Diligence Becomes Love

VS. 1

Being a bondservant as Peter is saying means that he has reciever inheritance of Christ. A bondservant at this point in time was more of an honorable job than simply being a slave.

-To be a bond servant was a position of gaining a relationship with your master, rather doing every physical thing for him.

VS. 2

Joy and Peace will be growing in us (the church) with the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ.

GRACE

-χάρις charis, khar´-ece; from 5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstr. or concr.; lit., fig. or spiritual; espec. the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude)

-χαίρω chairō, khah´ee-ro; a prim. verb; to be “cheer” ful, i.e. calmly happy or well-off; impers. espec. as salutation (on meeting or parting), be well

VS. 3-4

God gave us the knowledge to see and hear His word. He gave us the understanding so that we glorify Him and do righteousness unto Him. Since our gift is faith and faith is the understanding ref. Then in return we give thanks, always and do all His righteous laws. If we do so, will will be enemies of the world, but not of God.

VS. 5

What is diligence? Anyone know?

DILIGENCE

-σπουδή spŏudē, spoo-day´; from 4692; “speed”, i.e. (by impl.) despatch, eagerness, earnestness

-σπεύδω spĕudō, spyoo´-do; prob. strengthened from 4228; to “speed” (“study”), i.e. urge on (diligently or earnestly); by impl. to await eagerly

-πούς pŏus, pooce; a prim word; a “foot” (fig. or lit.)

*God gives us the urge to study and to have Him on our minds all the time. He constantly will have you thinking of Him. If you are truly one of God’s elect then He will bring you out of this world and do His righteousness, there is no if or may

BACK TO VS. 5

What is virtue in this context? What do you think it means?

VIRTUE

- ἀρέτη arĕtē, ar-et´-ay; from the same as 730; prop. manliness (valor), i.e. excellence (intrinsic or attributed)

-ἄῤῥην arrhēn, ar´-hrane <coming from:>

-αρσην arsēn, ar´-sane; prob. from 142; male (as stronger for lifting)

-αἴρω airō, ah´ee-ro; a prim. verb; to lift; by impl. to take up or away; fig. to raise (the voice), keep in suspense (the mind); spec. to sail away (i.e. weigh anchor); by Heb. [comp. 5375] to expiate sin

*To have virtue literally means to lift up to excellence. In this context adding to faith, virtue means to gain excellence in lifting up God in honor. To praise and pray to God in consistence. Be strong in faith, be honorable in faith of Him.

-Is praising and praying God not honorable and showing His excellence?

VS. 6

What does it mean to have self control? What does it mean to you?

SELF CONTROL

- ἐγκράτεια ĕgkratĕia, eng-krat´-i-ah; from 1468; self-control (espec. continence)

- ἐγκρατής ĕgkratēs, eng-krat-ace´; from 1722 and 2904; strong in a thing (masterful), i.e. (fig. and reflex.) self-controlled (in appetite, etc.)

- ἐν ĕn; en; a prim. prep. denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by impl.) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537); “in,” at, (up-) on, by, etc.

- κράτος kratŏs, krat´-os; perh. a prim. word; vigor [“great”] (lit. or fig.)

*Knowledge comes self-control of your sensual appetites, being strong in the knowledge of God, becoming valid from resting in God

BACK TO VS. 6

What is perseverance? What does it mean to persevere?

PERSEVERANCE

-ὑπομονή hupŏmŏnē, hoop-om-on-ay´; from 5278; cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy

- ὑπομένω hupŏmĕnō, hoop-om-en´-o; from 5259 and 3306; to stay under (behind), i.e. remain; fig. to undergo, i.e. bear (trials), have fortitude, persevere

-ὑπό hupŏ, hoop-ŏ´; a prim. prep.; under, i.e. (with the gen.) of place (beneath), or with verbs (the agency or means, through); (with the acc.) of place (whither [underneath] or where [below]) or time (when [at])

-μένω mĕnō, men´-o; a prim. verb; to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy)

*Perseverance or patience means to stay under, to endure the difficulties, misfortunes, trials, and pain. If you don’t have patience, then if it be God’s will, it will come to you.

