the Week of Proper 2 / Ordinary 7
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2 Peter 3:18
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- AmericanEncyclopedias:
- InternationalDevotionals:
- DailyContextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
grow: Psalms 92:12, Hosea 14:5, Malachi 4:2, Ephesians 4:15, Colossians 1:10, 2 Thessalonians 1:3, 1 Peter 2:2
knowledge: 2 Peter 1:3, 2 Peter 1:8, 2 Peter 2:20, John 17:3, 2 Corinthians 4:6, Ephesians 1:17, Philippians 3:8, Colossians 1:10, Colossians 3:10
To him: John 5:23, 2 Timothy 4:18, 1 Peter 5:10, 1 Peter 5:11, Jude 1:25, Revelation 1:6, Revelation 5:9-14
Amen: Matthew 6:13, Matthew 28:20
Reciprocal: Exodus 33:13 - that I Joshua 17:13 - waxen strong Psalms 24:7 - King Psalms 71:14 - praise Psalms 72:15 - daily Psalms 84:7 - They Psalms 92:13 - shall flourish Psalms 104:31 - The glory Proverbs 4:18 - General Proverbs 9:9 - General Proverbs 15:14 - heart Song of Solomon 4:16 - the spices Isaiah 43:11 - General Isaiah 45:15 - O God Isaiah 53:11 - by his Ezekiel 40:26 - seven Zephaniah 2:3 - seek righteousness Matthew 13:23 - some an Matthew 13:33 - till Mark 4:27 - and grow Mark 8:25 - and saw Luke 11:36 - the whole Luke 22:32 - strengthen John 15:5 - same Acts 2:42 - they Acts 5:31 - a Saviour Acts 11:23 - and exhorted Acts 13:23 - raised Acts 13:43 - persuaded Acts 18:26 - expounded Romans 1:11 - to the Romans 11:36 - to whom Romans 16:27 - God 1 Corinthians 1:5 - and in 1 Corinthians 14:6 - knowledge 1 Corinthians 14:20 - not 1 Corinthians 15:58 - be ye 2 Corinthians 8:7 - this Galatians 1:5 - whom Galatians 5:4 - ye Ephesians 3:19 - to know Ephesians 3:21 - throughout Ephesians 4:13 - the knowledge Philippians 1:9 - in knowledge Philippians 2:12 - work Philippians 3:12 - already perfect Colossians 2:2 - understanding Colossians 2:5 - and the Colossians 2:7 - stablished Colossians 2:19 - increaseth 1 Thessalonians 3:12 - the Lord 1 Thessalonians 4:1 - so ye 1 Thessalonians 4:10 - that ye 1 Timothy 1:17 - be 2 Timothy 1:10 - our 2 Timothy 2:1 - be Titus 1:4 - our Titus 2:13 - our Hebrews 12:14 - and holiness Hebrews 13:21 - to whom 2 Peter 1:2 - the knowledge 2 Peter 1:5 - giving 3 John 1:2 - even Revelation 2:19 - the last
Cross-References
So the Lord God said to the snake: "Because of what you have done, you will be the only animal to suffer this curse— For as long as you live, you will crawl on your stomach and eat dirt.
Adonai , God, said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all livestock and wild animals. You will crawl on your belly and eat dust as long as you live.
And Jehovah Elohim said to the serpent, Because thou hast done this, be thou cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field. On thy belly shalt thou go, and eat dust all the days of thy life.
So the Lord God said to the snake, "You did this very bad thing, so bad things will happen to you. It will be worse for you than for any other animal. You must crawl on your belly and eat dust all the days of your life.
The Lord God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.
And the Lord God said to the snake, Because you have done this you are cursed more than all cattle and every beast of the field; you will go flat on the earth, and dust will be your food all the days of your life:
And the lord god said vnto ye serpent: Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed aboue all cattel, and aboue euery beast of the fielde: vpon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eate all the dayes of thy lyfe.
