2 Peter 1: Confirm Your Calling
God has granted all we need for godliness, so Peter calls us to add to our faith and to trust the eyewitness and prophetic word.
2 Peter 1 (WEB)
1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:
2 Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,
3 seeing that his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and virtue;
4 by which he has granted to us his precious and exceedingly great promises; that through these you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.
5 Yes, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence; and in moral excellence, knowledge;
6 and in knowledge, self-control; and in self-control patience; and in patience godliness;
7 and in godliness brotherly affection; and in brotherly affection, love.
8 For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful to the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 For he who lacks these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins.
10 Therefore, brothers, be more diligent to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble.
11 For thus you will be richly supplied with the entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
12 Therefore I will not be negligent to remind you of these things, though you know them, and are established in the present truth.
13 I think it right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you;
14 knowing that the putting off of my tent comes swiftly, even as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.
15 Yes, I will make every effort that you may always be able to remember these things even after my departure.
16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables, when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
17 For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
18 We heard this voice come out of heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.
19 We have the more sure word of prophecy; and you do well that you heed it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns, and the morning star arises in your hearts:
20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation.
21 For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit.
2 Peter 1 (KJV)
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.
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.
13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;
14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.
15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.
16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
2 Peter 1 (ASV)
1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and the Saviour Jesus Christ:
2 Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;
3 seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue;
4 whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.
5 Yea, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply virtue; and in your virtue knowledge;
6 and in your knowledge self-control; and in your self-control patience; and in your patience godliness;
7 and in your godliness brotherly kindness; and in your brotherly kindness love.
8 For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful unto the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 For he that lacketh these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins.
10 Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble:
11 for thus shall be richly supplied unto you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
12 Wherefore I shall be ready always to put you in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and are established in the truth which is with you.
13 And I think it right, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;
14 knowing that the putting off of my tabernacle cometh swiftly, even as our Lord Jesus Christ signified unto me.
15 Yea, I will give diligence that at every time ye may be able after my decease to call these things to remembrance.
16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
17 For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there was borne such a voice to him by the Majestic Glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased:
18 and this voice we ourselves heard borne out of heaven, when we were with him in the holy mount.
19 And we have the word of prophecy made more sure; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts:
20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of private interpretation.
21 For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit.
Summary
Peter opens by greeting those who have obtained a like precious faith in the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ, praying that grace and peace would be multiplied in the knowledge of God. He announces the foundation for everything that follows: God's divine power has already granted us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of the One who called us, giving us his precious and exceedingly great promises so we might become partakers of the divine nature and escape the world's corruption. On that ground he calls believers to diligence, supplying to their faith moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, brotherly affection, and love. Those who grow in these things are fruitful, while the one who lacks them is blind and forgetful of his cleansing. So Peter urges his readers to make their calling and election sure. Knowing his death is near, he is eager to keep reminding them, and he insists that the gospel is no cunningly devised fable: he was an eyewitness of Christ's majesty and heard the Father's voice on the holy mountain. He commends the more sure word of prophecy, a lamp shining in a dark place, which never came by human will but as holy men were moved by the Holy Spirit.
Key Figures
- Simon Peter — The apostle and eyewitness who, sensing his departure is near, writes to remind believers of the truth and stir them to grow in grace.
- Jesus Christ — Our God and Savior, whose divine power grants life and godliness, and whose majesty Peter beheld and the Father honored on the holy mountain.
- The believers — Those who have obtained a like precious faith, called to add virtue to virtue and so confirm their calling and election.
- The Holy Spirit — The One by whom holy men of God spoke, so that the prophetic word is no private invention but a sure light from God.
Key Verse
2 Peter 1:21 (WEB)
For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit.
Lessons Learned
- God's divine power has already granted everything we need for life and godliness.
- Genuine faith grows, adding virtue upon virtue until it bears fruit in love.
- We make our calling and election sure not by anxiety but by diligent, grace-fed growth.
- The gospel rests on eyewitness testimony and on Scripture given by the Holy Spirit, not on human invention.
- God provides before he commands. “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3, WEB). Every call to grow rests on a gift already given.
- Faith is the seedbed of every virtue. Peter says to “in your faith supply moral excellence; and in moral excellence, knowledge” (2 Peter 1:5, WEB). A living faith keeps producing fruit.
- Assurance grows through obedience. “Be more diligent to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble” (2 Peter 1:10, WEB). Fruitful faith steadies the heart.
- The gospel is grounded in reality. “We did not follow cunningly devised fables… but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty” (2 Peter 1:16, WEB). Our hope stands on what was truly seen and heard.
- Scripture comes from God. “Holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21, WEB). The word we heed is the very breath of God, a lamp in the dark.
- What has God's divine power already granted us, and how does that shape the way we read the call to add to our faith (1:3-7)?
- Peter lists virtues building on one another, ending in love. Why do you think the list grows this way, and what does it look like in practice?
- What does it mean to “make your calling and election sure” (1:10), and how does that bring assurance rather than anxiety?
- How does Peter's appeal to being an eyewitness on the holy mountain strengthen our confidence in the gospel (1:16-18)?
- If God has granted all things for life and godliness, which of Peter's virtues is he inviting you to grow in next?
- God has granted “all things that pertain to life and godliness” and “his precious and exceedingly great promises” (1:3-4). Because the power and promises are already ours, the diligence of verses 5-7 is a glad response to grace, not a frantic effort to secure God's favor. Help the group hold these together.
- The chain runs from faith through virtue, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, and brotherly affection to love (1:5-7), showing that Christian character matures organically and that love crowns it all. In practice this is a life that keeps deepening rather than plateauing; ask the group where they have seen such growth.
- To make calling and election sure is to confirm the reality of God's work by a fruitful life (1:10). Assurance comes not by introspection alone but by seeing grace bear visible fruit. Reassure the group that this is steadying, not condemning; the same grace that called us also grows us.
- Peter was present at the transfiguration; he saw Christ's glory and heard the Father say, “This is my beloved Son” (1:16-18). His testimony is not theory but memory. The gospel rests on the witness of those who were there, which is why he can call it the opposite of a clever fable.
- This is a personal-application question. Invite members to identify one virtue from 1:5-7 that feels least developed and one small step toward it. As leader, keep the focus on grace: God supplies the power, and growth is the unfolding of a gift already given.