VS. 6

Godliness does not mean we are gods. Some people like to think once we become righteous in the sight of God that we our selves will be made like a god, a power, our only power is God. So, what do you think it means?

GODLINESS

-εὐσέβεια ĕusĕbĕia, yoo-seb´-i-ah; from 2152; piety; spec. the gospel scheme

-εὐσεβής ĕusĕbēs, yoo-seb-ace´; from 2095 and 4576; well-reverent, i.e. pious

- εὖ ĕu, yoo; neut. of a prim. εὖς ĕus (good); (adv.) well

-σέβομαι sĕbŏmai, seb´-om-ahee; mid. of an appar. prim. verb; to revere, i.e. adore

*In patience comes a fear and wonder of God, adornment and devotion. You become well devoted to God, seeing His devotion to you. You unthinkingly become deeply respectful of Him and His desires.

VS. 7

What is this brotherly kindness the scripture is talking about? What does it mean to be kind?

KINDNESS

-φιλαδελφία philadĕlphia, fil-ad-el-fee´-ah; from 5361; fraternal affection

-φιλάδελφος philadĕlphŏs, fil-ad´-el-fos; from 5384 and 80; fond of brethren, i.e. fraternal

-φίλος philŏs, fee´-los; prop. dear, i.e. a friend; act. fond, i.e. friendly (still as a noun, an associate, neighbor, etc.)

-ἀδελφός adĕlphŏs, ad-el-fos´; from 1 (as a connective particle) and δελφύς dĕlphus (the womb); a brother (lit. or fig.) near or remote [much like 1]

*Brotherly kindness is an affection, a fondness of those who are nearest, remote from, or a friend of you. In other words, you will be kind and friendly towards anyone you come into contact with. No matter how bad you get treated by people, you will truly understand and see that God has ordained it. That God wants this to happen to benefit His elect, His people.

BACK TO VS. 7

What kind of love is “agape”? Does anyone know what “agape” really means?

LOVE

-ἀγάπη agapē, ag-ah´­pay; from 25; love, i.e. affection or benevolence; spec. (plur.) a love-feast

-ἀγαπάω agapaō, ag-ap-ah´-o; perh. from ἄγαν agan (much) [or comp. 5689]; to love (in a social or moral sense)

*We will have a well meant, kindness, this only comes from God because this is a righteous act given from God through faith. When we reach the point of “agape” that is when we will be in total rest under God, we will have gained so much wisdom and knowledge that we will almost be complete.

-“Agape” is the kind of love that a King has for His servants. God had this love for Jesus Christ ref.

VS. 8

“These things”, talking about the gift of faith from God, are ours to keep and our faith will increase; meaning we will not be idle, lazy, or useless. We will not be unfruitful (ignorant) in the knowledge of Christ.

VS. 9

If you lack the knowledge in doing these things, you are mistaken or even blind, forgetting that Christ, Himself, died for the remission of your past sins. Do not keep falling back into the world, study, study, study. ref.

VS. 10

What does this verse mean? What could it mean?

SURE

- βέβαιος bĕbaiŏs, beb´-ah-yos; from the base of 939 (through the idea of basality); stable (lit. or fig.)

-βάσις basis, bas´-ece; from βαίνω bainō (to walk); a pace (“base”), i.e. (by impl.) the food

*Remember diligent means “being eager to study”. We are to be even more eager to study, so that we can understand more and worship God more by doing His laws; we can walk in faith at a pace to secure ourselves. If we do this we will never stumble in faith. Faith is the knowledge of God ref.

VS. 11

The more we are increased in God, which He supplies to us wealthfully, He supplies to us the knowledge He desires to give to us. So we can righteously grow, as He leads us into His kingdom.