THE FOUNDATION · THE ORIGINAL STUDY, SET IN THE ANCIENT ORDER
Godliness — Foundational Biblical Doctrine
OPENING WORD
Hear now where godliness begins. It does not begin in you; it begins in the gift of God. His divine power has given us everything that belongs to life and godliness — the Greek word is eusebeia (G2150, godliness), piety, a life that pleases God. Great and precious promises are given, so that we may be partakers of the divine nature; the word is koinonos (G2844, partakers) — a sharer, a partner. But notice the word that follows the gift: GIVING ALL DILIGENCE, ADD. There is a ladder here. Faith stands first; then virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience — and to patience, godliness; and above godliness, brotherly kindness and charity. Every step is the gift of God, and no step is added without diligence. The gift must be exercised. And why is it given? So that God may be glorified. The word for glory is doxa (G1391, glory) — glory as very apparent, glory that is SEEN: light shining before people, good works seen, much fruit borne, the body and the spirit his own. Now hear the two outcomes. If these things are in you and abound, you are neither barren nor unfruitful. If you lack them, you are blind, and have forgotten that you were purged. So make your calling and election sure; do these things, and you will never fall. But take care: ungodly men crept in unnoticed — trees without fruit, twice dead. And the King has said it plainly: many are called, but few are chosen. A man came in to the wedding with no garment, and was thrown out; many will seek to enter in, and will not be able. Abraham was called, and he obeyed, and went out, not knowing where. So make it sure — and the end of the called is a supper, the marriage supper of the Lamb. Search it out.
THREE QUESTIONS THIS STUDY ANSWERS:
1. Where does godliness come from, and how is it added to your faith?
2. What happens to the person who has these things, and to the person who lacks them?
3. How is your calling and election made sure, and what is the end of those who make it sure?
(My personal thoughts — set the first word next to the last: eusebeia (G2150, godliness) and asebes (G765, ungodly). The ungodly man is not a stranger to the word godliness; he is that word denied. So Jude marks them by their denying: DENYING the only Lord God. Godliness and ungodliness are one measure — the one full, the other empty.)
(My personal thoughts — this study stands almost entirely in the Greek of Peter; the Hebrew here is one word in one calling. God said to Abram, a land that I will SHOW you — raah (H7200, to see) — and showed him nothing yet. Abraham went out, not knowing where he was going. First the going, then the seeing: the called man walks by faith, not by sight.)
OPENING ANCHOR
2 Peter 1:3Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗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 to glory and virtue:
HIS DIVINE POWER HATH GIVEN US ALL THINGS THAT PERTAIN UNTO LIFE AND GODLINESS.
2 Peter 1:4Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
THAT YE MIGHT BE PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE, HAVING ESCAPED THE CORRUPTION THAT IS IN THE WORLD THROUGH LUST.
(My personal thoughts — notice the giving: HAS given. It is done already. The power is his, and the measure is ALL THINGS — everything that belongs to life and godliness. And notice the purpose of the promises: that you might be PARTAKERS — koinonos (G2844, partakers), a sharer, a partner — of the divine nature. God does not give counsel only; he gives of his own nature. The corruption of the world is behind the partaker, and the divine nature before him. On this ground the whole ladder is built.)
1. GODLINESS IS ADDED BY EXERCISING THE GRACES — THE LADDER
1.2 Peter 1:5Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
GIVING ALL DILIGENCE, ADD TO YOUR FAITH VIRTUE + TO VIRTUE KNOWLEDGE.
2.2 Peter 1:6Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
TO KNOWLEDGE TEMPERANCE + TO TEMPERANCE PATIENCE + TO PATIENCE GODLINESS.
3.2 Peter 1:7Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
TO GODLINESS BROTHERLY KINDNESS + TO BROTHERLY KINDNESS CHARITY.
(My personal thoughts — godliness is not the first step, and not the last. It is ADDED. Faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience — and to patience godliness: it comes through the graces that go before it, and each grace grows out of the grace before it. Every one is the gift of God, for his power has given all things; yet one word stands at the head of them all: GIVING ALL DILIGENCE, ADD. A gift not exercised adds nothing. And notice that the ladder does not stop at godliness: above it stand brotherly kindness and charity.)
2. GODLINESS UNTO GLORY — GLORIFY GOD
1.Matthew 5:16Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
GLORIFY GOD BY GOOD WORKS.
