2 Peter 1:5 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

And, beside this,— And for this purpose. The apostle's meaning, says Dr. Heylin, in brief is this:—"Whereas God, by giving you the knowledge of Jesus Christ, has given you the means whereby to acquire all the virtues, you must correspond on your part by exerting your utmost endeavours," &c. Faith is the foundation of all religion, and therefore deservedly mentioned first. The word 'Αρετη here translated virtue, is variously interpreted. In some Greek authors, and more especially among the poets, it signifies fortitude, and is often used for military courage; but in prose authors, and particularly among the philosophers, the word signifies virtue, that is, a right moral conduct. As our apostle wrote in a popular stile, in prose, and as a divine moralist, several have been for interpreting the word 'Αρετη here, of virtue in general, or of a wise and Christian conduct; and some have thought that he mentions the first three general duties, of faith, virtue, and knowledge, and afterwards enumeratessuchparticularvirtuesasweremost important in themselves, or nor suited to the state of the persons to whom he was writing. But the apostle seems to have designed an enumeration of several particular virtues; and therefore, as the word 'Αρετη sometimes signifies fortitude, one would so understand it in this verse. In all times and places, persons who would do their duty, have need of fortitude to encounter a variety of difficulties and discouragements: and as it was now a time of persecution, the Christians, to whom St. Peter wrote, had great occasion to add to their faith in the Christian religion,fortitude in the profession of it, that they might not betray the truth, either in their words or actions, but bravely suffer all manner of evils for the sake of Christ, if called thereto. By the word γνωσις, rendered knowledge, the best commentators understand prudence. See 1 Peter 3:7. Prudence was proper to go along with fortitude, in order to prevent its degenerating into rashness and folly. Heylin renders it discretion. See Ephesians 5:15-16; Ephesians 6:10. &c. Colossians 4:5 and Parkhurst on the word 'Αρετη.