2 Peter 1:15Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Some understand this with the words transposed: "I will also be diligent after my departure to keep you always in remembrance." That is, to remember you daily and without ceasing.

From this they draw the thought that the saints, even after death, remember those who remain here and pray for the living.

Those who invoke the divine grace of the saints perceive the truth of this every day.

Some understand it in this way, but others understand it differently. The latter read and understand this verse simply: "I will be diligent so that after my departure you may always remember these things."

"I will be careful," that is, I will often write to remind you of His words.

Peter gives the reason for the reminder. It is that he hopes soon to depart from the present life.

"Moreover I will be diligent that you may always have remembrance of these things after my departure."

Such was the Apostle's love for Christians, for whose salvation he cared. He wanted the instructions he had given to remain in the memory of those instructed even after his departure from this life.

His frequent oral teachings could leave a deep impression in the souls of his hearers. This impression was to preserve for a long time the remembrance of the Apostle's instructions, and to hand his rules on to believers of later generations.

But the Apostle Peter especially attained his desire by writing two catholic epistles. To this day, they remind all Christians of his instructions for their edification and salvation.

"I will also be diligent always to have you, after my departure, make remembrance of these things."

Ordinarily, from the course of thought, it is assumed that the Apostle wished Christians, even after his death, to remember the necessity of standing firmly in their calling. This second Epistle was to serve them as an incentive toward this.

But the Greek text, σπουδάσω καὶ ἑκάστοτε ἔχειν ὑμᾶς, in connection with the preceding verses, expresses the Apostle's direct promise or intention.

He intends always, even after his departure, to have them such that they remember everything now said to them.

In the preceding verses (2 Pet. 1:13-14), the Apostle has already said that while he lives, he will consider it his task to remind them of his instructions.

It is therefore natural to conclude that he now gives Christians a promise to care for them even after his death. That is, he will pray before God that they firmly remember his instructions.

In the following verse (15), the Apostle designates his death as a departure, as the Lord also indicated His own, saying that He was going to the Father (Jn. 14:2 and following; compare the note).

This is proof of the calm with which both Teacher and disciple went to a violent, terrible, and then shameful death on a cross.

"Some understand this saying of verse 15 with the words transposed: I will also be diligent after my departure to have you always, that is, daily and continually, in remembrance.

From this they draw the thought that the saints, even after death, remember those who remain here and pray for the living.

Those who invoke divine grace through the prayers of the saints perceive the truth of this every day.

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.

Like the First Epistle (see 1 Pet. 5:12), this Epistle has as its chief aim the confirmation of Christians in the truth.

The truth, given to Christians in the fullness possible for them, was known to them. Yet not all firmly remembered it or fulfilled it in life.

In addition, certain false teachers were presenting their supposed knowledge as higher knowledge. Having shown where truth can be and where it cannot be, the Apostle now tells Christians that they possess unquestionable truth.

Thus they have no need to seek it outside Christianity, among false teachers.