2 Peter 1:2

Peter wanted his readers to have more *grace and peace from God. ‘*Grace’ and ‘peace’ were the usual Christian greetings in a letter. Peter prayed for the same things in 1 Peter 1:2. Paul always prayed for these gifts for the Christians to whom he wrote. (See, for example, Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:3; Ephesians 1:2.)

‘*Grace’ means God’s kindness to people who do not deserve it. It means that God loves and forgives people. It also means that God helps and protects his people. *Grace is a gift from God. Nobody can earn it. God gives *grace because he is generous. The *grace of God comes by Jesus.

‘Peace’. In the *Hebrew language, this word is ‘shalom’. It is a traditional way to bless people in the *Old Testament (Numbers 6:24-26). *Jewish people still use ‘shalom’ as a greeting today. Peace is the opposite of war or noise. But also, it is God’s gift of a quiet spirit. This involves every part of a person’s life and relationships. God forgives and loves people. Therefore, people have peace with God (Acts 10:36). They can also have peace with each other (Ephesians 2:14). The peace that Jesus gives is ‘his’ peace. Circumstances cannot change it (John 14:27). This peace is too wonderful for anyone to understand (Philippians 4:7). Nobody can have true peace without *grace.

Christians have already received *grace and peace. But Peter prayed that they may know God’s *grace and peace more and more. God loved and forgave them. But Peter wanted them to understand this more deeply.

These gifts of *grace and peace come as people ‘know God and Jesus our *Lord’. ‘Know’ means to know in a personal way. This is like the special way that a husband and wife know each other. The title ‘*Lord’ means that people should love and obey Jesus. The *apostle Thomas called Jesus ‘My *Lord and my God’ (John 20:28). Jesus is both master and close friend to Christians.

Jesus has given us everything

v3 God’s great power has given us everything that we need. So we can live in a way that pleases him. This happens because we know him. He called us because of his *glory and goodness. v4 He has given to us very great and precious promises. And through these promises, we can receive God’s nature. In that way we can escape from the effects of evil desires that are in the world. Otherwise, they will ruin you.