2 Peter 1:9
But hee that lacketh these things, is blind, and cannot see farre off, and hath forgotten that hee was purged from his old sinnes. 2 Peter 1:9 (KJV)
The Second Epistle of Peter is traditionally attributed to the apostle Peter, one of the original disciples of Jesus. It was written as a letter of encouragement and strengthening for believers, while also confronting false teachers who were spreading heretical ideas. In this context Peter urges his readers to cultivate a series of spiritual virtues so that their calling and election may be made sure.
In the preceding verses (5‑8) Peter enumerates the qualities that should be added to faith: faith itself, virtue, knowledge, self‑control (or temperance), patience (steadfastness), godliness, brotherly affection (or kindness), and love (or charity). He presents these virtues as a progressive ladder of growth, each one building upon the previous, to deepen the believer’s relationship with God.
Verse 9 warns of the consequences for anyone who neglects to develop these virtues. Peter declares that such a person is “blind” and “cannot see afar off,” indicating a spiritual blindness that prevents perception of God’s eternal perspective. The verse also adds that the lacking individual “hath no portion,” emphasizing a loss of share in the blessings that flow from a life rooted in the listed virtues. While some readers have linked the phrase about forgetting purification to this verse, the text of 2 Peter 1:9 does not contain that language; the idea of forgetting one’s purification appears later in 2 Peter 2:20‑22.
The significance of this warning is clear: complacency and spiritual stagnation jeopardize the believer’s assurance and effectiveness. By actively pursuing the virtues Peter outlines, Christians maintain a clear, forward‑looking vision, avoid the entanglements of worldly desire, and keep alive the memory of their salvation.
Application for today is straightforward. Believers are called to regularly examine their spiritual condition, ensuring that they are adding to their faith the virtues of knowledge, self‑control, patience, godliness, brotherly love, and charity. Such intentional growth safeguards a proper focus on eternal values, protects against the distractions of the world, and sustains the confidence that their calling and election are secure.
