2 Peter 1:2
What does 2 Peter 1:2 mean?
A plain-English look at 2 Peter 1:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 2 Peter 1:2 means
Peter prays that grace and peace would multiply in the believers’ experience, and he locates this growth “in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” This knowledge is not bare information; it is a relational, accurate grasp of who God is and what Jesus has done. As believers truly know God in Christ, they enjoy increasing grace—God’s favor and help—and deepening peace—wholeness and well-being. Peter ties spiritual nourishment to knowing Christ personally and truthfully. The pathway to abundant Christian life is not self-sufficiency but a growing acquaintance with the Lord. True knowledge of God fuels both inner rest and outward strength to live faithfully.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;
KJV
King James Version · 1611Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949May grace and peace ever be increasing in you, in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Grace to you, and peace be multiplied in the acknowledgement of God and of Jesus our Lord!
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Grace to you and peace be accomplished in the knowledge of God and of Christ Jesus our Lord.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Grace and peace be multiplied to you in [the] knowledge ofGod and of Jesus our Lord.
Context
Following the address, Peter’s blessing emphasizes knowledge as the channel of growth. This anticipates verses 3–4, where he will declare that God’s divine power has already granted everything needed for life and godliness through knowing Christ. The multiplication of grace and peace, therefore, is no vague wish; it rests on concrete provision from God. Verses 5–7 will then call believers to diligently add virtues to faith. Verse 2 thus serves as a bridge from the greeting to the rich theology of divine sufficiency and the practical call to growth.
v.1Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and the Saviour Jesus Christ:
v.2This passage
v.3seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue;
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Peter 1:3
seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue;
- Daniel 4:1
Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all the peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied unto you.
- Daniel 6:25
Then king Darius wrote unto all the peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied unto you.
- Numbers 6:24
Jehovah bless thee, and keep thee:
- 1 Peter 1:2
according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.
- Luke 10:22
All things have been delivered unto me of my Father: and no one knoweth who the Son is, save the Father; and who the Father is, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son willeth to reveal him.
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