ἐν ἐπιγνώσει in 2 Peter 1:2 expresses the sphere or means by which grace and peace multiply—through full, relational knowledge of God in Christ.
Deep Dive into ἐπιγνώσει in 2 Peter 1:2 and the Possible Extra Meaning with the Preposition
Variety and Unity: The Spirit Distributes as He Wills – 1 Corinthians 12:8–11
The Spirit sovereignly distributes gifts for the good of the body—not all receive the same, and none are self-generated or pursued emotionally.
Church Discipline and Accountability Within the Body – 1 Corinthians 5:4–5; Galatians 6:1–2
Paul teaches that church discipline is essential for purity and restoration, not punitive exclusion. The body must correct and restore in truth and love.
Baptized into One Body: Entrance by Covenant Identification – 1 Corinthians 12:13
Paul teaches that entrance into the church comes by Spirit-enabled covenant identification—not emotion or mysticism—uniting all believers under Christ.
The Word Dwelling Richly: Filling the Mind with Truth – Colossians 3:16
Paul commands believers to let the Word dwell richly—not through mysticism, but by saturating their minds with Scripture, shaping all teaching, worship, and living.
The Mind of the Spirit: Not a Mystical State, but a Scripturally Shaped Disposition – Romans 8:5–6
Paul defines the mind of the Spirit as a truth-oriented disposition shaped by Scripture, not a mystical or emotional state of consciousness.
Walking by the Spirit: Not a Feeling, but a Way of Life – Galatians 5:25–26; Romans 8:4
Walking by the Spirit means obediently living in step with Scripture, not following feelings. Paul defines spiritual life as Word-governed and morally transformative.
Crucifying the Flesh: The Covenant Imperative of Moral War – Galatians 5:24; Colossians 3:5–9
Crucifying the flesh is a covenantal imperative—believers must mortify sin continually, not through mysticism, but by Spirit-empowered obedience to the Word.
Fruit, Not Gifts: The Priority of Moral Evidence in Paul’s Theology
Paul prioritized the fruit of the Spirit over charismatic gifts, emphasizing that genuine spiritual life is proven by moral transformation, not miraculous displays.
Putting On the New Man: Created in Righteousness and Holiness – Colossians 3:10–14; Ephesians 4:24
Paul teaches that sanctification flows from putting on the new man—God’s created work of renewal, rooted in truth and expressed through Christlike character.
