Supply in Your Faith … Godliness

Text: 2 Peter 1:5-7

Introduction

The apostle Peter contributed two inspired documents to the NT; the first deals with problems from outside the church (sufferings), while the second deals with problems from within the church (false teachers). To guard against these inevitable challenges, in 2 Peter heavy emphasis is placed on “knowledge.”¹ The epistle opens with reminders of what God has done for us (1:1-4), followed by what God expects of us (1:5-7).

What God Has Done for Us

Faith is “obtained,”² not through self-righteousness but in the “righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ” (1:1). Faith is grounded in what God has done through Christ rather than our own innovation and accomplishment.³ Grace and peace are multiplied, not by self-achievement but “in full-knowledge [ἐπίγνωσις]⁴ of God and of Jesus our Lord” (1:2). Divine power has supplied all we need for life and godliness “through the full-knowledge [ἐπίγνωσις] of him who called us …” (1:3). We have access to “the precious and magnificent promises,” including fellowship with the divine nature and liberation from spiritual corruption (1:4).

At the same time these blessings and provisions come with expectations and responsibilities (1:5-7).

What God Expects of Us

In view of everything the Lord has done and continues to do, “giving all diligence …” (NKJV); “make every effort …” (ESV) (1:5). We have personal responsibility and accountability to God, involving our own determined effort (cf. 1:10).

Beginning with our “faith” [πίστις], initiated by what God has done through Christ (1:1), we are directed to supply in our faith:⁵ moral goodness [ἀρετή], knowledge [γνῶσις], self-control [ἐγκράτεια], endurance [ὑπομονή], godliness [εὐσέβεια], brotherly affection [φιλαδελφία], and love [ἀγάπη] (1:5-7). Not that any of these is mastered before moving on to the next, but all are developed concurrently and interdependently under the umbrella of faith. The focus of this lesson is “godliness.”

Godliness Defined

The English word “godliness” implies Godlike. We are invited to be “sharers” or “partakers” [κοινωνοί] of the divine nature (1:4b) – not that we are deified, but we are sanctified.⁶ Having escaped the lustful corruption in the world (1:4c),⁷ we embrace and emulate God’s holiness (1 Pet. 1:13-16; Heb. 12:10), righteousness (Eph. 4:22-24), and love (1 John 4:7-11).⁸

Whatever God expects us to be, he already is. Having been sanctified through the new spiritual birth (John 1:12-13; 3:3-5; 1 Pet. 1:22-23), we are Godlike when we are Christlike (cf. Rom. 8:9-10, 29; Phil. 2:5; 1 Pet. 2:21).

The Greek noun εὐσέβεια, most often rendered “godliness,”⁹ occurs fifteen times in the NT.¹⁰ Its highest concentration is in 1 Timothy and 2 Peter, along with the adjectival form εὐσεβής in 2 Pet. 2:9 as a description of the “godly [ones].” Assuming these inspired authors practiced what they preached, the lives of Paul (after Acts 9:18) and Peter (after Acts 1:13) demonstrate what godliness and these other virtues entail (cf. 1 Cor. 4:16; 11:1; Gal. 2:8; Phil. 3:17; 2 Tim. 3:10). Additional information is available in the other writings of Paul and Peter, with which the original recipients of 2 Peter were familiar (1 Pet. 1:1; 2 Pet. 3:1, 15-16).

Leading up to the publication of 2 Peter, we learn about εὐσέβεια (“godliness”): 

·      It can be fake and insincere (1 Tim. 6:5; 2 Tim. 3:5).

·      It is not of human derivation (Acts 3:12; 1 Tim. 3:16).

·      It is characteristic of the Christian lifestyle (1 Tim. 2:2).

·      It is profitable for all things, present and future (1 Tim. 4:7-8).

·      Coupled with contentment it is great gain (1 Tim. 6:6).

·      It develops through sound teaching and full-knowledge [ἐπίγνωσις] of truth (1 Tim. 6:3; Titus 1:1).

·      It is the opposite of prideful, ignorant, argumentative; envy, strife, slander, evil suspicions, and constant turmoil among the depraved and greedy (1 Tim. 6:3-5).

·      It is to be pursued along with righteousness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness (1 Tim. 6:11).

Peter adds in his second epistle …

·      Godliness ultimately comes from God, who has provided all we need to attain it (1:3).

·      Manifesting godliness involves diligent effort in the context of faith (1:5-7).

