Participate in the divine nature (2 Pet 1a question)

Participate in the divine nature

2 Peter 1:1-11

Key verse ⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;

1.    Who is the sender and who is the recipient of this letter? What is the uncontestable asset of the recipient of this letter? How did they get this asset and how did Peter view this asset? [v 1, 5]  Read the rest of the book and find what might be the concern of Peter in writing this letter?

2.    What is the blessing or prayer of Peter for his recipients [v2]? What does it mean to have grace in abundance or peace in abundance? Where can you find similar greetings [Rom,1,2  Corinthians, Gal, Eph, Phil, Col, 1,2 The, Tit, 1,2 Peter, Rev.]? What does this tell us about common purpose of all these writings including this letter?  In view of these findings, what might be the importance of ‘grace’ and ‘peace’ for the believers? Discuss in regard to one’s relationship with God, and with other men, and one’s own self. [grace: 1 Cor 15:9-10; Peace :Isa 9:6-7; 48:22; 53:5; John 14:27; Rom 5:1;Gal 5:22; Phil 4:4-7] 

3.    How did grace and peace come to the believers? Why did Peter mean when he says ‘knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord? Find this by defining ‘knowledge’ and the purpose of saying ‘of God’ as well as ‘of Jesus’ [compare v1]

4.    What might be included in everything we need for life and godliness? What do you think ‘for life’ means? How did they get everything? What does this tell us about God’s will or purpose? [ref. Jer 31:33-34] What is the vehicle through which the divine power exerted? In this regard what might be the importance of having ‘knowledge’ of him?  Discuss what entails ‘knowledge of him’ and what is excluded [1 Tim 6:20]. How do you think one can get ‘knowledge of him’?

5.    What does it mean that he called believers by his own glory and goodness? [Rom 8:17; 9:23;2 Thess 2:16] What might be ‘these’ in v 4? What else did Jesus give [v4]? Why is it so valuable and precious? Sum up all things that Jesus gave to his believers and find what might the relationship among these things, particularly in regard to our life span?

6.    What is Jesus’ ultimate purpose of giving these [4; Rom 8:9; Gal 2:20;Heb 2:14 ;1 Pet 1:16]?  What did Peter describe through these three pairs of things [life and godliness, glory and goodness, divine nature and escaping corruption]?

7.    What things should believers add to faith? What is needed to add something to faith? Why is ‘every effort’ a necessary part of believer’s life?  For what are these efforts driven [4, 8, 10b,11]?

8.    List all things that are to be added upon faith. Find the meaning of each. Why does it start from faith [1 Cor 6:9-10, Gal 5:21]and ends in love? Divide these qualities into three groups, faith, goodness, knowledge; self-control, perseverance; godliness, brotherly kindness, love. Find common denominators on each group and progression in qualities. Why is love the final or the last quality to be added on [1 John 4:16; Gal 5:6]?

9.    What is the benefit or yield by adding these qualities [9, 10b, 11]? What might be the cause of failure to make such effort [9]? Discuss the weaknesses of each.