2 Peter 1

2 Peter · Chapter 1

2 Peter 1:6

1Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:2Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,3According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:4Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.5And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;6And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;7And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.8For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.9But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.10Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:11For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.12Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.13Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;14Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.15Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.16For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.17For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.18And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.19We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:20Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.21For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
6And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;and in your knowledge self-control; and in your self-control patience; and in your patience godliness;

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

The chain continues: to knowledge add self-control, to self-control endurance, and to endurance godliness. Each quality builds on the one before. 2 Peter 1:52 Peter 1:6

SpeakingSimon Peter, "a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ," who saw Christ's majesty on the holy mount. 2 Peter overview

To"Them that have obtained like precious faith"; traditionally the same believers as 1 Peter, in Asia Minor. 2 Peter overview

Also involvedThe believers addressed in the letter. 2 Peter 1:6

This is the middle of the list of qualities (1:5-7). 2 Peter 1:52 Peter 1:62 Peter 1:7

The letter names no place. If the readers are those of 1 Peter, they were in Asia Minor; tradition places Peter in Rome at the end of his life. 2 Peter overview

The eventsThe verse gives no date of its own. Peter writes near the end of his life. 2 Peter overview

WrittenTraditional: about AD 64-68, shortly before Peter's death. Scholarly: many hold a follower wrote it in Peter's name, perhaps AD 100-150; others accept that Peter wrote it near the end of his life. 2 Peter overview

HerePeter describes the steady growth that keeps believers fruitful (1:8). 2 Peter 1:62 Peter 1:8

In the whole of Scripture"Tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope" (Romans 5:3-4). "Temperance" is part of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:23). "Every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things" (1 Corinthians 9:25). Romans 5:3Romans 5:4Galatians 5:231 Corinthians 9:25

For readersSelf-control, patience and godliness grow together in a maturing believer. 2 Peter 1:6Galatians 5:23

  • temperanceἐγκράτεια
    Greek · egkrateia · G1466

    The word means self-control. The lexicon lists Acts 24:25 and Galatians 5:23 as its other uses. Strong's G1466

  • patienceὑπομονή
    Greek · hupomonē · G5281

    The word means endurance, perseverance. Strong's G5281

  • godlinessεὐσέβεια
    Greek · eusebeia · G2150

    The word means piety, godliness. Strong's G2150

Takeaway

Add self-control to knowledge, endurance to self-control, and godliness to endurance. 2 Peter 1:6Romans 5:3

Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-28.

Original Greek words

EnglishGreekSay itStrong'sMeaning
intoἐνenG1722
in/on/among

ἐν (en) ἐν, prep, (the most frequently of all in NT), with dative (= Heb. בְּ, Lat. in, with abl.). I. Of place, with dative of thing(s), of person(s), in, within, on, at, by, among: ἐν τ. πόλει, Luk.7:37; τ. οφθαλμῷ, Mat.7:3; τ. κοιλίᾳ, Mat.12:40; τ. ὄρει, 2Pe.1:18; τ. θρόνῳ, Rev.3:21; τ. δεξιᾷ τ. θεοῦ, Rom.8:34; ἐν ἡμῖν Abbott-Smith has ὑμῖν., Luk.1:1; of books, ἐν τ. βιβλίῳ, Gal.3:10; τ. νόμῳ, Mat.12:5, al.; ἐν τοῖς τ. Πατρός, in my Father's house (RV; cf. M, Pr., 103), Luk.2:49; trop., of the region of thought or feeling, ἐν τ. καρδίᾳ (-αις), Mat.5:28, 2Co.4:6, al.; τ. συνειδήσεσιν, 2Co.5:11; af …

thenδὲdeG1161
then

δέ (de) δέ (before vowels δ᾽; on the general neglect of the elision in NT, see WH, App., 146; Tdf., Pr., 96), post-positive conjunctive particle; 1. copulative, but, in the next place, and, now (Abbott, JG, 104): Mat.1:2ff., 2Co.6:15, 16, 2Pe.1:5-7; in repetition for emphasis, Rom.3:21, 22, 9:30, 1Co.2:6, Gal.2:2, Php.2:8; in transition to something new, Mat.1:18, 2:19, Luk.13:1, Jhn.7:14, Act.6:1, Rom.8:28, 1Co.7:1 8:1, al.; in explanatory parenthesis or addition, Jhn.3:19, Rom.5:8, 1Co.1:12, Eph.2:4, 5:32, al.; ὡς δέ, Jhn.2:9; καὶ . . . δέ, but also, Mat.10:18, Luk.1:76, Jhn.6:51, Rom.11:23, al.; …

