2 Peter 1:8,9

2 Peter 1:8-9 For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle or unfruitful unto the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he that lacketh these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins.

Expanded Translation

For if these things are your possessions and superabound, you are not caused to be lazy (idle, at leisure) or unfruitful (not developing good works or personal virtues) as you direct your minds toward a full and accurate knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he who does not possess these things (mentioned above) is blind (to the truly good life) being near-sighted; having taken on a short memory (i.e., being forgetful) concerning the cleansing from his old (former) sins.

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For if these things are yours

That is, the things spoken of in 2 Peter 1:5-7. The verb are yours (huparcho) here refers to one's goods, possessions, or propertythat which he himself possesses.

and abound

To superabound, be more than enough, to have in abundance, The word is pleonazo, which is from the root verb pleo, to fill. We must strive to fill our cup up and let it run over with these graces!

they make you to be not idle

Argos, according to Thayer, is compounded from the alpha negative plus ergon, work. Hence, literally, one without work or one who does not workan inactive, idle person. His definition here is, lazy, shunning the labor which one ought to perform.

or unfruitful

Akarpos, bearing no fruit. A fruitful person is one who, as he grows older in the faith, produces in his life those Christian virtues that are a blessing to himself, God, and man.[49] He leads other souls to Christ, reproducing after his own kind, and dispenses to others such fruits as are edifying and nourishing.

[49] See John 15:1-8, Hebrews 13:15, Titus 3:14, Matthew 7:15-23, Philippians 1:11, and Colossians 1:10 on the subject of fruitbearing.

unto the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ

That is, as we direct our minds toward the acquisition of the knowledge of Christ. Here again we have the significant word epignosis for knowledge (see 2 Peter 1:2). We noticed the normal word for knowledge (gnosis) appeared in 2 Peter 1:6 as one of those virtues to be added as we obtain the full, rich, and intimate knowledge (epignosis) of Christ for which we are striving. All of the qualities of 2 Peter 1:5-7 are necessary as abounding possessions if we would have the epignosis of Christ.

for he that lacketh these things is blind, seeing only what is near

The last five words are only one in the originalmuopazon, a present participle which might be rendered being near-sighted, or being dim-sighted. It specifies the particular kind of blindness that afflicts this manpurblindness. Heaven, and the things that pertain to the spiritual life are pictured here as off in the distanceperceptible only to those with good eyesight (spiritual eyes); for some, having eyes, see not (Mark 8:18). The Laodicean church was so blinded (Revelation 3:17). Spiritual truths, to such a one, are covered with a blanket of smoke,[50] and he does not perceive their true significance.

[50] The verb tuphloo, to blind, is from the root tupho, to raise a smoke, to darken by smoke. Now, when the air is filled with smoke, one's vision is limitedthe more smoke, the less vision. Discernment is difficult, except for things near. So it is with one's spiritual discernment, when his mind is beclouded with the affairs of this life. He sees only the nearby thingsthe things of this corrupt world!

Do not fail to notice who the blind one is in this passage. It is the man who fails to see his need of adding these traits (2 Peter 1:5-7) to his life, and therefore does not possess them. The immediate, convenient, and lustful things attract himbut they lead to damnation!

having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins

His eyesight is short and so is his memory! Isaiah reminded the righteous of Israel, look unto the rock whence ye were hewn, and the hole of the pit whence ye were digged, (Isaiah 51:1). To become forgetful and unmindful of what a blessing it is to have our sins removed is disastrous to our souls! Blessed is he David said, whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered (Psalms 32:1. See also Psalms 103:1-4). If we do not frequently recall to our minds the great blessing of being clean through the blood of Jesus, we will soon go back to the dogvomit and the sow-wallow (2 Peter 2:22).