Actively Pursuing Knowledge

I’m studying 2 Peter.  I actually started studying it seven years ago, but I got busy and put the study up until recently. It’s a gold mine!  I did a Wordle of the first chapter.

2 Peter 1 Wordle

Wordle is a free online site that creates an image using words you insert into their application.  The larger the words, the more often they are used.  It is a good way to see the main themes of a book or chapter of the Bible.  As you can see from the Wordle of 2 Peter 1, that knowledge is one of the themes of this chapter.

The Greek word for knowledge in this chapter is epignosis.  This word expresses a type of knowledge that the learner is actively pursuing. The Complete Word Study Dictionary of the New Testament, by Dr. Spiros Zodhiates, states that this type of knowledge “lays claim to a personal involvement” on the part of the learner.  J. Vernon McGee, in his commentary on 2 Peter, said epignosis is a type of “super knowledge” which comes by the Holy Spirit taking the things of Christ and making them real to us.  It is describing the power of God’s Word when we allow His Spirit to be our teacher as we read and study it.

Grace and peace by multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.” 2 Peter 1: 2-3

The Bible is the inspired Word of God. It is God breathed.  Then who better to teach it than the Holy Spirit?