2 Peter 1:11Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Observe how earlier the Apostle wished to move them by fear, by the coming of the Judge. Now he persuades them by the promise of good things, by entrance into the eternal Kingdom of God.

Entrance into the eternal Kingdom. Peter said entrance because one enters the eternal Kingdom through the narrow gate of the commandments.

Note that in the former exhortations he spoke of fear before the tribunal of the Judge. Now he speaks of the good things prepared for those who enter the eternal Kingdom of the Lord.

In this place Peter refers to the book of the prophet Ezekiel (Ezek 40:31), where, in the account of the building set upon the mountain, it says: "Its ascent had eight steps." For blessed Peter also lists eight steps of piety. By them those who flee corruption through lust must ascend to dwelling in the Kingdom of Heaven.

"For in this way an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

Whoever cares so diligently and zealously for the fulfillment of God's commandments goes straight into the Kingdom of God. He surely, or unhindered, attains it.

"If we endure, we shall also reign with Him" (2 Tim. 2:12). If we faithfully bear the yoke of Christ's commandments and zealously fulfill them, following the example of the Lord and Savior, then we shall also reign with Him.

This is according to the promise of the Lord Himself: "Where I am, there My servant will be also" (Jn. 12:26).

For in this way an entrance will be opened to you freely, or more precisely, an entrance into the eternal Kingdom will be abundantly supplied to you.

The word abundantly corresponds to the word multiplied in 2 Pet. 1:8. The word supplied, or opened, corresponds to the word add, or supply.

Thus, in the context, the meaning of this verse is as follows. If you abundantly show in yourselves the virtues and spiritual qualities indicated above, then God also will abundantly, or widely, open to you the door, or entrance, into the eternal Kingdom.

As soon as your calling and election become prosperous, and the qualities and virtues to which you have been called and elected abound in you, a wide entrance will be opened to you into the Kingdom of Christ, or the Kingdom of God.

In the Apostle's first epistle, the expression Kingdom of Christ is not used. There it is replaced by the expression inheritance (1 Pet. 1:4; 1 Pet. 3:7, 9).

Having set forth the ladder of Christian perfection, the holy Apostle Peter persuades us to ascend it (2 Pet. 1:10-20).

"Be even more diligent to make your calling," that is, your Christian calling, "and election," that is, election unto salvation, "sure." This means to justify them in deed and secure them for yourselves.

"For if you do these things, you will never stumble," despite the difficulty and narrowness of the path to salvation. On the contrary, "an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ."

My concern, the Apostle seems further to suggest, and my salvation, is whether you will walk by the ladder of Christian perfection traced out for you.

In contrast to heretical instability, Christians, according to the Apostle's teaching, must be established in their doctrine through an integral understanding of all Christianity and a complete, living relation to it. On this foundation, and by living according to such a view, one may be firmly assured of entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven. In it is the whole chain and fullness of Christian life. "Observe," says blessed Theophylact, "how earlier the Apostle wished to move them by fear, by the coming of the Judge, but now he persuades them by the promise of good things, by entrance into the eternal Kingdom of God."