This is just a small part of notes available on 2 Peter 1:1-11.
If you would like more...
please e-mail me at saltwaterblues@yahoo.com

II PETER 1:1
SimonPeter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have
received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God
and Savior, Jesus Christ.
 
A simple outline of II Peter :
Chapter1=The Christian nature-a work of God
Chapter2=How to recognize and deal with false teachers
Chapter3=Christ return
 
**A big problem was Gnostic teaching-they considered themselves “the
people who knew”—they arrogantly thought they had a “corner on the
spiritual market”. They also kept spiritual things very separate from the
physical.     
Our applications   
1.We have been given the same faith as Peter and the other apostles.  We    
   have as big of a “corner on the spiritual market” as anyone else!
2.Our “spiritual lives” and our “daily lives” are not to be separate from each  
   other.  Our relationship with God should produce fruits in our daily life.
 
A few key words from verse 1...
1.  Bond-servant=slave
2.  Received=to obtain/determine by lot   
3.  Faith=belief/conviction/fidelity
4.  Same kind= comes from two words “equal” and “honor”—used of a  
                         foreigner who was granted privileges of citizenship equal to  
                         one who was native born.  
5. Righteousness=the state of Him who is as He ought to be
                               **NOTE—rightness--This is true of God/Christ in every          
                                aspect--His justice, wrath, love, etc...He is all and in  
                                every way right!  And out of this rightness He has     
                                supplied your faith!  
 
1:2   
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and
of Jesus our Lord;
 
A FEW KEY WORDS...
• Grace-joy/favor/acceptance/charm/loveliness/goodwill
• Peace-tranquility for a nation or individual /harmony/security
• Multiplied-richly allotted to/increased
• Knowledge-(epignosis)- full, precise and correct knowledge
 
 
SOME THOUGHTS AND APPLICATIONS:
Look at the definitions above of grace and joy.  Sounds nice, right?  We
often spend our time fighting and working to get those wonderful blessings.  
Well, II Peter 1:2 tells us how to get them and even have them increase in
our life...BY KNOWING GOD!   
We so often neglect our relationship with God in our pursuit of the “things”
of God.  He has already given us knowledge of Himself.  This offer is
available to all!  And remember, some of the ways to grow in your
knowledge of Him include: prayer, being a part of the body, knowing and
standing on the truth of the Word, and walking with Him.   
 
Our “walk” with God
I have to add just a quick thought on walking...It’s just as if you were going
to walk with a friend, it’s about the time spent and being together at the
present moment rather than just getting to a final destination.  A walk with
somebody happens step by step, together.  You don’t just take a couple steps
then say  “I’ll see you there”.  He wants us to KNOW Him in each step
though each day!!

1:3
 
seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life
and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own
glory and excellence.
 
READ 1:1-4-Remember, it all starts and ends with Him—the power is not from us!!—
We do not muster it up ourselves –BUT WE DO HAVE IT BECAUSE HE HAS
PROVIDED IT!
 
We are willing to try almost anything except the knowledge of Him. We will trust in the
schemes and plans of men instead of the knowledge of Him. We will try knowing
ourselves instead of the knowledge of Him. We need to come to the same place the
Apostle Paul did, when he said that I may know Him (Philippians 3:7-10).
(David Guizik)
 
 SOME WORDS AND THOUGHTS FROM THE FIRST PART OF THE VERSE
divine=originally used for Greek gods—the idea is it’s something not of this  
              world
power=strength/ability—power residing in something as a result of it’s nature
            (the application is... the power comes from His nature!!)
             **we get our word dynamite from this word—     
 
Divine power! What stupendous issues are grasped in that term, divine
power! It was this, which dug the deep foundations of the earth and sea!
Divine power, it is this which guides the marches of the stars of heaven!
Divine power! it is this which holds up the pillars of the universe, and which
one day shall shake them, and hurry all things back to their native
nothingness. Yet the selfsame power, which is required to create a world
and to sustain it, is required to make man a Christian, and unless that power
be put forth, the spiritual life is not in any one of us. (Spurgeon)
 
all things=every/all/denotes the highest thing—the maximum
pertaining to=to/towards/with regard to the goal to which a movement is directed
 
       life=  often used of eternal life--of the absolute fullness of life, both essential and  
                ethical life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God,  
                blessed
     *ALL LIFE ORIGINATES FROM HIM!!  
Some scripture about our new life==John chpt3—John 10:10—Titus 3:5—I Pet1:3
 
godliness-religious/reverence or dutiful—the whole of true religion
                not speaking of inherent holiness, but that which is externalized
   **This godliness is manifest through us, it is not automatic, but it is His expectation    
        for us.
HE HAS PROVIDED ALL THE MEANS NECESSARY
FOR US TO LIVE A LIFE THAT REVEALS HIS
CHARACTER THROUGH US!!