And the LORD God said to the serpent, Because you have done this thing, cursed are you above all cattle, and above all beasts of the field; on your belly shall you go, and dust shall you eat all the days of your life;
Then the Lord God said to the snake, "You will be punished for this; you alone of all the animals must bear this curse: From now on you will crawl on your belly, and you will have to eat dust as long as you live.
And the LORD God said unto the serpent: 'Because thou hast done this, cursed art thou from among all cattle, and from among all beasts of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
But grow in grace,.... In the gifts of grace, which, under a divine blessing, may be increased by using them: gifts neglected decrease, but stirred up and used, are improved and increase. And though men are to be thankful for their gifts, and be contented with them, yet they may lawfully desire more, and in the use of means seek an increase of them, which may be a means of preserving themselves, and others, from the error of the wicked. Moreover, by "grace" may be meant internal grace. The work of grace is gradual; it is like a grain of mustard seed, or like seed cast into the earth, which springs up, it is not known how, first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear; saints are first babes, and from children they grow to young men, and from young men to fathers. There is such a thing as growth in grace, in this sense; every grace, as to its act and exercise, is capable of growing and increasing; faith may grow exceedingly, hope abound, love increase, and patience have its perfect work, and saints may grow more humble, holy, and self-denying: this is indeed God's work, to cause them to grow, and it is owing to his grace; yet saint, should show a concern for this, and make use of means which God owns and blesses for this purpose, such as prayer, attending on the word, and looking over the promises of God, for an increase of faith; recollecting past experiences, and looking to the death and resurrection of Christ for the encouragement of hope, and to the love of God and Christ, for the stirring up of love to both, and to the saints; considering the sufferings of Christ, the desert of sin, and the glories of another world, to promote patience and self-denial, and the pattern of Christ, to excite to humility; though "grace" may also intend the Gospel, the knowledge of which is imperfect, and may be increased in the use of means, and which is a special preservative against error, a growth in which saints should be concerned for:
and [in] the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; of his person, office, and grace, than which nothing is more valuable, and is to be preferred to everything; it is the principal thing in grace, and is the beginning and pledge of eternal life, and will issue in it; for an increase of which, and a growth in it, the word and ordinances are designed; and nothing can be a greater security against error than an experimental growing knowledge of Christ. The Syriac version adds, "and of God the Father"; and so some copies read:
to him [be] glory, both now, and for ever; or "to the day of eternity"; that is, to Christ, who is truly God, or otherwise such a doxology would not belong to him, be ascribed the glory of deity, of all divine perfections; the glory of all his offices and work as Mediator; the glory of man's salvation; and the glory of all that grace, and the growth of it, together with the knowledge of himself, which saints have from him; and that both in this world, and that which is to come.
Amen; so be it.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
But grow in grace - Compare Colossians 1:10. Religion in general is often represented as “grace,” since every part of it is the result of grace, or of unmerited favor; and to “grow in grace” is to increase in that which constitutes true religion. Religion is as susceptible of cultivation and of growth as any other virtue of the soul. It is feeble in its beginnings, like the grain of mustard seed, or like the germ or blade of the plant, and it increases as it is cultivated. There is no piety in the world which is not the result of cultivation, and which cannot be measured by the degree of care and attention bestowed upon it. No one becomes eminently pious, any more than one becomes eminently learned or rich, who does not intend to; and ordinarily men in religion are what they design to be. They have about as much religion as they wish, and possess about the character which they intend to possess. When men reach extraordinary elevations in religion, like Baxter, Payson, and Edwards, they have gained only what they meant to gain; and the gay and worldly professors of religion who have little comfort and peace, have in fact the characters which they designed to have. If these things are so, then we may see the propriety of the injunction “to grow in grace;” and then too we may see the reason why so feeble attainments are made in piety by the great mass of those who profess religion.
And in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ - See the notes at John 17:3. Compare the notes at Colossians 1:10. To know the Lord Jesus Christ - to possess just views of his person, character, and work - is the sum and essence of the Christian religion; and with this injunction, therefore, the apostle appropriately closes this epistle. He who has a saving knowledge of Christ, has in tact all that is essential to his welfare in the life that is, and in that which is to come; he who has not this knowledge, though he may be distinguished in the learning of the schools, and may be profoundly skilled in the sciences, has in reality no knowledge that will avail him in the great matters pertaining to his eternal welfare.
