Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 2 Peter 1:11

"for thus shall be richly supplied unto you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." — 2 Peter 1:11 (ASV)

Eschatology provides a motivation for ethics. Present difficulties are easier to go through because of bright prospects for the future, when “the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” will be inaugurated. In one sense, Christians are already in the kingdom (Colossians 1:13). Yet, as Paul and Barnabas said, “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). The kingdom is seen as temporally limited in 1 Corinthians 15:24 and Rev 20:1-6, but in this verse, Peter speaks of it as “the eternal kingdom.” The diversity of statements about the kingdom in the Bible reflects the many facets of the rule of the triune God over humanity (both saved and lost) and also over angels (both fallen and unfallen) (cf. Pss 22:28; 145:11–13; Daniel 4:35; Acts 17:24). Jesus Christ is now the Lord (Acts 2:36), and as such he rules. In his coming to earth, his rule or kingdom will be visibly manifested and imposed (Matthew 13:40–43; see comment on Mk 1:15). This will mark the end of this age and inaugurate the earthly messianic phase of the kingdom (Revelation 20:1–6), which will last for a thousand years. Yet the kingdom does not end, for God’s reign is eternal (Revelation 11:15), and the mediatorial kingdom becomes the eternal kingdom of the triune God. Here, then, Peter looks to the future aspects of the kingdom of Jesus Christ that believers enter at death or at the imposition of that kingdom. The future for Christians who diligently pursue holiness is very bright. They will “receive a rich welcome.” They will not barely make it into the kingdom or “be saved... only as one escaping through the flames” (1 Corinthians 3:15); but each one will receive the Lord’s “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:21). Peter’s words in this verse may allude to the honors paid to winners of the Olympic games. When a winner came back to his hometown, he would be welcomed by a special entrance built in the town or city wall in his honor.