2.Romans 4:20Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
GLORIFY GOD BY BEING STRONG IN FAITH.
3.John 15:8Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
GLORIFY GOD BY BEARING FRUIT.
4.1 Corinthians 6:20Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
GLORIFY GOD IN YOUR BODY AND SPIRIT.
(My personal thoughts — why is godliness given? The word tells us: doxa (G1391, glory) is glory as VERY APPARENT — glory that is seen. What his power has given within must shine outside. So the four witnesses agree: your light shines, and people SEE your good works, and glorify your Father; Abraham — the called man of this study — was strong in faith, GIVING glory to God; the Father is glorified in much fruit; and your body and your spirit are God's — glorify him in both. Godliness is not given to be hidden: it is given to be seen, so that God is glorified.)
3. THESE THINGS IN YOU, OR LACKING
1.2 Peter 1:8Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗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.
IF THESE THINGS BE IN YOU AND ABOUND, YE SHALL NOT BE BARREN NOR UNFRUITFUL.
2.2 Peter 1:9Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
HE THAT LACKETH THESE THINGS IS BLIND, AND HATH FORGOTTEN THAT HE WAS PURGED FROM HIS OLD SINS.
(My personal thoughts — two men stand here. In the one, these things ARE, and ABOUND — and he is fruitful in the knowledge of our Lord. The other LACKS — and the lack makes him blind: he cannot see far off, and he has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Notice where the fall begins: not at denying, but at forgetting. He forgot his purging first; the denying comes after.)
4. MAKE YOUR CALLING AND ELECTION SURE
1.2 Peter 1:10Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
GIVE DILIGENCE TO MAKE YOUR CALLING AND ELECTION SURE → YE SHALL NEVER FALL.
2.2 Peter 1:11Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
AN ENTRANCE MINISTERED ABUNDANTLY INTO THE EVERLASTING KINGDOM.
3.Romans 8:29Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON.
4.1 Peter 2:9Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
CALLED OUT OF DARKNESS INTO HIS MARVELLOUS LIGHT.
(My personal thoughts — the calling is God's: he foreknew, he predestined, he called you out of darkness. And yet Peter says, MAKE your calling and election SURE. The word is eklektos (G1588, chosen) — select, chosen, elect: you are a CHOSEN generation; give diligence so that it is sure in you. And how? IF YOU DO THESE THINGS — the things of the ladder. Then the end is not in doubt: you will NEVER fall, and the entrance is provided ABUNDANTLY. And what is a man called to? To be shaped into the image of his Son, and to declare the praises of the one who called him.)
5. THE WARNING — UNGODLY MEN CREPT IN
1.Jude 4Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
UNGODLY MEN CREPT IN, TURNING GRACE INTO LASCIVIOUSNESS, DENYING THE LORD.
2.Jude 12Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
TREES WHOSE FRUIT WITHERETH, TWICE DEAD, PLUCKED UP BY THE ROOTS.
3.Hebrews 6:11-12Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
SHEW DILIGENCE TO THE END + THROUGH FAITH AND PATIENCE INHERIT THE PROMISES.
(My personal thoughts — asebes (G765, ungodly) is the opposite of eusebeia (G2150, godliness): irreverent, impious — godliness denied. And where are these men? Not outside, but WITHIN: crept in unnoticed, spots IN YOUR FEASTS of charity. Set Jude's trees against the word of fruit: the Father is glorified in MUCH fruit, and these are trees WITHOUT fruit, whose fruit withers — twice dead, plucked up by the roots. Notice the remedy against them: not fear only, but the SAME diligence, to the END — not lazy, but followers of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.)
MOUTH OF TWO — CALLED IS NOT ENOUGH; MAKE IT SURE
4.Matthew 22:11-14Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.
MANY ARE CALLED, BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN.
5.Luke 13:24Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
STRIVE TO ENTER IN AT THE STRAIT GATE; MANY WILL SEEK, AND NOT BE ABLE.
(My personal thoughts — set the two side by side, and let the small difference teach us. In Matthew the man CAME IN — called, and having come to the wedding — yet he had no wedding garment on, and was thrown into outer darkness. In Luke many never come in at all: they SEEK to enter, and will not be able. Called is not enough, and seeking is not enough: the garment must be on you, and the gate must be fought for. This is the King's own word behind Peter's — give diligence to make your calling and election sure. And the last line is the sum of it: many are CALLED, but few are CHOSEN — eklektos (G1588, chosen), the same word written of the chosen generation.)
