2 Peter 3:18 tells believers to keep growing in two things at once: the undeserved kindness of God and a deeper knowledge of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The verse closes with a doxology, a short burst of praise giving glory to Christ now and forever.
Peter, the apostle traditionally identified as the author of this letter, wrote it to Christians scattered across the Roman provinces of Asia Minor. He wrote to people who had already believed the gospel but were facing false teachers and pressure to drift from their faith.
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
2 Peter 3:18 (WEB)
What 2 Peter 3:18 Means
The phrase “grow” is an ongoing command. Peter is not asking his readers to arrive at a finished state of maturity in one moment, but to keep moving forward, the way a child grows steadily over years. The growth he has in mind is spiritual and personal, rooted in a relationship rather than a checklist.
Two objects of that growth are named: “grace” and “knowledge.” Grace is God’s free favor, the kindness that saves and sustains. Knowledge here means more than facts about Jesus. It is an experiential, relational understanding of who he is. Peter links the two together, showing that a growing awareness of Christ and a deepening sense of God’s undeserved kindness belong together.
The verse does not promise instant spiritual perfection or a life free from struggle. It describes a direction and a habit: keep leaning toward Christ, and let that closeness shape you over time. The closing words of praise remind the reader that all of this points back to Christ’s glory.
The Context of 2 Peter 3:18
The letter is addressed to a community being unsettled by mockers who doubted Christ’s return and by teachers who twisted Scripture for their own gain. Peter has just noted that some of Paul’s letters contain difficult material that the unstable distort. In verses 15 to 17, he warns his readers to stay steady and not be swept away by error.
Read against that background, verse 18 is the positive answer to the warning. Instead of only guarding against falling, Peter tells them what to do: grow. Stability in a confusing time comes not from defensiveness alone but from a growing, grounded knowledge of Christ and of his grace.
Key Phrases in 2 Peter 3:18
Philippians 1:6
Being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
(WEB)
Paul assures believers that God, who began a good work in them, will complete it. This pairs well with Peter’s call to growth by reminding us that the growing is ultimately God’s faithful work within us.
John 17:3
This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ.
(WEB)
Jesus defines eternal life as knowing the Father and the one he sent. This verse shows that the knowledge Peter commends is the very heart of the Christian life, not a side interest.
A Short Prayer From 2 Peter 3:18
Lord, you have shown me your kindness in Jesus, and I am grateful. I confess that I often settle into a comfortable faith and stop reaching for more of you. Draw me deeper into your grace and into a truer knowledge of your Son. Let my understanding of who he is shape the way I speak, work, and forgive. Keep me from drifting, and grow me steadily in trust and love. To you be the glory, now and forever. Amen.