knowledgeγνώσειgnōseiG1108
knowledge

γνῶσις (gnōsis) γνῶσις, -εως, ἡ (γιγνώσκω), [in LXX chiefly for דַּעַת ;] 1. a seeking to know, inquiry, investigation. 2. knowledge, in NT, specially of the kn. of spiritual truth: absol., Luk.11:52, Rom.2:20 15:14, 1Co.1:5 (Lft., Notes, 147) 8:1, 7, 10, 11, 13:2, 8 14:6, 2Co.6:6 8:7 11:6, Eph.3:19, Col.2:3, 1Pe.3:7, 2Pe.1:5, 6; with genitive obj., σωτηρίας, Luk.1:77; τ. δόξης τ. θεοῦ, 2Co.4:6; τ. θεοῦ, 2Co.2:14 10:5; Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ, Php.3:8 (see Deiss., LAE, 383.8), 2Pe.3:18; with genitive subjc., θεοῦ, Rom.11:33; λόγος γνώσεως, 1Co.12:8; ψευδωνύμου γνώσεως, 1Ti.6:20. …

self-control,ἐγκράτειαν,egkrateianG1466
self-control

ἐγκράτεια (egkrateia) ἐγκράτεια, -ας, ἡ (-ἐγκρατής), [in LXX: Sir.18:15, 30 4Ma.5:34 * ;] 1. prop., mastery, control. 2. (sc. ἑαθτοῦ) self-control: Act.24:25, Gal.5:23, 2Pe.1:6 (see DB, iv, 558b 695a; Page on Ac, l.with). † (AS)

intoἐνenG1722
in/on/among

ἐν (en) ἐν, prep, (the most frequently of all in NT), with dative (= Heb. בְּ, Lat. in, with abl.). I. Of place, with dative of thing(s), of person(s), in, within, on, at, by, among: ἐν τ. πόλει, Luk.7:37; τ. οφθαλμῷ, Mat.7:3; τ. κοιλίᾳ, Mat.12:40; τ. ὄρει, 2Pe.1:18; τ. θρόνῳ, Rev.3:21; τ. δεξιᾷ τ. θεοῦ, Rom.8:34; ἐν ἡμῖν Abbott-Smith has ὑμῖν., Luk.1:1; of books, ἐν τ. βιβλίῳ, Gal.3:10; τ. νόμῳ, Mat.12:5, al.; ἐν τοῖς τ. Πατρός, in my Father's house (RV; cf. M, Pr., 103), Luk.2:49; trop., of the region of thought or feeling, ἐν τ. καρδίᾳ (-αις), Mat.5:28, 2Co.4:6, al.; τ. συνειδήσεσιν, 2Co.5:11; af …

thenδὲdeG1161
then

δέ (de) δέ (before vowels δ᾽; on the general neglect of the elision in NT, see WH, App., 146; Tdf., Pr., 96), post-positive conjunctive particle; 1. copulative, but, in the next place, and, now (Abbott, JG, 104): Mat.1:2ff., 2Co.6:15, 16, 2Pe.1:5-7; in repetition for emphasis, Rom.3:21, 22, 9:30, 1Co.2:6, Gal.2:2, Php.2:8; in transition to something new, Mat.1:18, 2:19, Luk.13:1, Jhn.7:14, Act.6:1, Rom.8:28, 1Co.7:1 8:1, al.; in explanatory parenthesis or addition, Jhn.3:19, Rom.5:8, 1Co.1:12, Eph.2:4, 5:32, al.; ὡς δέ, Jhn.2:9; καὶ . . . δέ, but also, Mat.10:18, Luk.1:76, Jhn.6:51, Rom.11:23, al.; …

self-controlἐγκρατείᾳegkrateiaG1466
self-control

ἐγκράτεια (egkrateia) ἐγκράτεια, -ας, ἡ (-ἐγκρατής), [in LXX: Sir.18:15, 30 4Ma.5:34 * ;] 1. prop., mastery, control. 2. (sc. ἑαθτοῦ) self-control: Act.24:25, Gal.5:23, 2Pe.1:6 (see DB, iv, 558b 695a; Page on Ac, l.with). † (AS)

endurance,ὑπομονήν,hupomonēnG5281
perseverance

ὑπομονή (hupomonē) ὑπο-μονή, -ῆς, ἡ (ὑπομένω) [in LXX for מִקְוֶה and cogn. forms; frequently in 4Mac ;] 1. a remaining behind (Arist.). 2. patient enduring, endurance: Luk.8:15 21:19, Rom.5:3-4 15:4-5, 2Co.6:4 12:12, Col.1:11, 2Th.1:4, 1Ti.6:11, 2Ti.3:10, Tit.2:2, Heb.10:36, Jas.1:3-4 5:11, 2Pe.1:6, Rev.2:2-3, 19 13:10 14:12; δι᾽ ὑπομονῆς, Rom.8:25, Heb.12:1; with genitive of person(s), 2Th.3:5 (ICC, in l), Rev.3:10; with genitive of thing(s), Rom.2:7, 2Co.1:6, 1Th.1:3; before ἐν, Rev.1:9.† SYN.: see: μακροθυμία, and cf. Hort on Jas.1:3 (AS)

