ETB 2 Peter 1:3-8,16-21

Session #11 - p.100 - Be Equipped

Before you go on a trip or start a task, you have to prepare for it. Sometimes in the analyzing of what needs to be done, we realize that we are not equipped physically or mentally to accomplish the task.

Ask: When have you felt under equipped to complete an assignment?

This powerful letter emphasizes the importance of growing in Christ’s grace and sends a clear warning against those relentless false teachings that threaten spiritual growth—worldviews, religious perspectives, and cultural values that are constantly vying for the attention and affection of Christians. Believers cannot afford to compromise their Christian faith by mixing it with ideas that have no business being a part of it. [LifeWay Adults (2025). Explore the Bible: Adult Leader Guide, Winter 2024-'25]

We read Jesus’ warning Peter and the disciples about false teachers during his own ministry in Matthew. The apostle now begins to equip his readers for the false teachers in their area.

Understand the Context

In his first letter, Peter emphasized suffering in the lives of believers. This was not general suffering but pain that came from persecution. It was the result of suffering for the sake of righteousness. As believers began to suffer at the hands of those who opposed them, they needed to trust the sovereignty of God and look forward to the return of Christ, where believers would receive their reward and unbelievers would receive their judgment.

The second letter of Peter emphasized faith and godly living in the face of false teachers who were leading people away from the truth. This letter also ended with the certainty of Christ’s return and the impact that it should have in creating a desire for holy living.

While Peter does not identify the audience for this letter geographically, he does identify them spiritually as “those who have received a faith equal to ours” (2 Pet. 1:1). [ETB:ALG Win'25]

As we read through the verses today, listen for the reasons and resources that Peter gives that allow us to grow in Christ scripturally and resist false teachings.

Explore the Text

2 Peter 1:3–8 ESV

3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Divine power

God never shortchanges His people. When He calls us to fulfill a task. He gives us all things that pertain to getting the job done. What’s more, He provides all these elements through His divine power. Paul shared the same idea in Philippians 4:13, where he stated that God would empower believers to everything He called them to do. God’s strength is matchless, meaning Christians have all they need to live for Him. [ETB:ALG Win'25]

all things that pertain to life and godliness

Paul tells in Romans 8:32 “32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”

But this statement from Peter is limited to two areas: life and godliness.

This raises a question that many, both profession Christians and non-believers, in the modern era ask; Can the Bible really help in “all of life?”

Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth How Does Systematic Theology Relate to One’s Worldview?

Are there any common misperceptions about the Christian worldview, especially among Christians? There are at least two mistaken notions. The first is that a Christian view of the world and life will differ on all points from other worldviews. While this is not always true (e.g., all worldviews accept the law of gravity), the Christian worldview will differ and be unique on the most important points, especially as they relate to the character of God, the nature and value of Scripture, and the exclusivity of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The second misperception is that the Bible contains all that we need to know in every sense. Common sense should put an end to this misdirected thought; for example, Scripture does not give instructions for how to change the oil in one’s car. However, it is true that the Bible alone contains all that Christians need to know about their spiritual life and godliness through a knowledge of the one true God, which is the highest and most important level of knowledge (

These truths about the Bible helping us in life however presupposes that the reader accepts the Bible as truth.

Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth The Clarity and Sufficiency of Scripture

The Bible also attests to its sufficiency (

Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth The Clarity and Sufficiency of Scripture

Between the Scriptures and the indwelling Holy Spirit, the believer needs no additional revelation to be informed on how to live the Christian life. Pastors and teachers (

Peter’s first letter encouraged a pursuit of holiness or godliness based on the truths of Old Testament being fulfilled, it is not surprising that he continues this theme of spiritual growth in the second letter.

Although there does not appear to be a word to translate from the Greek for “pertain” or “required”, the context makes it clear these things are not wants or luxuries, but needs to maintain life.

Do any of you have a life “need” now that we as a class can pray for you about?

What are some things that we “think we need” but really do not?

Is God gracious to provide those for us sometimes?

