2 Peter 3:18

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

In the grace, and in the knowledge ... Quite clearly, both grace and knowledge here are used objectively as progress that the Christian is expected to achieve through diligent application, study and worship. Alford and others understood the "grace" to be that which Christ bestows; but as Caffin said, "Peter insists on the knowledge of Christ as essential for growth in grace,"[71] which, of course, it is.

"Beware" in 2 Peter 3:17 and "grow" in this, were seen by Fuhrman as, "the essence and theme of this whole epistle."[72] There are false teachers abroad; beware! A Call to progress' has been sounded; grow!

To him be the glory both now and for ever ... This remarkable doxology is quite unlike those found in Paul's letters. It is found only here in the New Testament.[73] Now could it be possible that a second century forger would have dared end a letter upon such a unique note as this? As Strachan correctly concluded, "This Petrine doxology cannot have been written after liturgical expressions had become in any degree stereotyped."[74]

Now and for ever ... The literal meaning of the words thus rendered is, "until the day of eternity." "This teaches that eternity is a day without any night, a real and perpetual day."[75] Augustine described the eternal day thus:

It is only one day, but an everlasting day, without yesterday to precede it, and without tomorrow to follow it; not brought forth by the natural sun, which shall exist no more, but by Christ, the Sun of Righteousness.[76]

Barnett's wonderful comment on this doxology is:

There is high Christology here. Putting Christ on an equality with God, the aged apostle says that: (a) Christ is central and crucial; (b) Christ shares the glory of eternal God; (c) Christ is to be glorified now; and (d) Christ is the glory of that eternal day which encompasses and fulfills all our days.

Amen seals what he writes with a mighty "Yea." What he has set down he believes to be true. So by an oath he authenticates his faith.[77]

This glorious epistle is a triumphant affirmation of a magnificent faith in Jesus Christ. Such a production is utterly beyond the power of any human being to forge. There are only a very few men who ever lived on earth who could have written a letter like this; and they are those apostles who heard Jesus Christ deliver the discourse recorded in Matthew 24. The entire epistle carries the inherent hallmarks of integrity, authenticity, yea more, the true "inspiration of the Holy Spirit."

[71] B. C. Caffin, op. cit., p. 71.

[72] Eldon R. Fuhrman, op. cit., p. 338.

[73] B. C. Caffin, op. cit., p. 71.

[74] R. H. Strachan, op. cit., p. 148.

[75] James Macknight, op. cit., p. 578.

[76] B. C. Caffin, op. cit., p. 71.

[77] Albert E. Barnett, The Interpreter's Bible, Vol. XII (New York and Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1957), p. 206.