Michael Demory
Yea, and for this very cause adding all diligence, in your faith supply virtue; and in your virtue knowledge…For 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 (2 Pet. 1:5, 8, Emph. MD).
To better understand the sense of what Peter is saying here, we must look back to verse three that states, “According 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 by His own glory and virtue.” Since it is the case that God has provided us exceeding great and precious promises, it must be understood there is a part we must play in partaking of the divine nature. The idea of our “adding” denotes our “bringing alongside” all that God has done for us, and we are to do so diligently, tirelessly, conscientiously. Seven Christian graces are to be added to our faith; among them is knowledge.
There are roughly fifteen Greek words for the English terms know, known, unknown, and knowledge, all with varying degrees of understanding, which logically demonstrates God’s will that we are ignorant of Him, His commandments, and our individual duties towards Him, ourselves, and our neighbors (Matt. 7:12; 22:37-40; Gal. 5:14). For God has informed us that when Jesus returns on Judgment Day, He will take vengeance upon everyone that does not “know” God or obeys the Gospel (2 Thess. 1:6-8). God is in the accusative case, meaning He is to be the end goal of our knowing Him. Paul is talking about people who know about God but do not know and understand His character, His attributes, eternality, unity, and so forth. Why are those things so important? Because if we do not understand these things about God, then we can easily be swayed by false doctrine that teaches God is one but means only one person, not three. Or false doctrines that teach God did not know the Jews would reject Jesus and crucify Him; therefore, God had to scramble and create a fallback position called the church, until such time that the Jews would finally accept Jesus as the Messiah. Or the false doctrine people have fallen for that teaches baptism is unnecessary for the remission of sins. It is apparent that the world does not know God as they must because of the absurd things they say and believe, such as “God is such a loving God, He would never send people to eternal torment,” or “I can’t believe God would allow this to happen,” or “God took him because it was his time,” or “God doesn’t expect us to be too religious.”
In the 17th chapter of the book of Acts, the apostle Paul finds himself in the city of Athens, Greece. He had been in Thessalonica and Berea with Silas and Timothy, but the Jews forced Paul to go farther south, while Timothy and Silas remained behind. In verse 16 of that chapter, Luke wrote, “Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry,” a city completely ignorant of God—a city that had failed to know God as they are commanded to. It wasn’t that Paul was surprised at the sight of idols because this was common among the Gentiles. It was the fact that there were images found here and there throughout Athens. The entire city was lined with the idols of every false god conceived by the minds of men. They were city gods, state gods, national gods, altars dedicated to Zeus, Hermes, Apollo, Aphrodite, Hades, Morpheus, Eros, Pan, Nike, Iris, Nemesis, to the unknown god, and others. Paul was given the opportunity to speak to the men of the city and informed them, “For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, to the unknown God. Whom therefore you ignorantly worship, Him declare I unto you” (Acts 17:23). It is unfortunate that the majority of people in the world in any given generation do not want to hear what God has to say about their lifestyle (Acts 7:57). Nor do they care to retain God in their knowledge (Romans 1:28).
Corinth was in the same area as Athens, so the people were familiar with the idolatry of Greece. Though they assumed they knew God, it was apparent by their fruits that they did not know as much as they should about the one true living God. Paul said:
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?’ For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe (1 Cor. 1:18-21).
There are mountains of evidence that prove God’s existence, as well as His commands that we know Him, not in the way men think they know Him, but the way God requires us to know Him. Most people think they know God, that God exists, that He gave us His word, and that He sent Jesus to die at Calvary for our sins. While those are good basics, it is not what complete knowledge of God is. If men and women truly knew God as they think they do, then they would not believe erroneous doctrines and would not face the vengeance of Christ. There is no excuse for not knowing God, and it is irrational to say we can’t know Him. General revelation proves God’s existence. The study of nature and the principles of the universe referred to as cosmology tells us why things happened through the relationship between cause and effect. Was our universe caused by a tiny black speck of non-intelligent matter that suddenly decided on its own to explode and create what we see now? Or was our universe caused by a supreme intelligence for some purpose?
Paul wrote of individuals who chose to replace a knowledge of God with their own world view:
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things (Rom. 1:18-23).
