2 Peter 1:2 kjv

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

2 Peter 1:2 nkjv

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,

2 Peter 1:2 niv

Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

2 Peter 1:2 esv

May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

2 Peter 1:2 nlt

May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.

2 Peter 1 verses

2 Peter 1 2 Meaning

The verse functions as a profound benediction and prayer for the recipients, desiring that grace—God's unmerited favor and enabling power—and peace—a state of holistic well-being, wholeness, and right relationship with God and others—would be exceedingly increased and poured out upon them. This super-abundance of divine blessing is intricately linked to, and indeed dependent upon, a deep, intimate, and accurate knowledge of God the Father and of Jesus Christ, who is explicitly identified as "our Lord." It signifies that spiritual flourishing and the experience of God's provision are directly proportional to one's ongoing growth in understanding and relationship with the divine.

2 Peter 1 2 Context

2 Peter 1:2 is part of the epistolary greeting of Peter’s second letter, addressed to believers who have received "a faith of equal standing with ours" (2 Pet 1:1). It immediately follows the identification of the sender (Simeon Peter) and the recipients. This verse, therefore, sets a foundational tone for the entire epistle. It's not merely a perfunctory opening but introduces key themes that Peter will develop: the source of spiritual provision (God's grace and peace), the mechanism of its increase (knowledge of God and Jesus), and the ultimate goal (godly living and avoiding error).

Within chapter 1, this blessing directly leads into the declaration in verse 3 that "His divine power has granted to us all things for life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us." The connection between divine provision, knowledge, and spiritual transformation is central. Peter will then urge the recipients to supplement their faith with various virtues, highlighting that diligence in such pursuits is evidence of a genuine and fruitful knowledge of Christ. The cultural context reflects the typical structure of ancient letters but is infused with distinctly Christian theological content. The emphasis on "knowledge" serves as a direct counter-balance to the emerging false teachings (often proto-Gnostic in nature) that privileged mystical or secret "gnosis" over sound doctrine and ethical conduct, preparing the audience to distinguish true knowledge from deceptive counterfeits later in the letter.

2 Peter 1 2 Word Analysis

• Grace (χάρις - charis):

  • Meaning: Undeserved divine favor, unmerited divine enabling power, good-will, kindness. It is the spontaneous goodness of God towards humanity.
  • Significance: In the New Testament, "grace" is fundamental, signifying the basis of salvation and ongoing Christian life, received entirely by God's initiative, not human merit. It is often a key component of NT epistolary greetings.

• And (καὶ - kai):

  • Meaning: A simple conjunctive, joining grace and peace.
  • Significance: Highlights the common pairing of these two blessings in Christian thought, suggesting they often accompany each other in the believer's experience. Grace is the foundation, peace is often a result.

• Peace (εἰρήνη - eirēnē):

  • Meaning: Wholeness, well-being, tranquility, right relationship with God and others. It corresponds to the Hebrew concept of shalom, encompassing not merely the absence of conflict but a positive, flourishing state of spiritual and relational well-being.
  • Significance: It's the spiritual stability and harmony that flows from grace. For the Christian, this peace is primarily "peace with God" (Rom 5:1) and the "peace of God" (Phil 4:7), which guards the heart and mind.

• Be multiplied (πληθυνθείη - plēthyntheíē):

  • Meaning: A prayerful wish (optative mood) for continuous and abundant increase, to be made full or to abound greatly.
  • Significance: This indicates Peter desires not just the presence of grace and peace but their profound growth and super-abundance in the lives of the believers. It's a desire for ongoing, escalating divine favor. This blessing is not static but dynamic.

• To you (ὑμῖν - hymin):

  • Meaning: Plural "to you," addressing the collective body of believers.
  • Significance: Emphasizes the personal and communal nature of this blessing, directed to the specific recipients of the letter.

• In (ἐν - en):

  • Meaning: A preposition often signifying location, sphere, or means. Here, it conveys "through," "by means of," or "in the sphere of."
  • Significance: Crucially connects the multiplication of grace and peace to "the knowledge." This knowledge is not just parallel but integral—it is the medium or condition through which grace and peace increase. It's not that knowledge earns grace and peace, but that it enables deeper reception and experience of them.

• The knowledge (ἐπιγνώσει - epignōsei):

  • Meaning: Epignōsis denotes a full, precise, deep, or accurate knowledge, often with a sense of experiential and transformative understanding. It's not mere intellectual acquaintance (gnosis) but a discerning, mature, and relational apprehension.
  • Significance: This is a vital word for Peter, differentiating true knowledge from superficial or false teachings. It implies a personal relationship with the one known, leading to obedience and spiritual transformation. Peter stresses the practical outworking of this knowledge.

• Of God (Θεοῦ - Theou):

  • Meaning: Referring to God the Father.
  • Significance: The object of this transforming knowledge. It implies knowing God not just theoretically but through His character, works, and especially through His Son.

• And of Jesus our Lord (καὶ Ἰησοῦ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν - kai Iēsou tou Kyriou hēmōn):

  • Meaning: Conjoining the knowledge of God with the knowledge of Jesus, explicitly identifying Jesus as "our Lord."
  • Significance: Emphasizes the unified and indispensable nature of knowing both the Father and the Son. True knowledge of God is inextricably linked to the person and work of Jesus Christ. The title "Lord" (Kyrios) affirms Jesus' deity, authority, and ultimate sovereignty, a key component of foundational Christian confession. The collective "our Lord" underscores His dominion over the believing community.

2 Peter 1 2 Bonus Section

• Theological Precision: The specific Greek term epignosis is a nuanced choice by Peter, differentiating from the broader term gnosis (general knowledge). Epignosis implies a full, accurate, and saving knowledge, directly confronting the potential for shallow or erroneous spiritual understanding that could lead believers astray. It emphasizes discernment and mature comprehension of revealed truth.
• Relationship to Obedience: This "knowledge" is intrinsically linked to obedience. As Peter continues in the letter, it becomes clear that true knowledge of God and Christ manifests in walking in His ways and pursuing holiness, as outlined in verses 5-7. It’s a practical, not just theoretical, knowledge.
• Aspiration, not Guarantee: The use of the optative mood "be multiplied" indicates a prayer or wish. While God freely provides grace and peace, their multiplication is conditioned on the believers' active pursuit and deepening of this knowledge, implying an ongoing, dynamic process of growth on the part of the believer. It is a blessing contingent on engagement with God through Christ.
• Triune Implication: While directly mentioning "God" and "Jesus our Lord," the emphasis on knowledge points to God revealing Himself. Often, this revelation is mediated through the Spirit (Eph 1:17). Thus, the verse implicitly connects to the work of the Triune God in communicating grace and peace.

2 Peter 1 2 Commentary

2 Peter 1:2 functions as more than a simple greeting; it is a compact theological statement and a foundational prayer for the believer. It articulates that the abundant outpouring of divine favor (grace) and comprehensive spiritual flourishing (peace) in a believer's life is directly dependent on a profound and experiential knowledge (epignosis) of God and of Jesus Christ, His Son and Lord. This knowledge is not passive information or mere intellectual assent, but a transforming, relational apprehension of the divine. As this accurate understanding deepens, so too do the reservoirs of grace and peace within the believer's life. Peter is setting the stage for his subsequent argument that genuine knowledge of God empowers believers for a godly life (v.3) and inoculates them against the false teachings and moral corruption he will address later in the letter. It subtly reminds readers that a true spiritual increase comes through intimacy with God, not external ritual or esoteric secrets.