“and to knowledge, self-control and to self-control, perseverance and to perseverance, godliness” (2 Peter 1:6).
Along with the characteristic qualities of virtue, knowledge, and self-control, 2 Peter 1:6 introduces another essential attribute: perseverance. Perseverance is a word that expresses the qualities of steadfastness, constancy, and endurance. As a result, perseverance involves our determination to pursue God’s will in the face of challenging circumstances.
Perseverance (or patience) is a character trait that is listed among the God-honoring qualities that appear in the Biblical books of 1 Timothy (1 Timothy 6:11), 2 Thessalonians (2 Thessalonians 1:3-4), and 2 Corinthians (2 Corinthians 6:3-5). The following commentator offers some historical background on this word that is worthy of a lengthy except…
“To this self-control must be added steadfastness. The word is hupomone (G5281). Chrysostom called hupomone ‘The Queen of the Virtues.’ In the King James Version it is usually translated patience but patience is too passive a word. Hupomone, has always a background or courage. Cicero defines patientia, its Latin equivalent, as: ‘The voluntary and daily suffering of hard and difficult things, for the sake of honour and usefulness.’
Didymus of Alexandria writes on the temper of Job: ‘It is not that the righteous man must be without feeling, although he must patiently bear the things which afflict him but it is true virtue when a man deeply feels the things he toils against, but nevertheless despises sorrows for the sake of God.’ Hupomone does not simply accept and endure there is always a forward look in it.
It is said of Jesus, by the writer to the Hebrews, that for the joy that was set before him, he endured the Cross, despising the shame (Heb_12:2). That is hupomone, Christian steadfastness. It is the courageous acceptance of everything that life can do to us and the transmuting of even the worst event into another step on the upward way.” (1)
This passage then concludes with a reference to godliness, or God-honoring character. As such, godliness is a quality that should guide and influence the decisions of everyday life. This may include our business practices, recreational pursuits, moral choices, family relationships, financial investments, or the way we handle sensitive information, just to name a few examples.
We cannot divorce godliness from the daily pursuits of life, for it compels us to embrace the good and shun that which is wrong in God’s sight. This does not mean that we will lead lives of sinless perfection, but it does mean that we should seek to emulate God’s character in our conduct and manner of life.
(1) Barclay, William. “Commentary on 2 Peter 1” . “William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible” . https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/dsb/2-peter-1.html. 1956-1959.