Notice the same promise of provision is true for the godliness.

Does that encourage you to know that you have from God already everything necessary to maintain a godly life?

We can have a godly life if we are willing to accept His provision for it.

Is there an area in your life that you need to better appropriate God’s provision for godliness?

>Bill

Peter then reminds us of the source of these provisions when we need draw from that “divine” exhaustible, never ending, eternal power.

the knowledge of him

You may remember Pastor Steve or from one of our other lessons that there are several words in the Greek for knowledge. 2 that most are used in Scripture refer to either an academic or “head” knowledge or to an experiential knowledge. In English when we want to describe something that is bigger, better, or more powerful than normal we may add a modifier of “ultra” or “super” to the beginning of the word. In racing, there are race cars, and there are a “super cars.” The word that Peter uses here for knowledge has a similar modifier in front of it. This knowledge is not just some that can be learned and experienced, but it can be intensely investigated and intensified with each progressive step. Like His rich provisions for life, knowledge of Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit can never be exhausted. We will get to know Him better every day for the rest of eternity and still not know the half of what is to be known.

Why would God do this for this and grant us this promise?

so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature

At first reading this phrasing can be a bit confusing. Other Scripture will help us understand it better.

Hebrews 12:10 “10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.”

1 John 3:2 “2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”

Normally is someone “shares” something with us that is tangible, they no longer have it. But if it is something intangible, like a prayer concern or song of praise, then both of us can enjoy and be blessed by it. However, since God is infinite, He can share either with us and never be any less that He was. On the same from, because we must receive it from Him, we can never be His equal, so this phrase does not mean we will become “divine” as some para-church groups proclaim.

Because of this possibility and promises, what are we to do?

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith

Faith is a gift from God, so what does Peter mean by “supplementing” it?

Our striving for virtue is rooted in grace. Faith in the life of Jesus leads to a life that looks like Jesus.

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 1

Peter uses a literary device called sorites, in which each virtue leads to the next one in a stair-step structure. Peter’s audience would have been familiar with this style. Virtue lists, like vice lists (see

Although it is a literary device, the relationship between the virtues listed is more than just that because it is the Holy Spirit inspiring Peter to use it. The progress from basic knowledge to godly love is intentional and meant to help us gauge where we are spiritually.

Virtue is “good character”.

I find it noteworthy that virtue is after faith. There is no part of us that is good until we by faith we accept Christ’s atoning death for our lives, ask His forgiveness of our sins, and submit to His as Lord and Savior of the rest of our lives.

How does “good character” enhance or supplement our faith?

I think this points back to us being “partakers” of God’s nature. The more of Him we know and emulate, the more “good” is revealed in our character.

supplement... virtue with knowledge

This word for knowledge has the same root as the word used earlier, but without the enhancing modifier. It is more experiential than academic.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary Chapter 1

Why are we to add virtue before knowledge? I believe it’s because if my mind is cluttered with pornography and violence, I won’t be able to extract knowledge about life from the Word because I’ve filled my spirit with the junk food of the world. Moral excellence is that which makes room for us to take in the Word and gain knowledge of the Lord.

How does knowledge enhance our good character?

supplement… knowledge with self-control

Self-control is pretty self-explanatory, but because it is in Scripture we must distinguish it from the world’s definition slightly. As slaves of God, His is in control of our lives, therefore we submit our bodies and minds to His will. We do not control ourselves for our desire, but for His.

How will this type of self-control enhance our knowledge?

supplement… self-control with steadfastness

Some translations have endurance or perseverance. Steadfastness is “rooted in” or “standing firm” in faith or the ability to endure difficult things. There is a fine line between steadfastness and stubbornness. I find that I often transition from one to those other without realizing it. I may start off with “spiritual intent” but end up just being selfishly ornery.

How will biblical steadfastness enhance our godly self-control?

supplement… steadfastness with godliness

Godliness could be translated as piety or devotion. In Paul’s letter to Timothy, he reveals to us what godliness is not.

