2 Peter 1:5 5Now for this same reason, also applying the best effort, support your faith with excellent character, and excellent character with knowledge,
Peter gives a common theme that runs throughout the Bible: faith must lead to obedience. The obedient life of faith is made clear with the instrumental participle applying the best effort (pareisenegkantes), which represents doing one’s best effort at a task. Living out the virtues listed in these verses will take our best commitment in response to God giving his divine power to us. If we want to participate in what God has purposed for us by being recreated in his image, we must put our whole beings into it. Faith must be supported (epichorēgēsate) or “supplied” with the actions that follow in order for it to grow and bring the changes in us God intends.
Each of the terms listed has moral significance for how a Christian ought to live. Excellent character (aretēn) refers to outstanding character that rises above the average lifestyle around us. It stands out as morally excellent and a model for how a person should act. Many things influence our character, especially our worldview. What determines the daily decisions we make? What sets the standard for our behavior? Our virtue can grow as we learn more about God’s design for us. We learn God’s word and hide it in our hearts, allowing it to become the guide for life. From this deepening well of wisdom, we make decisions about how we live.
To this we must add knowledge (gnōsin). Knowledge is important because it is the resource that helps our virtue grow stronger. The more we know about God’s teachings in the Bible and how to apply them each day, the better able we can make good decisions consistent with God’s divine nature of holiness and love. We grow in knowledge through study, meditation, and application. There are many ways to study: individual Bible study, group study, listening, teaching, and watching others. One does not need to be a “scholar” to grow in knowledge. Jesus told his disciples that part of making disciples is to teach people about his words (Matthew 28:20). Knowledge of Jesus, everything he taught, and everything taught about him support faith and will grow our character to be like him.