2 Peter 1:6 Meaning and Explanation
“And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Faith grows by adding one good thing to another, until self-control deepens into a life turned toward God.
The Context of 2 Peter 1:6
This verse sits in the middle of a chain Peter is building (verses 5 to 7), where each quality is laid on the one before. He has just named faith, virtue, and knowledge, and here he continues the climb toward love.
What Does 2 Peter 1:6 Mean?
Peter is stacking stones, each resting on the last. To knowledge he adds temperance, the steady mastery of our own appetites that keeps us from being ruled by every craving. To temperance he adds patience, the long endurance that holds firm under pressure and waiting. And to patience he adds godliness, a life that turns naturally toward God in reverence. The order matters: knowing leads to self-command, self-command makes us able to endure, and endurance ripens into a heart bent toward God.
This is not a ladder we climb to earn God's favor; it is the shape of a life growing up into Christ, who lived every one of these qualities perfectly for us. He was the patient One, enduring all the way to the cross, and the One whose whole life was turned toward His Father. As we are joined to Him, His character begins to take root in us, one quality drawing the next, the slow and hopeful work of becoming like the One we love.
2 Peter 1:6 in the Original Language
enkrateia (ἐγκράτεια), 'temperance' -- self-control, the inner power to govern one's own desires.
How to Apply 2 Peter 1:6 Today
Growth in faith is rarely a single leap; it is one small addition laid on another. When we wonder what comes next, this verse gives a gentle order: let knowing God teach us self-control, let self-control make us patient, and let patience deepen into a life turned toward Him.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Peter 1:6
What does 2 Peter 1:6 mean?
Faith grows by adding one good thing to another, until self-control deepens into a life turned toward God.
What is the context of 2 Peter 1:6?
This verse sits in the middle of a chain Peter is building (verses 5 to 7), where each quality is laid on the one before. He has just named faith, virtue, and knowledge, and here he continues the climb toward love.
How can I apply 2 Peter 1:6 today?
Growth in faith is rarely a single leap; it is one small addition laid on another. When we wonder what comes next, this verse gives a gentle order: let knowing God teach us self-control, let self-control make us patient, and let patience deepen into a life turned toward Him.