It wasn’t as though these people had chosen not to know God. Paul was not saying they never knew Him because they had to have some knowledge of God, even if it was only a smattering of knowledge, for them to be held accountable for their actions and turning away from God. There are two key words in the New Testament related to our English words know and knowledge. Each time we read those words, we must remember that it does not always mean the same as it might in other passages. The Greek variations hold varying degrees, or levels of knowledge. Far too many religious people are sold on what their “feelings” tell them, rather than what they can know absolutely from God’s word. The Greek word ginosko, from which we get our English words know, known, and knowledge, denotes the taking in of knowledge, to come to know, to recognize, to understand, or to understand completely. In its tenses, ginosko signifies degrees of understanding, such as past tense, meaning, “to know in the sense of realizing,” or in the present tense (aorist), which indicates certainty in understanding, as found in John 10:38: “But if I do, though ye believe not Me, believe the works; that ye may know, and believe (understand), that the Father is in Me, and I in Him” (Emph. MD).
Jesus did not tell the Jews that their feelings would assist them in comprehending His Messiahship, but rather it would be through miracles, wonders, and signs (through sensory perception). Ginosko in the passive voice denotes “becoming known or aware” (Matt. 10:26; Phil. 4:5), in the sense that a complete and absolute apprehension would come. Another form of ginosko is epiginosko, which signifies the ability to fully perceive, to discern, and to recognize a thing. This word is used in Romans 1:32 where Paul speaks of ungodly acts. “Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them” (Emph. MD). Paul is expressing how individuals practicing such unrighteous behavior know full well that they will be judged and rightly so. Epiginosko gives greater weight to what is being stated by Paul in 1 Timothy 4:3: “Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth” (Emph. MD). Once again, Paul uses this strong Greek word to give force to the idea that there are false teachers out there who know full well that God no longer requires abstaining from certain foods as He once did under the old law. However, they would rather establish their own rules and become their own gods for people to follow.
Knowing God, His will, His love, mercy, grace, and longsuffering is not something that is better felt than told. Knowing is not a burning in the bosom or a light-headed ecstatic feeling. Knowing comes from knowledge and understanding, which is only accomplished from study, deductive reasoning, sensory perception, and experience. In Exodus 5:2, Pharaoh asked Moses and Aaron, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go?” God then told Moses, “I will take you to Me for a people, and I will be to you a God; and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God…and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch forth Mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them” (Exo. 6:7; 7:5, Emph. MD). Once again, epiginosko is used to show that complete knowledge of God and His will would be given to the Israelites, as well as the Egyptians when they witnessed the power of God. Today, many in the religious world have what Paul calls a zeal for God but not according to knowledge (Rom. 10:2). They do not truly know God themselves, even though they are asking others if they do. We are told by the apostle that those who have not obeyed the gospel of Christ do not know God (2 Thess. 1:8, Emph. MD). How, then, do we know Him? John tells us in 1 John 2:3 that “we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments” (Emph. MD). Should anyone ask, “Do you know God or Jesus?” we may reply that we do in fact know God in the only way He requires knowledge of Him from all men—through His Word.
There is advanced knowledge, where a person is completely knowledgeable of God, divine things, and our duty to God, self, and our neighbor, and there is knowledge that describes a close spiritual relationship. This is found in Matthew 7:23 where Jesus said, “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you that work iniquity.” Jesus is not talking about individuals that did not know about Jesus or about His death at Calvary. He’s talking about individuals who have never had a spiritual relationship with Him due to their refusal to obey the gospel. Truly knowing God is not a matter anyone should take lightly, for in the end, we will all be judged whether or not we knew God and obeyed the gospel. The Jews had an advantage over the Gentiles having been given the oracles of God, which were to be used to maintain faithfulness and to provide the world with a positive example of godly living. However, instead of leading the Gentiles to God, they chose to follow the ways of the Gentiles. In turn, they condemned the Gentiles for their evil ways. The Psalmist wrote, “But My people would not hearken to My voice; and Israel would none of Me (or not submit to God). So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels” (Psalm 81:11-12). The Jews boasted of their relationship with God because they had His law and His presence within the Temple. Therefore, they thought they were better than the Gentiles, despite committing the same sins:
“Therefore, thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?” (Rom. 2:1-3).
