2 Peter 1:8

An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

For if you people have a lot of these [qualities] they will keep you from being unproductive and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Cross References

Matthew 13:22

And the person who was sown among the thorns is the one who hears the message, but the anxieties of the world [i.e., of life] and the deceptiveness of [material] riches choke the message and he becomes unproductive.

Matthew 20:3

He went out about nine o’clock in the morning and saw other unemployed laborers standing [around] in the open shopping market.

Matthew 20:6

[Finally] he went out [once more] at about five o’clock in the afternoon and found [still] other men standing around. He said, ‘Why have you been standing around all day and not working?’

Matthew 25:26

But his master said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy servant. [Since] you knew that I reaped where I had not sown and gathered where I had not scattered seed,

John 15:2

He will cut off [See verse 6] every branch [i.e., follower of Christ] who is in [fellowship with] me that does not bear fruit. And He will prune every branch that does bear fruit, so it will bear more fruit.

John 17:3

And this is never ending life; that people may know you [as] the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the One whom you have sent.

John 5:42

but I know you [well enough], that you do not have a love for God within you.

Romans 12:11

Be enthusiastic instead of lazy. Be fervent in your spirit [Note: Some translators take “spirit” here to refer to the “Holy Spirit”], [as you] serve the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my dearly loved brothers, stand firm [in the faith]; do not be moved [from your commitment] Always do your best to work for the Lord, since you know that your labor in the Lord’s [service] is not for nothing.

2 Corinthians 13:5

Put yourselves to a test; see if you are [really] in the faith [i.e., see if you are genuine Christians]; examine yourselves! Or, do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in your hearts, unless [of course] you fail the test [i.e., unless you are counterfeit Christians].

2 Corinthians 8:2

[It is] how, in spite of their suffering severe trials, their overflowing joy and extreme poverty produced an overwhelming expression of generosity.

2 Corinthians 8:7

But just as you excel in everything [else]; in your faith, in your speaking; in your knowledge [Note: Possibly these refer to spiritual gifts. See I Cor. 12:8-10], in your eagerness [to serve], and in your love for us, now you people should also excel in this favorable work [i.e., of giving financial help to needy people].

2 Corinthians 9:14

And when they see the outstanding [evidence of] God’s favor in you, they will pray for you with deep affection [or, “will long to see you”].

Philippians 1:9

And I pray that your love may grow stronger and stronger, [along] with how much you know, and [that you may grow] in your ability to comprehend things.

Philippians 2:5

You should think about things the way Christ Jesus did.

Philippians 3:8

What is more, I consider everything to be a loss compared to the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus [as] my Lord, for whose sake I have suffered the loss of all things. [I now] consider [all of] them to be trash, in order to gain Christ

Colossians 1:10

[We pray for you] to live a life deserving of the Lord, pleasing to Him in every way, producing fruit in every good deed and growing in the knowledge of God.

Colossians 2:7

rooted and built up in [your relationship to] Him, established by your faith [or, “in the faith”], just as you were taught, overflowing with thanksgiving.

Colossians 3:16

You should let the message of Christ live in you abundantly [i.e., as individuals and collectively]. Use [much] wisdom in teaching and warning one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing with favor [i.e., with thankfulness] in your hearts toward God.

1 Thessalonians 3:12

And may the Lord cause your love for one another, and for everyone, to increase and overflow, just as ours does for you also.

1 Thessalonians 4:1

Finally then, brothers, we request and urge you, in [the fellowship of] the Lord, that you should live [dedicated lives] and please God. Just as you people received direction from us [on doing this], see that you [continue to] do it more and more.

2 Thessalonians 1:3

We ought to thank God for you always, brothers, since it is proper, because your faith is growing so much and the love that every one of you has for each other is increasing more and more.

1 Timothy 5:13

And on top of that, they learn to be idle, going around from house to house; and not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things they should not be.

Titus 3:14

Our people [i.e., the Christians there on Crete] also should learn to practice good deeds for meeting pressing needs, so that they can be productive [in the Lord’s work].

Philemon 1:6

[I pray] that the sharing of your faith [with others, or possibly with Paul] will be effective when you fully realize all the good you can do for Christ.

Hebrews 6:12

We do not want you people to be [spiritually] slack, but to imitate those who will inherit [God’s] promises because of their faith and patience.

2 Peter 1:2

[May God’s] unearned favor and peace be yours in abundance, through the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.

2 Peter 1:3

God’s divine power has given us everything [necessary] for [abundant] life and godly living, through the knowledge of Him [i.e., God], who called us by His own splendor and goodness.

2 Peter 2:20

For if people who have escaped from the defiling practices of the world by coming to know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, become tangled up in them again, and are overcome by them, these people are worse off than before they were converted.

2 Peter 3:18

But grow in the unearned favor and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May He be honored both now and forever. May it be so.