1:4
For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent
promises, so that by them you may become partakers of {the}
divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world
by lust.
 
Here’s the verse “re-worded” (by Rich) based on what we studied last
week in Sunday School...
By His brightness and power He gave us the “mega-est” and most desirable
promises so that we can be partners in Gods nature, because we have
escaped the moral decay that is in the world because of wrong desires.  
 
A few questions to ask yourself...
Who has really done the work in this verse?
What do we get out of it?
How good is what we get? (based on what the verse says)
To what degree do you experience this on a day to day basis?  What about
today?
Do you think His promises are true?  And for you?
 
Something that may be helpful...
Read the verse with your name inserted (using first and last name seems
more powerful to me).
 
By His brightness and power He gave (Rich Cantrell) the “mega-est” and
most desirable promises so that (Rich Cantrell) can be a partner in Gods
nature, because (Rich Cantrell) has escaped the moral decay that is in the
world because of wrong desires.
 
Remember to claim this in the “heat of the battle”.
 
GODS PROMISES ARE TRUE AND FOR YOU!!  HE
PROVIDED THEM BECAUSE HE WANTS YOU TO
EXPERIENCE THEM!!
 
Note-Don’t worry, I’m not trying to start my own “translation”.  This kind of stuff helps
me, and I thought it might be helpful for you.

5-7   
Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your
faith supply moral excellence, and in {your} moral
excellence, knowledge, and in {your} knowledge, self-
control, and in {your} self-control, perseverance, and in
{your} perseverance, godliness, and in {your} godliness,
brotherly kindness, and in {your} brotherly kindness, love.
 
We cannot grow these traits in our life without God, and
He will not grow them in our life without our effort.
 
 
CHECK THIS OUT!  I KNOW GODS PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE...
• His plan is for you to grow in your relationship with Him (to get to
know Him) and display His fruits (including the traits above) more
and more in your life each day.
• He wants and expects this of us—because He has made it possible!!
• Are you cooperating with the plan God has for you?  
 
 
Here are a couple of the words we talked about last week...
Knowledge- this kind of knowledge can, and should, grow --II Pet. 3:18
• I Tim6:20---there is false knowledge
• I Cor.8:1-3—knowledge separate from relationship is damaging
• Rom.15:14/I Cor 1:5—a basic understanding—compare to Phil. 3:8-
10 (intense knowledge)
• Heb.5:11-6:2—the idea of “mind” knowledge mixed with practice!  
 
Self-control- I Cor. 9:25--means literally “to take a grip of oneself.”—
• Self-control is the opposite of self-indulgence.
• Self Control has to do with keeping ones self from sinful pleasures--
this could include gossip/anger/sarcasm/complaining/etc...
• Also the idea is one of balance when accomplished through the Spirit
• It is a fruit of the Spirit—Gal. 5:23
 
 
** NOTE-All these character traits will turn “sour” if handled by our flesh—    
                 we cannot produce real fruit independent of God.
IT”S ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM!!
 
Remember it’s God through us!
• The Spirit will not mysteriously manifest these traits in our daily life.
• The word from the verse is...applying- (giving)—literally,
"introducing," side by side with God's gift, on your part "diligence."
(To bring in beside—adding on your part)
• Verses 1-4 show us what He has done—we are to add diligence on
our part
 
What are we supposed to do?
• Be diligent and “add” or ”support” our faith with the following traits
• We don’t want to have “vegetable faith”
• The word from the verse is...diligence-haste/earnestness/to interest
one self with earnestness
• We are to add these traits to our faith.  Here’s a little info on the word
add (epichoregesate) In ancient Greece the state established a chorus
but the director (the choregys) paid the expenses for training the
chorus.  Then the word came to be used of one who provides for or
supports others or supplies something for them in abundance.  A
believer is to “furnish, supply, or support” his life with these virtues.  
**The same word is translated “supplies” in II Cor. 9:10 and  
“supported/nourished” in Col. 2:19.  
• To your faith=that which was already provided—vs1
 