1 Timothy 4:7 “7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness;”

How might this type of devotion “deepen our roots” in the faith?

supplement… godliness with brotherly affection

You probably know which Greek word for love this is: phileo. This is the type of love that you feel for another out of family “obligation.” You do it to honor the ones that made you “brothers,” even though on your own you may not have chosen to do so. We do not often get to “pick our family.”

This kind of love, however, is just the stepping stone toward the last virtue in Peter’s list.

supplement… brotherly affection with love.

This is that “agape” love. This is the love that God had for us even though we were sinners and sent His Son to die for us. This is the love that we must allow Him to do through us for we cannot and will not do it on our own. This love is the top of the ladder in Christian virtue. Even is we have this type of love for just one person it does not mean we are “mature.” Christ had this love for everyone, and until then we have room to grow in spiritual maturity.

Ask: Why is it necessary for believers to grow in spiritual maturity?

Peter gives us a good reason in verse 8

keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful

Several English translations keep these statements in the negative.

NLT - The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Is not the objective of becoming more spiritually mature, productive and useful to the Lord?

2 Timothy 2:20–21 “20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.”

What about our health and bodies? Are there things we are doing or not doing that prevent us from being as useful as possible to the Lord?

I like those verses in Timothy because the “vessels” are all kinds of materials and the tasks they are used for are varied. There are ID papers, love notes and cards, and toilet paper. All those papers and not as “honorable” as the others, but each are very useful. Part of our maturing process should evaluate areas of our lives that need to become more “useful to the master” and making changes or learning skills to improve in those areas.

Peter now moves from what we should do to why he can tell us these things.

2 Peter 1:16–18 ESV

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.

Do you remember studying Roman or Greek mythology in school?

I really enjoyed reading the stories of heroes and heroines does incredible things. But they were all stories, contrived by men to either persuade or manipulate. There was no historical basis.

In these verses, Peter addressed the divine nature of Jesus when He came to earth. The fact that God took on human flesh is anything but a series of cleverly devised myths. As he stated in verse 16, things are quite the opposite. Everything about the gospel is genuine and real. Christian doctrine, including the deity of Jesus, is rooted in historical fact. And Peter could prove it. [ETB:ALG Win'25]

Ask: How can believers grow in their understanding of Jesus’s identity?

Read the Bible, study the Bible, read about the Bible, study the History around the Bible, pray about the Bible, and walk in the ways of the Bible. Jesus is the Word the more we know of it, the more we understand Him.

Peter finishes this first part of his letter with a few more truths about Scripture and the God of His Word, emphasizing its importance in our spiritual growth.

2 Peter 1:19–21 ESV

19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

The prophetic word certainly refers to the Old Testament, especially the prophetic texts represented by Elijah on the mountain of transfiguration. The apostle highlighted a relationship between the transfiguration and these prophetic texts. The Old Testament prophets shared about the future coming of Christ for judgment and salvation. Jesus’s glory on the mountain not only made a statement about His own identity, but it also served as a reminder that these servants of God from long ago were speaking and writing in line with God’s plan. Their words were fulfilled in Jesus. [ETB:ALG Win'25]

Peter, led by the Spirit, wrote these things about both the Scripture he had learned and read growing up but also about that we he knew God was writing through him. He had that “epi-ginosko” knowledge about such things. Both Old and New Testaments are confirmed through the Spirit of God and men like Peter and Paul.

The Life Principles Bible Chapter 1

Although the Bible came to us through redeemed men, and therefore displays many of their traits and unique ways of communicating, yet the message is directly from God and relays exactly what He wanted to say.

How do you handle disagreements about the authority and trustworthiness of Scripture?

Apply the Text

Pray: Thank You Lord for fully equipping us for spiritual growth. Help us to be a catalyst in the lives of others that encourages and contributes to their deeper walk with God. Reveal to us this week areas that we need to grow in our faith and where we need to “supplement” it for better service to You. May Your Word show us more of Jesus this week that we may understand Him better and desire to be a more useful vessel for His kingdom.