Read & explore together
A Greeting from Peter
Peter opens this letter by naming himself and greeting believers with grace and peace. In two short verses, he speaks about shared faith, the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ, and knowing God and Jesus our Lord.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
These verses are the opening greeting of the letter. Simon Peter identifies himself as a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ. He writes to people who have obtained a like precious faith with him and others, and he blesses them with grace and peace.
2 Peter 1:1–2Main takeaway
Peter’s greeting presents believers as sharing a precious faith, and it links multiplied grace and peace with the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Peter names himself before the greetingThe letter begins with the name “Simon Peter”. He then describes himself as “a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ”.
Explanation
The letter begins with the name “Simon Peter”. He then describes himself as “a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ”. This opening tells readers who is writing and shows his relationship to Jesus Christ. The verse does not explain these titles further here, but it makes them part of his introduction.
02He writes to people who share a precious faithPeter addresses “those who have obtained a like precious faith with us”. The faith is described as both shared and precious.
Explanation
Peter addresses “those who have obtained a like precious faith with us”. The faith is described as both shared and precious. Peter also says this is “in the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ”, so the greeting connects this faith with God’s righteousness and names Jesus Christ directly.
03The greeting stays centred on God and JesusIn verse 1, Peter names “our God and Savior, Jesus Christ”. In verse 2, he speaks of “God and of Jesus our Lord”.
Explanation
In verse 1, Peter names “our God and Savior, Jesus Christ”. In verse 2, he speaks of “God and of Jesus our Lord”. These lines keep the focus of the opening on God and Jesus. Even in a brief greeting, Peter fills his words with specific names and titles.
04Grace and peace are multiplied in knowledgePeter says, “Grace to you and peace be multiplied”. He then states where this increase is found: “in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord”.
Explanation
Peter says, “Grace to you and peace be multiplied”. He then states where this increase is found: “in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord”. The greeting does more than offer kind wishes. It joins grace and peace to knowing God and knowing Jesus as Lord.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What two titles does Peter use for himself in the opening line?
Read verse 1 carefully and list the two words Peter uses after his name to describe his relation to Jesus Christ.
02How does Peter describe the faith of the people he is writing to?
Look for the exact phrase about faith in verse 1 and notice both its value and the way it is shared.
03According to verse 2, where are grace and peace multiplied?
Find the words that come after “be multiplied” and answer with the knowledge Peter names.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
2 Peter 1:1–2
1Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:
2Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,