2 Peter: Faith In A Skeptical World Exemplo

(focuses especially on v. 7)

People are passionate about all kinds of things; Christians are to be passionate about ‘godliness’ (v. 6). A godly person is one who is keenly aware of God and begins to resemble Him. We live with God in mind. We see the world as God’s world. A godly life is one lived as though God is always near, present and watching – because He is! It has much in common with the Bible’s exhortation that we fear the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom and central to a life well lived (Prov. 1:7). 

Next in Peter’s list is ‘brotherly kindness’ (v. 7, or ‘brotherly love’ or ‘brotherly affection’ from the Greek word philadelphia). Peter revolutionises here the Greek and Roman concept of brotherly kindness. Previously, it was a trait reserved for family and relatives, as is also the case today in cultures where family members are obligated and committed to the welfare of their own family. Jesus establishes this new idea of our family when He asked, ‘Who are my mother and my brothers? ... Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother’ (Mark 3:33, 35). So, too, Peter says that we are to treat our Christian ‘family’ as family! I am to treat Christian women as well as I do my own sister, and the Christian man I am to love as my own brother. What difference would this make to your church? Do you not have brothers or sisters in need? 

Some critics have thought it redundant that Peter adds ‘love’ (v. 7, from the Greek word agape) to ‘brotherly love’ here. But by saying in effect ‘to brotherly love, add love’, Peter is not wasting words. He is emphasizing the importance of love, as the Apostle Paul also does (1 Cor. 13:13; Col. 3:14). 

The adjectives ‘loveless’ or ‘self-absorbed’ should be ones we never hear before the nouns ‘Christian’ or ‘church’. Christians who struggle with being self-conscious in public places have been helped by becoming more other-conscious. Rather than being upset because ‘I have no friends’, I could consider the many around me who need a friend. Many problems and much dysfunction are caused by self-interest, but Jesus’ higher way is for us to be lovingly committed to the interests of others; we even lay down our lives for our friends (John 15:13). 

‘Make every effort’ (v. 5) means we do all we can to avoid the flaws in each of these areas, and to pursue the alternative strength. Our drive and capacity to do this are not so limited as our previous failures might lead us to think. His ‘divine power’ (v. 3), the Holy Spirit Himself, is assuredly working mightily to co-operate with us to transform our wills, habits and lives to be more like those of Christ. 

Reflection

How much effort do you think Christians make to cultivate these excellent traits? What would it look like for you to 'make every effort' to pursue these traits in your own life?