Paul pointed out to the Jews in Rome that while they look down their self-righteous noses at the Gentiles, they are actually just as evil. They despised the goodness of God (Rom. 2:4). Their hearts were hardened and impenitent (Rom. 2:5). The Jews were contentious, and they refused to obey the truth (Rom. 2:8). They chose instead to live unrighteously. They dishonored God by committing adultery (Rom. 2:22) and breaking the law (Rom. 2:23). Because of their actions, God’s name was being blasphemed among the Gentiles (Rom. 2:24). For this reason, none were righteous (Rom. 3:10), and all had sinned (Rom. 3:23). While most people do not see it as a sin not to know God as He has instructed, the fact remains that God will take vengeance on anyone for not knowing Him. The majority of people in the world refuse to know God and therefore “hold the truth in unrighteousness” (Rom. 1:18). The Greek word for hold denotes “to restrain, to hinder the course or progress of a thing.” In other words, it was the Gentiles who had chosen to hinder the truth of God’s word, that is, to prevent it from having the full force or power to save them. Many contend that the Gentiles never had the same opportunity to know God as the Jews did. However, the truth is there has never been a time in our history that knowledge of God was not made known to any race of man. Luke wrote, “Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless, he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness” (Acts 14:16-17). Paul is telling us that it is not only the universe itself with all the stars, planets, etc., but it is also nature itself that provides us revelation of His existence, showing that we are all without excuse not knowing God (Rom. 1:20).
What does rejection of knowing God beget society? Moral decline, morals defined by culture and not God. In Dan Brown’s book The DaVinci Code, he furthers the error of post-modernism by contending in his book that, “Everything taught by our fathers about Christ is false.” There are several things alleged in his book and the movie: The New Testament is the least reliable source of true information about Jesus and Christianity, Jesus was a mortal man—the Catholic Church decided He was divine in 325 AD, Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene and had a daughter, Jesus intended for the church to be built upon her, but the Catholic Church made the Bible teach the church was built on Peter in a study of alleged contradictions in the Bible. When one studies those allegations individually, one will find that most of the allegations come from people who came out of denominationalism because it is their denominational doctrine that caused them to see contradictions, just as the case with Mr. Brown. If he would study the truth, he would understand the Catholic Church did not give us the Bible, nor did it have the power or authority to change anything. To argue that the Catholic Church made the decision to heap divinity upon Jesus and that He was married with a daughter or that the Bible was changed to make Peter the first Pope is absurd, to say the least. Also, it shows a complete disregard for God, His inspired word, as well as His character. A proper and true knowledge of God is necessary because reason demands it.
Rejection of one’s responsibility to know God is what has caused the chaos we see in the world today. It has been witnessed in other generations as well. Because men and women do not know God as they are required to, we find false doctrines such as faith only, infant baptism, original sin, Once Saved Always Saved, speaking in tongues, and that one church is as good as another. Even the Lord’s church is no stranger to rejecting its knowledge of God. Just like the Jews of old, we now find instruments in worship; praise teams; women elders, deacons, song leaders, and preachers; a refusal to mark those in error, as well as support of erring brethren—Dave Miller, Mac Deaver, Neal Pollard, Bear Valley, Florida School of Preaching, Memphis School of Preaching, and others. Knowing God and how His character should influence our beliefs is not an option.
What, then, does Peter mean when he commands men to add alongside their faith knowledge? There is the knowledge that denotes being precise and correct in all things divine and ethical, such as those Paul spoke of who refused to retain God in their knowledge (Rom. 1:28), which sounds a lot like the world we live in today. Then there is the type of knowledge where we merely perceive, that is, notice or discover by any of our senses, things divine. This word was used of Felix, who when he heard Paul’s defense, developed an exact knowledge (perception) concerning the Way (Acts 24:28). But neither of these two examples is the type of knowledge Peter had in mind. His is the type of knowledge, when added along side our faith and virtue, plus the other Christian graces, will help us become partakers of the Divine nature (2 Pet. 1:4-5). There are a number of passages that imply the truth of our partaking of the Divine nature. “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit” (2 Cor. 3:18). “And have put on the new man, that is being renewed unto knowledge after the image of Him that created him” (Col. 3:10). The knowledge spoken of in that verse refers to correct and precise knowledge of divine things.
