which then leads to a deeper, transformative knowledge of God. It's a process of adding virtue to virtue, growing in Christ-likeness through intentional effort and God's enabling power.

Think of it like building a house:

Faith: Is the foundation
Moral excellence: Is the framework
Knowledge: Is the walls and roof

You need a solid foundation of faith to build on, but you can't just stop there. You need to add the framework of moral excellence, and then fill it out with the walls and roof of knowledge to create a strong and resilient structure.

Each virtue builds upon the last, creating a stronger and more complete Christian character. It's not a passive process but requires conscious effort and diligence on our part, empowered by God's grace.