Why does Peter’s list begin with faith, move to virtue, and only then come to knowledge? Surely knowledge should come first – we need to know what we believe in rather than having a blind faith. 

The problem is with the word “knowledge” itself which in our twenty-first century understanding usually denotes something academic that we have learned by reading books. However, biblically-speaking, knowledge is much deeper. It’s all about what we learn through experience.

When it comes to Peter’s list of attributes knowledge follows virtue, or arete. In my last blog post I pointed out that arete is about having an enthusiasm to be like God. We can read about God all through the Bible. For instance, God describes himself as “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (Exo. 34:6). We can study the Hebrew words for each of these characteristics and think we understand them. But that’s not what knowledge is all about.

I know where Washington DC is, and I can point to it on a map. I know it’s the capital of the USA. But I don’t know it because I’ve never been there and haven’t experienced it. Even if I did visit it would take me time to get to know the city. I might know that it contains a lot of restaurants, but I don’t know what the best ones are. I know that it’s going to be busy at rush hour but unless I live there and experience the city, I don’t know what the best routes are to avoid traffic.

Similarly, I might think I know what the love of God is but until I experience it, I don’t really understand it at all. If I am a person of faith and arete I aspire to be a loving person in the image of God. That’s who I want to be, and I gain knowledge of what that looks like when God puts me through trials and experiences where the love of God becomes evident. For instance, when I am in a conflict with someone else and there needs to be forgiveness and reconciliation. I might have learned those concepts by reading and studying the Bible but it’s only when I go through the fiery trial (2 Pet. 1:7) of faith that I know what it truly is.

The concept of knowledge teaches us about the fact that a person of faith is walking and growing. Knowledge is about growing in understanding of who God is, and learning to trust him more and more as I walk through the various experiences God puts into my life. Bible study is useful to give us a basic understanding of who God is, but until I experience God I don’t know him at all.