In 2 Peter 1, the Apostle Peter laid out a phenomenal blueprint for us to follow regarding the how and why of developing a focused and loyal character that is modeled after Christ. After reminding us of the incomprehensible promises that God brings us through His power and Jesus’ sacrifice, he then focuses us on doing our part. Peter gives us a blueprint for building a virtue “ladder” of Christian character development, of which the first rung is our faith. Because we have the firm footing of Christian faith in place, we can then develop “moral excellence,” which in turn gives us the stability to next develop knowledge. As we will continue to see, when followed, the order of developing these attributes of our Christian characters will yield an unbreakable allegiance to daily, living God’s will through Christ!

Peter’s ladder sequence is intentional: faith establishes our direction, moral excellence aligns our heart with God’s highest standards, and only then can knowledge become a stable, Christlike attribute rather than a source of pride or harm. By contrasting godly vs. misapplied knowledge, we can see that without moral excellence, it can inflate ego and harm others. Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 8 shows that even correct knowledge can become destructive if it emboldens weaker Christians to violate their conscience. True Christian knowledge must therefore be governed by love, humility and responsibility.

How much of the Bible do I have to know?

This is not about mastering every prophecy or detail, but about understanding Christlikeness and allowing God’s light to shape our intellect. All Scripture – both in the Old and New Testaments – is the essential source of this knowledge, forming a lifelong journey of discernment, filtering out worldly influences, and taking every thought captive to Christ.

God’s plan is expansive, merciful and awe‑inspiring.

Recognizing its depth should cultivate gratitude rather than arrogance. Paul’s example in Philippians 3 shows the surpassing value of knowing Christ, which makes all previous accomplishments seem like “rubbish” in comparison. Ultimately, knowledge becomes transformative when it flows from faith, is shaped by moral excellence, and leads us toward deeper loyalty to God’s will.

Key Takeaways

• Knowledge must be built on faith and moral excellence to avoid arrogance.
• Misapplied knowledge can harm others while godly knowledge is always governed by love.
• All Scripture is the authoritative source of Christian understanding.
• True knowledge produces humility, responsibility and awe at God’s plan.