6.Ecclesiastes 4:12Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
TWO SHALL WITHSTAND HIM + A THREEFOLD CORD IS NOT QUICKLY BROKEN.
THE SHADOW AND THE FULFILLMENT — THE CALLING OF ABRAHAM
7.Genesis 12:1Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
ABRAM CALLED: GET THEE OUT, UNTO A LAND THAT I WILL SHEW THEE.
8.Hebrews 11:8Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
BY FAITH ABRAHAM, WHEN HE WAS CALLED, OBEYED, AND WENT OUT.
(My personal thoughts — Moses tells the calling; the letter tells what the called man did with it: he OBEYED, and WENT OUT, not knowing where he was going. God said, a land that I will SHOW you — raah (H7200, to see) — and showed him nothing yet. First the going, then the seeing. Here is a calling made sure: the called man goes. And the same Abraham, being strong in faith, gave glory to God. The called man who obeys walks toward a supper.)
CLOSING
2 Peter 1:11Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
AN ENTRANCE INTO THE EVERLASTING KINGDOM.
Revelation 19:9Modern Bible↗Share↗Strong's↗And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
BLESSED ARE THEY WHICH ARE CALLED UNTO THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB.
(My personal thoughts — here is the whole study in one line: godliness, eusebeia (G2150, godliness), is given by his divine power — everything that belongs to it is given already — and it is added by giving all diligence, one grace to another, until God is glorified in your works and your faith and your fruit and your body and your spirit. These things in you make you fruitful; the lack makes you blind. Ungodly men crept in, trees without fruit, twice dead — but you, give diligence to make your calling and election sure, for called is not enough: the garment must be on, the gate fought for. Abraham was called, and obeyed, and went out. Do these things, and you will never fall; an entrance will be provided for you abundantly, and blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb — they will sit down with Abraham, the called man who obeyed. These are the true sayings of God.)
GREEK KEYWORDS
These are the keywords for this study. Tap any dotted word in the verses above to see its meaning here.
“godliness” — G2150 eusebeia — piety, godliness
all things that pertain to life and godliness
“partakers” — G2844 koinonos — a sharer, partner, companion, partaker
partakers of the divine nature
“glory” — G1391 doxa — glory as very apparent, dignity, honour, praise, worship
strong in faith, giving glory to God
“chosen” — G1588 eklektos — select, chosen, elect
a chosen generation; many are called, but few are chosen
1. 2 Peter 1:3 — His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto:
a) glory and virtue
b) life and godliness
c) faith and patience
2. 2 Peter 1:6 — And to patience:
a) godliness
b) brotherly kindness
c) temperance
3. John 15:8 — Herein is my Father glorified, that ye:
a) are strong in faith
b) do good works
c) bear much fruit
4. 2 Peter 1:9 — But he that lacketh these things is:
a) blind, and cannot see afar off
b) barren, and unfruitful
c) not able to enter in
5. 2 Peter 1:10 — For if ye do these things, ye shall:
a) inherit the promises
b) never fall
c) see afar off
6. Jude 1:12 — Trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead:
a) carried about of winds
b) cast into outer darkness
c) plucked up by the roots
7. Hebrews 11:8 — By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out, obeyed; and he went out:
a) unto a land that he had seen
b) not knowing whither he went
c) with his kindred, and his father's house
ANSWER KEY: 1-b, 2-a, 3-c, 4-a, 5-b, 6-c, 7-b
HOW THIS STUDY BRANCHES
→ How the ladder begins: add to your FAITH (2 Peter 1:5) — and faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17).
→ How the garment is given: a man had not on a wedding garment (Matthew 22:11) — but to the bride it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints (Revelation 19:8) — the garment and the supper stand side by side (Revelation 19:8-9).
→ How the called become chosen: many are called, but few are chosen (Matthew 22:14) — and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful (Revelation 17:14).
→ How Abraham's going ends: he went out, not knowing whither he went (Hebrews 11:8) — for he looked for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:10).
→ How much fruit is borne: herein is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit (John 15:8) — he who remains in me bears much fruit: for without me you can do nothing (John 15:5).
→ How the kingdom is given: an entrance ministered abundantly into the everlasting kingdom (2 Peter 1:11) — fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom (Luke 12:32).