The first trait we talked about...  
*Moral excellence- I Pet. 2:9  
• The “moral excellence” we are to “add” to our faith is the excellence
of God’s nature, which He makes available to us in Christ.  
• A transition/link from moral excellence to knowledge=I Pet.1:14-16

 
A FEW THOUGHTS...
*At first glance how would you evaluate your life against this list of character  
  traits?   
*I believe we need to go even one step further and put ourselves before God and  
  ask Him to evaluate us.
*We know it’s Gods desire for us to possess these qualities. Verses 1-4 tell us that  
   He has done everything necessary for us to have a godly life. He has already   
   taken care of His end of the deal!
*We also know from verse 5 that it’s going to take diligence (work) to have a  
   fruitful life. It’s not automatic.
 
So, what’s our motivation??  We find the answer in verses 8-11 which basically
says...
• If we have these traits we will not be useless or unfruitful in the knowledge
of Christ.
• If we don’t have these traits we are short-sighted and blind.
• Practicing these traits will keep us from stumbling.
• By practicing these traits our entrance into the eternal Kingdom will be
abundantly supplied.
 
II Pet. 1:5-7 is about discipleship...we have a choice, but does any other choice
really make any sense?  It reminds me of this section of Scripture from John.
John 6:66-6:69
As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking
with Him anymore.  
So Jesus said to the twelve, "You do not want to go away also, do you?"  
Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words
of eternal life.
"We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of
God."
 
Let’s be a diligent group that relies on Him for the power to have Godly lives.

 
Perseverance- Bearing up under --The idea of not surrendering because of  
hope.
• Rom 8:25-Hope is a necessary ingredient for perseverance
• Heb. 12:1-3-Perserverance was exemplified by our Lord
• If self-control has to do with physical pleasures, perseverance has to
do with pain. Our natural tendency is to pursue pleasure and flee from
pain.  
• Perseverance is the frame of mind and character which persists in
doing what is right, even though doing so may produce difficulties,
suffering, and sorrows. Perseverance is the commitment to suffer in
the short term in order to experience glory for eternity.  
• Note-What good does perseverance do if we only do it half way?  
What if Christ only persevered 99%?
Godliness- a “religion” that has worked itself out in the flesh—externalized
a “good” worshiper-one whose conduct is correct out of reverence for God.
• I Tim. 4:7-8-It’s not automatic—It takes work
• I Tim. 6:3-4-It’s more than just religious talk
• II Tim.3:5-There is false godliness
 
So far we’ve covered the following traits...
Moral excellence—Knowledge—Self-Control—Perseverance—Godliness
• Are you being diligent to add these traits to your faith?  
• Are they active in your life?
• If not, why?  Remember vs1-4 tells us He has done everything
necessary for these traits to be a reality in our life.
• Please remember we have a responsibility to be diligent—these traits
will not automatically happen in our life.
 
 1:7
...and in {your} godliness, brotherly kindness, and in {your} brotherly
kindness, love.
 
 
Brotherly kindness-the Greek word has the idea of love for a friend, and
also the love for a brother/sister---It mixes the idea of “blood love” with
affection.  We should be friends with our brothers and sisters!!
 
• Sin not only alienates men from God, it also alienates them from one
another. On the other hand, when men come to faith in Christ, they are
united with Him and also with fellow believers. This union of
believers with one another crosses every barrier, racial or social—
 
So, here are some ways we should be viewing each other...
      **Eph. 2:11-16-The dividing wall has been broken down-ALL    
                                  believers are reconciled to God
      **I Cor. 12:27-We are all members of one body
      **Col.3:9-11-We are ALL NEW!  There is no longer Greek, Jew...      
                              Barbarian, Sythian, slave, free, but Christ is all and in  
                                   all.
      **I Pet. 1:22-23-We are all born of the same incorruptible Seed.  
                                  (Children of the same Father)
Also...don’t forget, this applies to all believers—not just the ones
that are easy to get along with!
 
• To have perfect brotherly love for one another is a humanly
impossible task!  We must rely on the means (Spirit) He has provided
to accomplish this.  BUT, part of it is natural because we are all born
into the same family.  The reason we can often “tell” that someone is
a Christian is because we have been supernaturally bonded to them
through Christ.
In I Thes. 4:9-10 The church had already been accomplishing this
without instruction, but needed to be prodded to go even further.
***Let’s take this lesson as a prodding to excel even more in brotherly kindness!