To him be glory ... - Compare the Romans 16:27 note; 2 Timothy 4:18 note. With the desire that honor and glory should be rendered to the Redeemer, all the aspirations of true Christians appropriately close. There is no wish more deeply cherished in their hearts than this; there is nothing that will enter more into their worship in heaven. Compare Revelation 1:5-6; Revelation 5:12-13.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse 2 Peter 3:18. But grow in grace — Increase in the image and favour of God; every grace and Divine influence which ye have received is a seed, a heavenly seed, which, if it be watered with the dew of heaven from above, will endlessly increase and multiply itself. He who continues to believe, love, and obey, will grow in grace, and continually increase in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, as his sacrifice, sanctifier, counsellor, preserver, and final Saviour. The life of a Christian is a growth; he is at first born of God, and is a little child; becomes a young man, and a father in Christ. Every father was once an infant; and had he not grown, he would have never been a man. Those who content themselves with the grace they received when converted to God, are, at best, in a continual state of infancy: but we find, in the order of nature, that the infant that does not grow, and grow daily, too, is sickly and soon dies; so, in the order of grace, those who do not grow up into Jesus Christ are sickly, and will soon die, die to all sense and influence of heavenly things.
There are many who boast of the grace of their conversion; persons who were never more than babes, and have long since lost even that grace, because they did not grow in it. Let him that readeth understand.
To him. — The Lord Jesus, be glory - all honour and excellency attributed, both now - in this present state, and for ever, εις ημεραναιωνος, to the day of eternity - that in which death, and misery, and trial, and darkness, and change, and time itself, are to the righteous for ever at an end: it is eternity; and this eternity is one unalterable, interminable, unclouded, and unchangeable DAY!
Amen. — So let it be! and so it shall be! Though this word is wanting in some reputable MSS., get it should be retained, as it has here more than usual authority in its support.
Subscriptions to this epistle in the VERSIONS:
The end of the Second Epistle of Peter the apostle. - SYRIAC.
The Second Epistle of Peter the apostle is ended. - SYRIAC PHILOXENIAN.
Nothing in the printed Vulgate.
The end of the epistles of blessed Peter the apostle, the rock of the faith. - ARABIC.
The Second Epistle of Peter is ended; and glory be to God for ever and ever! - AETHIOPIC.
Nothing in the COPTIC.
The end of the Second catholic Epistle of St. Peter. - COMPLUTENSIAN POLYGLOT.
The end of the Second Epistle of St. Peter. - BIB. LAT., edit. antiq.
Subscriptions in the MANUSCRIPTS;
Of the second of Peter. - CODEX ALEXANDRIUS, and CODEX VATICANUS.
Of the catholic epistle of Peter. - CODEX EPHREM.
The Second Epistle of the holy Apostle Peter. - Other MSS.
WE have now passed over all the canonical writings of Peter that are extant; and it is worthy of remark that, in no place of the two epistles already examined, nor in any of this apostle's sayings in any other parts of the sacred writings do we find any of the peculiar tenets of the Romish Church: not one word of his or the pope's supremacy; not one word of those who affect to be his successors; nothing of the infallibility claimed by those pretended successors; nothing of purgatory, penances, pilgrimages, auricular confession, power of the keys, indulgences, extreme unction, masses, and prayers for the dead; and not one word on the most essential doctrine of the Romish Church, transubstantiation. Now, as all these things have been considered by themselves most essential to the being of that Church; is it not strange that he, from whom they profess to derive all their power, authority, and influence, in spiritual and secular matters, should have said nothing of these most necessary things? Is it not a proof that they are all false and forged; that the holy apostle knew nothing of them; that they are no part of the doctrine of God; and, although they distinguish the Church of Rome, do not belong to the Church of Christ? It is no wonder that the rulers of this Church endeavour to keep the Scriptures from the common people; for, were they permitted to consult these, the imposture would be detected, and the solemn, destructive cheat at once exposed.
