2 Peter
Second Peter is the apostle Peter’s final letter to the church, calling believers to stand firm in the truth, watch for Christ’s return, and grow daily in grace.
Grow in Grace · 2 Peter 3:18
Crewneck · 7 colors
Price range: $36.95 through $39.95
Grow in Grace · 2 Peter 3:18
Hoodie · 7 colors
Price range: $42.95 through $46.95
Grow in Grace · 2 Peter 3:18
T-Shirt · 7 colors
Price range: $24.95 through $28.95
About the book of 2 Peter
Second Peter is a short, urgent letter from the apostle Simon Peter, written near the end of his life. He wrote to early Christian churches to leave them a lasting reminder of the truth, knowing his time on earth was nearly over (2 Peter 1:12-15). Peter had walked with Jesus for years, and the letter carries the weight of someone passing on what he knows. In his first letter he comforted believers facing persecution from outside. Here he warns them about danger from inside the church: false teachers who twisted the Scriptures and mocked the promise of Jesus’ return.
Main themes
Chapter 1 sets out how to grow. Peter lists qualities to add to faith, including knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, kindness, and love, and says that a believer who lacks them has forgotten what he was cleansed from (2 Peter 1:5-9). He also grounds the faith in eyewitness testimony. He was on the mountain when Jesus was transfigured, and he points to the words of the prophets as something even more sure (2 Peter 1:16-21). Growth, in Peter’s view, is a normal part of following Jesus, not an extra.
Chapters 2 and 3 deal with the threats. Peter describes false teachers who bring in destructive ideas and live for themselves (2 Peter 2), and scoffers who ask where the promise of Christ’s coming has gone (2 Peter 3:3-4). His answer is that the Lord is patient, not slow, and wants people to repent (2 Peter 3:9). Because that day will come, believers are to live in holiness and look for it with hope. The letter ends with the line below.
Verses from 2 Peter on our apparel
2 Peter 3:18 reads, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” These are Peter’s last recorded words, and he has just warned about falling away, so this is his answer: do not stand still. To grow in grace is to lean harder on God’s undeserved kindness and let it shape our character. To grow in knowledge is to know Jesus personally, not just collect facts about him. Our Grow in Grace design puts the verse on T-shirts, hoodies, and crewnecks as a daily reminder.
Frequently asked
Who wrote 2 Peter? The letter names Simon Peter, the apostle, as its author. He wrote near the end of his life and says the Lord had shown him that his death was near (2 Peter 1:14), which gives the letter the feel of a final word to friends.
How does 2 Peter 3:18 connect to the rest of the letter? It bookends it. Peter opens with a prayer that grace and peace be multiplied through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord (2 Peter 1:2), and he closes with the same two ideas, grace and knowledge, as a command to keep growing.