So I will always remind you of these things, though having known them and having been firmly established in the truth you now have.
Truth to Learn
We need to be continually learning and refreshing our knowledge of God through His Word.
Behind the Words
“Having known” comes from a form of the Greek word eidō, meaning “to see,” that is, “to perceive.” As such, it is also used to express perception in the form of experiential knowledge. Hence, it is often translated as “to know.” It is expressed here as a perfect active participle, which implies past continual accumulated action. We could actually translate the meaning as, “having already perceived and come to understand …”
He then says that we have also been “established” which is from the Greek word stēridzō, meaning “to be firmly set in place” or “to be grounded.” This verb is also a perfect participle, but is in the passive voice (something done to us).
Meaning Explained
Peter begins this verse with another connective word, “So.” He told us that we need to develop the Christian character qualities of faith, morality, knowledge and understanding, self-control, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. He said that in developing these we become fruitful, we maintain our spiritual vision, and we become stabilized on the foundation. And, he told us that developing these will cause us to receive a splendid entrance into the presence of the King. Therefore, Peter is compelled to continually remind us of these truths.
Obviously, he thinks that there is great importance in developing these qualities. That is why he has used such strong language in urging us to work hard on them and why he gives such evidence of their effect on us. Therefore, he tells his readers, he personally will not be negligent in constantly reminding them (and us) of these things. It is not that Peter thinks we have not yet learned what he has told us. In fact, he makes it clear that he knows that these truths have already been learned.
In other words, Peter is saying that he believes his readers have already worked hard at developing these character qualities in themselves, having perceived their importance, and having become firmly established, not in the past but “in the truth you now have.” There is some disagreement as to exactly what Peter is referring to by this expression. Either it refers to all the truth that has been learned from God’s holy Word, or it is a specific reference to the gospel truth, the truth in which we were saved. Whichever it is, Peter wants to make sure that it is constantly taught and re-taught so that we will be firmly grounded in it.
It is incumbent on us all, not just preachers, to constantly remind each other of the importance of things that we have already learned. Not so much because we forget, but because the cares of this life, the things of the world, and our own sin nature cloud our memory and distract us from our mission.
Application
Let us never get to the point where we think we know all there is to know about living a victorious Christian life. No matter how much we know about the Bible and our faith, we can always learn more. We all need continual refresher courses in living a life committed to our faith and submitted to our God.
In God's service, for His glory,
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