and to Patience Godliness

 2Pet 2:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

Godliness here is translated from the Greek eusebeia, (yoo-seb-i-ah).

it means piety and is derived from a word which means devout and a further derivation from a word which means to revere or adore.

In Acts 3:12 it is used to explain that it wasn't by Peter and John's own holiness that a lame man was made to walk. Making it clear that godliness is not how we earn anything from God, but it is a maturing in the ways of God. It is not that they did not have godliness, but that it was not the reason for the miracle. The word pious is often used derisively in our world today, but godliness is valuable to add to your faith.

Paul uses this word often in his instructions to Timothy. 

1Tim 3:14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: 15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

He goes on further to instruct Timothy to exercise thyself unto godliness because it is profitable, and to teach doctrine which is according to godliness and that gain is not godliness, but godliness is great gain. (1Tim 4:7-8; 6:3-6, 11) He also makes reference that there are forms of godliness, but they deny the power of godliness. (2Tim 3:5)

Lastly Peter lets us know that godliness is key in light of the judgments of God:

2Pet 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Reverent worship of God, a life of devotion to God and to his ways is great gain.

and to Temperance Patience

2Pet 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

The word for patience means cheerful constancy. It is used in Rom 5 of enduring tribulation. Growth in the character of God and the result hope, (or expectation) (Rom 5:3-4; 8:25; 15:4)

In second Corinthians Paul uses the word again in context to enduring sufferings, (2Cor 1:6, translated enduring; 6:4; 12:12), resulting in signs wonders and mighty deeds.

Another description of endurance in the face of trials/persecution:

2 Thess 1:4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:

James tells us that the trying of your faith works patience, and you need to let patience have its perfect work. (James 1:3-4) He also uses the Prophets and Job as examples:

James 5:10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

You have need of patience (Heb 10:36), and we are to run with patience (Heb 12:1)

Having patience is commended in Revelation 2:2, 3; 2:19; 3:10.

And to knowledge Temperance

In 2Pet 1:6 we are told to add to or knowledge, temperance.

Temperance is translated from the Greek (eng-krat-i-ah) and means self control, or strength (kratos) over self)

When Paul was explaining faith in Jesus to Felix the governor and his wife Drusilla, we see the themes that he reasons with Felix about.

Acts 24:24 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

In this context we see the three great doctrines. What God has done for us, our response to what he has done and the clear expectation of a coming judgment.

we have received like precious faith, we have added virtue and knowledge, now add self control. A submission to those higher ways and a consecration not to violate them.

Titus 1:7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; 8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; 9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

A slightly different word; also means strong/self control.

To Virtue add Knowledge

 2Pet 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

This word is first seen in the NT in the book of Luke. Both times linked to the way of salvation.

Luke 1:76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; 77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,

Here Zacharias prophesies of the calling of his son John, known later as the Baptist. He was to give knowledge of salvation, manifested by the remission of sins. This is an incredible and Holy calling.

Next we see it used in in the opposite way by Jesus.

Luke 11:52 Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.

Jesus had pointed to John as the forerunner for his ministry and asked the Pharisees to tell him whether John was from God or not, they could not or would not tell. He also pointed to John as more than a prophet and one who was not shaken with the wind.

In Rom 2:20 the knowledge is likened to a form because the so called teachers have not put away sin.

In Rom 11:33 we see the knowledge of God as the higher ways...

In Rom 15:14 Paul declares that those in Rome to whom he was writing were full of this knowledge and able to admonish one another

He also in 1Cor  uses the word as knowledge of what is going on with meat and drink offered to idols and how to use this knowledge correctly. He also talks of "the word of Knowledge" as a gift of the Holy Spirit. These all describe a higher knowledge

It is found in Jesus:

2Cor 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

The treasure of wisdom and knowledge is in Jesus (Col 2:3)

In 2Cor 6:6 we see knowledge listed as part of the equipment of the ministers of God

In 1Cor 13:8 we see that love is greater than knowledge and in Eph 3:19 we see that the love of Christ passes knowledge.

This knowledge of Jesus is excellent and Paul suffered loss of all in this life to obtain it (Phil 3:8)

Husbands are to dwell with their wives according to this knowledge (1Pet 3:7)

We can grow in it (2Pet 3:18)

The last point is look at 1Tim 6:20-21

20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: 21 Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.

The word translated science here is the same as all those translated knowledge. There is a knowledge which is contrary to the knowledge of God, it is falsely called knowledge, but will cause one to err concerning the faith.

So, we want to add to our virtue, the higher ways of God, the knowledge of God. It is knowledge of the true way of salvation and is only found in Jesus. It is equipment we need to walk as ministers of God and is associated with knowledge of sin and the putting away of it.

Add Virtue

 Add to your faith virtue. 2Pet 1:5

What is virtue?