intoἐνenG1722
in/on/among

ἐν (en) ἐν, prep, (the most frequently of all in NT), with dative (= Heb. בְּ, Lat. in, with abl.). I. Of place, with dative of thing(s), of person(s), in, within, on, at, by, among: ἐν τ. πόλει, Luk.7:37; τ. οφθαλμῷ, Mat.7:3; τ. κοιλίᾳ, Mat.12:40; τ. ὄρει, 2Pe.1:18; τ. θρόνῳ, Rev.3:21; τ. δεξιᾷ τ. θεοῦ, Rom.8:34; ἐν ἡμῖν Abbott-Smith has ὑμῖν., Luk.1:1; of books, ἐν τ. βιβλίῳ, Gal.3:10; τ. νόμῳ, Mat.12:5, al.; ἐν τοῖς τ. Πατρός, in my Father's house (RV; cf. M, Pr., 103), Luk.2:49; trop., of the region of thought or feeling, ἐν τ. καρδίᾳ (-αις), Mat.5:28, 2Co.4:6, al.; τ. συνειδήσεσιν, 2Co.5:11; af …

thenδὲdeG1161
then

δέ (de) δέ (before vowels δ᾽; on the general neglect of the elision in NT, see WH, App., 146; Tdf., Pr., 96), post-positive conjunctive particle; 1. copulative, but, in the next place, and, now (Abbott, JG, 104): Mat.1:2ff., 2Co.6:15, 16, 2Pe.1:5-7; in repetition for emphasis, Rom.3:21, 22, 9:30, 1Co.2:6, Gal.2:2, Php.2:8; in transition to something new, Mat.1:18, 2:19, Luk.13:1, Jhn.7:14, Act.6:1, Rom.8:28, 1Co.7:1 8:1, al.; in explanatory parenthesis or addition, Jhn.3:19, Rom.5:8, 1Co.1:12, Eph.2:4, 5:32, al.; ὡς δέ, Jhn.2:9; καὶ . . . δέ, but also, Mat.10:18, Luk.1:76, Jhn.6:51, Rom.11:23, al.; …

enduranceὑπομονῇhupomonēaG5281
perseverance

ὑπομονή (hupomonē) ὑπο-μονή, -ῆς, ἡ (ὑπομένω) [in LXX for מִקְוֶה and cogn. forms; frequently in 4Mac ;] 1. a remaining behind (Arist.). 2. patient enduring, endurance: Luk.8:15 21:19, Rom.5:3-4 15:4-5, 2Co.6:4 12:12, Col.1:11, 2Th.1:4, 1Ti.6:11, 2Ti.3:10, Tit.2:2, Heb.10:36, Jas.1:3-4 5:11, 2Pe.1:6, Rev.2:2-3, 19 13:10 14:12; δι᾽ ὑπομονῆς, Rom.8:25, Heb.12:1; with genitive of person(s), 2Th.3:5 (ICC, in l), Rev.3:10; with genitive of thing(s), Rom.2:7, 2Co.1:6, 1Th.1:3; before ἐν, Rev.1:9.† SYN.: see: μακροθυμία, and cf. Hort on Jas.1:3 (AS)

godliness,εὐσέβειαν,eusebeianG2150
piety

εὐσέβεια (eusebeia) εὐ-σέβεια, -ας, ἡ (εὐσεβής, which see), [in LXX: Pro.1:7, Isa.33:6 (יִרְאָה), Pro.13:11 (aliter in Heb.), Isa.11:2 (יְהוָֹה יִרְאָה), I Est.1:23, Wis.10:12, Sir.49:3, and very frequently in 4Mac ;] 1. piety, reverence (towards parents and others). 2. piety towards God, godliness: Act.3:12, 1Ti.2:2 4:7-8 6:5-6 6:11, 2Pe.1:3 1:6-7; τὸ τῆς εὐ. μυστήριον, 1Ti.3:16; ἡ κατ᾽ εὐ. διδασκαλία, 1Ti.6:3; ἡ ἀλήθεια ἡ κατ᾽ εὐ., Tit.1:1; μόρφωσις εὐσεβείας, 2Ti.3:5; pl. (see Bl., § 32, 6; Mayor on Jas.2:1), 2Pe.3:11 (on the use of εὐ. and cognates in Past. Epp., see CGT, on 1Ti.2:2; cf. also Cremer, 524).† …

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.