Paul also implied the truth of our sharing in the Divine nature when he said, “And put on the new man, that after God hath been created in righteousness and holiness of truth” (Eph. 4:24). Peter once again used the same Greek word found in 2 Peter 1:5 when he wrote, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen” (2 Pet. 3:18). Sharing in the Divine nature requires our escape from a world of corruption and transforming ourselves into doing only what is right in God’s sight—hence, righteousness (Jas. 1:13-15; 2 Pet. 3:14; 1 John 3:22). In our text of 2 Peter 1:3-5, the apostle provides a list of individual characteristics necessary on “our part,” which begins with faith. Supplying, or bringing alongside, our faith is virtue, which points to moral energy or power, a word used of Greek military men to describe their heroic acts. Some translations have inserted the word “courage” in place of virtue, which definitely reveals the true intent of Peter.
Then, supplying knowledge to our virtue or moral courage would only be logical since both words deal with morality. The Greek word gnosin, as used in 2 Peter 1:5, denotes seeking to know and understand divine things and human duties. It signifies the gaining of moral wisdom that ends up in right living. By adding this knowledge to our moral courage (virtue), one is enlightened to a higher understanding of Christian duties. Far too many Christians, even those who have been members most of their lives, seem to have no desire to add any of these Christian graces to their faith. There is no courage in them to stand firm for the truth of God’s word or to defend a brother who teaches the truth. Instead, they have accepted the world’s view that it is more Christ-like and loving to allow bygones to be bygones. That it is wrong to judge anyone for judgment belongs to God alone. When a brother asks a preacher or the elders of a congregation to study the scriptures together so that they can be of the same mind as God commands His children to be, the outcome is the opposite of brotherly love, turning them into murderers (1 John 3:14-15).
Jesus pointed out “by their fruits you shall know them” (Matt. 7:16-20), the word know denoting the ability to discern the character of another. With mainline churches of Christ becoming more and more indistinguishable from synagogues of Satan, one does not need to be a rocket scientist to gain precise knowledge of individual Christians or congregations that no longer keep the old paths. The reason so many do not recognize error in the brotherhood is because whether preacher, elder, deacon or average member, there is no dedication in keeping up on what doctrine the devil has steered the apathetic into. This writer received support from what most brethren would call a faithful congregation for a mission work I was involved in. When I discovered they were in fellowship with several erring brethren, I asked the elders about it and inquired about our studying the matter, to which they declined, stopped my support, and refused to converse with me. Recently, I discovered the erring ways of a nearby congregation. I have asked the elders twice so far about my concerns and could we study the matters. Crickets! Not one “no thank you,” “kiss our foot,” or otherwise, just complete silence. This only confirms my assumption as to why they are growing. They desire to be more than a mainline congregation one day.
This writer recently heard about the church in York, Nebraska, where the elders informed the congregation they had been studying and praying about the egalitarian issue and had concluded they had been wrong and would begin using women to lead prayers, read scripture, and assist in the Lord’s Supper. We all know that it won’t be long before women are allowed to lead singing, be deacons, elders, and preachers because that is where it leads when one throws Bible authority out with the bath water. In the past two years, I witnessed the number of congregations that allow women to take part in services increase from 50 to over 100; they started with reading scriptures, and now women are elders, deacons, preachers, song leaders, etc. My question is if women are authorized to read scripture in mixed company, then why not all other aspects of the assembly? Because they want the membership to slowly get eased into it, which is deceptive on its face. Elders, deacons, and preachers agreeing to “ease” their members into sin is a disgrace, but that’s what the church is facing today: a “woke” agenda with diversity, equity, and inclusion, no matter what God has to say about it.
There is not one Christian grace involved in the above-named errors congregations of the Lord’s church are involving themselves in. Mainstream elderships have become murderers of the brethren they pretend to love. As Jesus said, “Hypocrites, blind guides, whited sepulchers, and offspring of vipers” are the leadership of many congregations today. Where is the knowledge Peter commanded us to supply alongside our faith? Sadly, it has become like a drifting ship that has lost its anchor.
