2 Peter 1:7 Meaning and Explanation
“And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The whole growth of faith arrives at last where God always meant it to: love.
The Context of 2 Peter 1:7
This is the final rung of Peter's chain of virtues (verses 5 to 7). Having moved from faith through self-control, patience, and godliness, he ends where the New Testament so often ends: at love.
What Does 2 Peter 1:7 Mean?
Peter completes the chain with two warm words. To godliness he adds brotherly kindness, the affection of family for one another, the way those who share a home care for each other. And to brotherly kindness he adds charity, love in its fullest reach, the love that gives and keeps giving even to strangers and enemies. The movement is deliberate: a heart turned toward God overflows first to the household of faith, and then wider still, until it loves the way God loves.
This is the summit, and it is no accident that love crowns the list. Jesus said the whole law hangs on loving God and loving our neighbor, and He showed that love by laying down His life. Every quality before this one has been quietly preparing the soil for it. As we are joined to Christ, His own love becomes the goal and the gift, the place all this growing has been heading toward all along.
2 Peter 1:7 in the Original Language
agape (ἀγάπη), 'charity' -- self-giving love that seeks another's good, the highest love.
How to Apply 2 Peter 1:7 Today
All our growing, every discipline and small obedience, is meant to lead us here, to love. When we wonder whether we are maturing in faith, the truest test is not how much we know but how widely and freely we love, beginning with God's family and reaching outward as Christ's love did.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Peter 1:7
What does 2 Peter 1:7 mean?
The whole growth of faith arrives at last where God always meant it to: love.
What is the context of 2 Peter 1:7?
This is the final rung of Peter's chain of virtues (verses 5 to 7). Having moved from faith through self-control, patience, and godliness, he ends where the New Testament so often ends: at love.
How can I apply 2 Peter 1:7 today?
All our growing, every discipline and small obedience, is meant to lead us here, to love. When we wonder whether we are maturing in faith, the truest test is not how much we know but how widely and freely we love, beginning with God's family and reaching outward as Christ's love did.