When we try to understand the word virtue we clearly need to go to the original Greek. It is only found 5 times in the New Testament.

Phil 4:8; Paul giving instructions in how to walk in this way lists what we should be thinking about:

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

1Pet 2:9; The word is translated as praises in this passage in the KJV

9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

2Pet 1:3, 5 (twice) add to your faith virtue and to virtue knowledge...

What I see in the words from which it is apparently derived are the sense of a lifting of man. We could say, virtue is the better or higher things a man can do. It is excellence of character, the character of God. We are called to glory and virtue in 2Pet 1:3 and then told to add to our faith that same virtue.

The ways of virtue are the higher ways described clearly by God. They include Love, Joy Peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, Temperance:...(Gal 5:22-23)

The ways of God come from the life of God, and we have been made partakers of the divine nature so we are able to allow these to be seen in our lives. While Paul tells us to think or meditate upon this virtue, Peter tells us that we are to show forth this higher praise and to diligently add it to our faith.

God's ways are so much higher than ours, but we who are joined unto the Lord are one spirit and able and called to manifest the virtue, the higher ways, of God!

Giving diligence in this great salvation

 2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

The purpose of this post is to set up a series on giving diligence.

In verse one we see Peter writing to those who have obtained like precious faith through the righteousness of Jesus. This is an incredible statement, it declares that faith comes from the life of Jesus. This faith has been summarized by my Pastor as knowing who Jesus is and what he has done and will do. It is the faith which is declared to be what the righteous (just) live by. This righteousness comes by knowing what God has done to bring righteousness to the unrighteous through Jesus Christ.

Rom 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

This faith comes from God, it is not of works lest any one should boast. All one needs to receive it is to call upon the name of the Lord Jesus in repentance, forsaking a life of sin, all having been done away with by the shedding of Jesus' blood. Included in this salvation are exceeding great and precious promises, including the divine nature!

Now having received such a wonderful salvation, what should we do? Peter will lay out for us some activities in diligence to become fruitful in the knowledge of this salvation. In John 15 we are told by Jesus that he is the vine, the root of life, and we are the branches. Fruitful branches are pruned and unfruitful branches are cast away. In like manner Peter tells use if you diligently go after these things you will not be barren nor unfruitful, a state without a good end here and in Jn 15.

So the next few posts will be looking at these activities of diligence one by one as they are listed starting with virtue added to the faith we have received.

Let's begin by acknowledging that faith which we have freely received, know what Jesus has done, and continually give thanks that He has truly done it all for us. What we do is in response to his love for us, not works to earn, but diligence to keep ourselves in this ability to walk with God.

1Jn 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

There are other lists, similar in character, for example:

Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

1Tim 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Titus 2:1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: 2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

A growth in the character of God, all as a result of keeping ourselves, of adding to ourselves the wonderful character of God.

The Endings of Covenants (In progress)

 Gen 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

Shiloh

Joshua 18:1 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them.

Judges 21:19 a yearly feast at Shiloh

1Sam 1:3 And this man (Elkanah) went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.

1Sam 4:21 And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband. 22 And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken.

Psalm 78:55 He cast out the heathen also before them,

and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.

56 Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies:

57 But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.

58 For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.

59 When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel:

60 So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men;

61 And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy's hand.

Jer 7:11 Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD. 12 But go ye now unto my place which was in Shiloh, where I set my name at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel.

Israel/Samaria

Jerusalem

Mannassah

2Ki 21:10 And the LORD spake by his servants the prophets, saying, 11 Because Manasseh king of Judah hath done these abominations, and hath done wickedly above all that the Amorites did, which were before him, and hath made Judah also to sin with his idols: 12 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Behold, I am bringing such evil upon Jerusalem and Judah, that whosoever heareth of it, both his ears shall tingle. 13 And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab: and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish, wiping it, and turning it upside down. 14 And I will forsake the remnant of mine inheritance, and deliver them into the hand of their enemies; and they shall become a prey and a spoil to all their enemies; 15 Because they have done that which was evil in my sight, and have provoked me to anger, since the day their fathers came forth out of Egypt, even unto this day. 16 Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; beside his sin wherewith he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of the LORD.

Josiah

2Ki 22:18 But to the king of Judah which sent you to enquire of the LORD, thus shall ye say to him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, As touching the words which thou hast heard; 19 Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the LORD, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the LORD. 20 Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again.

Jer 26:1 In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from the LORD, saying, 2 Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD's house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD's house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word: 3 If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings. 4 And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you, 5 To hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and sending them, but ye have not hearkened; 6 Then will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth. 7 So the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD.

Jer 26:8 Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die. 9 Why hast thou prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant? And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.

and 12-16

2Ki 25:1 And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his host, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it; and they built forts against it round about. 2 And the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah. 3 And on the ninth day of the fourth month the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land.