for this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with...

For this very reason, make every For this very reason, make every effort to effort to supplementsupplement your faith with your faith with virtue, and virtue, and virtue with knowledgevirtue with knowledge, and , and knowledge with self-control, and self-knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. brotherly affection with love.

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““Supplement … virtue with Supplement … virtue with knowledge."knowledge."

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In order to continue being In order to continue being "partakers of the divine nature," "partakers of the divine nature," we must not only "supplement … we must not only "supplement … faith with virtue" but we must faith with virtue" but we must also "supplement … virtue with also "supplement … virtue with knowledge." This, too, requires knowledge." This, too, requires "every effort" on our part. "every effort" on our part.

But what do we mean by But what do we mean by "knowledge"? "knowledge"?

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1.1.An awareness of the facts of the An awareness of the facts of the gospelgospel

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Inasmuch as many have undertaken to Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, excellent Theophilus, that you may that you may have certainty concerning the things have certainty concerning the things you have been taughtyou have been taught. .

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For I delivered to you as of first For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sinsChrist died for our sins in accordance in accordance with the Scriptures, that he with the Scriptures, that he was buriedwas buried, , that he that he was raised on the third daywas raised on the third day in in accordance with the Scriptures, and accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. the twelve.

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Therefore I intend always to remind Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things. any time to recall these things. 7

For we did not follow cleverly devised For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you myths when we made known to you the the power and coming of our Lord Jesus power and coming of our Lord Jesus ChristChrist, but we were eyewitnesses of his , but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heard this very voice borne from heavenheaven, for we were with him on the , for we were with him on the holy mountain. holy mountain.

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2.2.A comprehension of these factsA comprehension of these facts

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For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— assuming that you have heard of the assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. as I have written briefly. When you read this, When you read this, you can perceive you can perceive

my insight into the mystery of Christmy insight into the mystery of Christ, , which was not made known to the sons which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. and prophets by the Spirit.

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For this reason I bow my knees before For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through, faith—hearts through, faith—that youthat you being being rooted and grounded in love, rooted and grounded in love, may have may have strength to comprehend with all the strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses love of Christ that surpasses knowledgeknowledge, that you may be filled with , that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. all the fullness of God.

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2.2.A comprehension of these factsA comprehension of these facts3.3.Practical wisdom in applying Practical wisdom in applying

these factsthese facts

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And it is my prayer that your love may And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, abound more and more, with with knowledge and all discernmentknowledge and all discernment, so that , so that you may approve what is excellent, and you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. God.

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And so, from the day we heard, we And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, have not ceased to pray for you, asking asking that you may be filled with the that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understandingwisdom and understanding, so as to , so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. knowledge of God.

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1.1. Ignorance begets error.Ignorance begets error.

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But Jesus answered them, “You are But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.” Scriptures nor the power of God.”

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1.1. Ignorance begets error.Ignorance begets error.2.2.Zeal without knowledge leads to Zeal without knowledge leads to

self-righteousness.self-righteousness.

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Brothers, my heart’s desire and Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s they did not submit to God’s righteousness. righteousness.

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self-righteousness.self-righteousness.3.3. Israel was destroyed for a lack Israel was destroyed for a lack

of knowledge.of knowledge.

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My people are destroyed for lack of My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. will forget your children.

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self-righteousness.self-righteousness.3.3. Israel was destroyed for a lack Israel was destroyed for a lack

of knowledge.of knowledge.4.4.Knowledge of the truth will set Knowledge of the truth will set

us free.us free.

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So Jesus said to the Jews who had So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”you free.”

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