·      Full-knowledge [ἐπίγνωσις] of our Lord Jesus Christ is inseparable from possessing and abounding in godliness and the other virtues (1:8).

·      Lacking it is spiritually detrimental (1:9).

·      It is necessary for entering into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (1:11).

·      The “godly” have assurance of the Lord providentially working in their lives (2:9). 

·      Coupled with holiness, it is how we ought to be in view of the Lord’s return (3:11).

Godliness Demonstrated 

Godliness is demonstrated in the life of Christ: our perfect example (1 John 2:3-6). It is demonstrated in the life of Paul: transformative redirection (1 Cor. 15:9-10). It is demonstrated in the life of Peter: transformative recovery and maturation (Matt. 16:16-19; Luke 22:32). Let us therefore be “imitators of the ones who through faith and forbearance are inheriting the promises” (Heb. 6:12).

Conclusion

God provides all that is needed to be who we ought to be. Each of us has the responsibility of accessing and utilizing the Lord’s provisions in obedient faith. Manifesting “godliness” is to be Godlike, which is to be Christlike, which is the aim of all who seek to please him. 

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” (Titus 2:11-14, NKJV).

--Kevin L. Moore

Endnotes:

     ¹ Noun γνῶσις [“knowledge”] (1:5, 6; 3:18), verbal γινώσκω [to “know”] (1:20; 3:3), noun ἐπίγνωσις [“full knowledge”] (1:2, 3, 8; 2:20), verbal ἐπιγινώσκω [to “know fully”] (2:21 [x2]), verbal οἶδα [to mentally “see”] (1:12, 14; 2:9), verbal γνωρίζω [to “make known”] (1:16), verbal ἀγνοέω [to “not know”] (2:12); also repeated explicit calls to remembrance (1:12, 13, 15; 3:1, 2, 8). Unless noted otherwise, scripture quotations are the author’s own translation.

     ² The same verbal [λαγχάνω] is used of the allotment of Judas among the apostles; the Lord invited him and he willingly accepted (Acts 1:17).

     ³ Cf. Rom. 5:17; 8:10; 1 Cor. 1:30-31; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:21-27.

     ⁴ The noun ἐπίγνωσις and its verbal form ἐπιγινώσκω are compound words, whereby γνῶσις (“knowledge”) and γινώσκω (to “know”) are intensified by the prepositional prefix ἐπί (“on,” “upon,” “over”), conveying the idea of knowing something thoroughly, accurately, or completely.

     ⁵ The clause ἐπιχορηγήσατε ἐν τῇ πίστει ὑμῶν employs the aorist active imperative form of ἐπιχορηγέω (to “supply” or “furnish”), calling upon readers to actively provide these virtues “in your faith.” Variously rendered, “supplement your faith with …” (ESV); “add to your faith …” (N/KJV); “in your faith supply …” (ASV, NASB).

     ⁶ John 17:17; Acts 20:32; 26:18; 1 Cor. 1:2; 6:11; Eph. 5:26; 1 Thess. 5:23; Heb. 2:11; 9:13-14; 10:10, 14.

     ⁷ Cf. 2:10, 18, 20; 3:3; 1 Pet. 1:13-16; 1 John 2:15-17.

     ⁸ See also Gen. 1:26-27; Matt. 5:48; John 14:23; 1 Cor. 3:16-17; 6:19-20; 2 Cor. 3:18; 6:16-18; Eph. 1:4; 5:1-2; Col. 3:9-10.

     ⁹ Alternative English renderings include “devotion” (NAB), “devotion to God” (CEV, ERV), “piety” (LSV, YLT), “service for God” (NCV), “service to God” (Expanded Bible). Cognate forms include the adj. εὐσεβής (“devout,” “godly”) in Acts 10:2, 7; 2 Pet. 2:9; the adv. εὐσεβῶς (“piously,” “godly”) in 2 Tim. 3:12; Tit. 2:12; and the verbal εὐσεβέω (to “show piety” or “act reverently”) in Acts 17:23; 1 Tim. 5:4.

     ¹⁰ Acts 3:12; 1 Tim. 2:2; 3:16; 4:7, 8; 6:3, 5, 6, 11; 2 Tim. 3:5; Tit. 1:1; 2 Pet. 1:3, 6, 7; 3:11.

*Presented at the Estes church Summer Series 13 July 2022.

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