King James Version

What Does 2 Peter 1:7 Mean?

2 Peter 1:7 in the King James Version says “And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.” — study this verse from 2 Peter chapter 1 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.”

2 Peter 1:7 · KJV

Context

5

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

6

And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

7

And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

8

For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. barren: Gr. idle

9

But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. Peter concludes the virtue list with two relational qualities. "Brotherly kindness" (philadelphia, φιλαδελφία) denotes the warm affection and loyalty characteristic of family bonds, applied to fellow believers. The early church's radical unity across ethnic, economic, and social barriers astonished the pagan world. This familial love for fellow Christians demonstrates that godliness (v. 6) isn't isolated mysticism but community-shaping devotion.

To brotherly kindness add "charity" (agapē, ἀγάπη)—the distinctive Christian love that extends beyond natural affection to sacrificial, self-giving commitment modeled by Christ (John 13:34-35; 15:13). While philadelphia focuses on fellow believers, agapē encompasses all people, including enemies (Matt 5:44). This is the summit of Christian virtue—God-like love that gives without calculation of return, loves the unlovely, and seeks others' good at personal cost.

The progression from faith (v. 5) to love (v. 7) mirrors Paul's triad of faith, hope, and love (1 Cor 13:13), with love as the greatest. Authentic faith necessarily produces love; profession without love exposes spurious faith (1 John 4:20). Peter's list brackets moral transformation (virtue, self-control) and theological growth (knowledge) within relational love, revealing that Christianity is fundamentally about loving God and neighbor. This directly counters false teachers whose doctrine produces division, selfishness, and exploitation (2:1-3, 13-14) rather than sacrificial love.

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Historical & Cultural Context

In the ancient world, loyalty to one's ethnic group, social class, or philosophical school was common, but the Christian call to love all believers across traditional boundaries was revolutionary. Roman society was rigidly stratified; Jewish identity centered on ethnic and religious distinctives separating them from Gentiles. The church's practice of philadelphia—slaves and masters, Jews and Gentiles, men and women united as siblings in Christ—challenged social structures and attracted both converts and persecution.

Agapē love wasn't unknown in Greek literature but was relatively rare compared to erōs (romantic love) or philia (friendship). Christians elevated agapē as supreme, defining it by Christ's self-sacrifice and applying it universally, even to persecutors. This ethic of enemy-love distinguished Christianity from surrounding philosophies and religions. Early church communities practiced radical generosity, caring for widows, orphans, and the poor regardless of social status—a witness to gospel transformation. False teachers undermined this unity by creating factions, exploiting the vulnerable, and promoting selfish indulgence (2:10-14).

Reflection Questions

  1. How does your local church community reflect—or fail to reflect—genuine brotherly kindness across demographic and preference differences?
  2. Who are the people you find hardest to love with Christ-like agapē, and what might Spirit-enabled love toward them look like?
  3. How can you identify false teaching by examining whether it produces self-sacrificing love or self-serving exploitation?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 12 words
ἐν1 of 12

“to”

G1722

"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc

δὲ2 of 12

“And”

G1161

but, and, etc

τῇ3 of 12
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

εὐσεβείᾳ4 of 12

“godliness”

G2150

piety; specially, the gospel scheme

τὴν5 of 12
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

φιλαδελφίᾳ6 of 12

“brotherly kindness”

G5360

fraternal affection

ἐν7 of 12

“to”

G1722

"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc

δὲ8 of 12

“And”

G1161

but, and, etc

τῇ9 of 12
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

φιλαδελφίᾳ10 of 12

“brotherly kindness”

G5360

fraternal affection

τὴν11 of 12
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ἀγάπην12 of 12

“charity”

G26

love, i.e., affection or benevolence; specially (plural) a love-feast

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 2 Peter. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

2 Peter 1:7 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 2 Peter 1:7 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Hebrews 13:1Romans 12:101 Thessalonians 3:12Colossians 3:14John 13:34-351 Peter 1:22

Test Your Knowledge

2 Peter 1 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapter2 Peter Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read 2 Peter 1 with CommentaryAll 2 Peter ChaptersComplete 2 Peter QuizBible CharactersNave's Topical BibleAll Bible Quizzes