Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 2 Peter 1:10

"Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble:" — 2 Peter 1:10 (ASV)

In view of the dangers spoken of in v.9 and the possibility of a fruitful knowledge of God (v.8), Peter exhorts Christians “to make [their] calling and election sure.” “Sure” (GK 1010) is a word used of confirming something, as in the legal terminology of validating a will. So a Christian by growing in grace becomes assured of having been called and elected by God. Some prefer a corporate sense of election here (cf. 1 Peter 1:1). In favor of this view is the fact that “calling” (GK 3104) and “election” (GK 1724) are bound together by a single Greek article and that the word “calling” can have a general application (cf. Matthew 22:14). Nevertheless, in the Pauline letters calling and election are normally used in a particular sense (cf. Romans 8:28–30). People respond in faith to God’s gracious working. Likewise Peter’s emphasis here is on human response. Many see Paul’s influence on Peter (cf. comment on 3:15). If Christians are continually advancing in the virtues mentioned in vv.5–7, they will never “stumble” or “fall.” Some have argued that “the loss of salvation” is in view here, but the meaning of “suffer a reverse or misfortune” fits the context well. Strong warnings about unfaithfulness to Christ and emphasis on the necessity of perseverance are common in the letters of Paul (e.g., Colossians 1:22–23; 2 Timothy 2:12–13).