2 Peter 1:9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

◄ 2 Peter 1:9 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

English Standard Version
For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

New American Standard Bible
For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.

King James Bible
But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The person who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins.

International Standard Version
For the person who lacks these qualities is blind and shortsighted, and has forgotten the cleansing that he has received from his past sins.

American Standard Version
For he that lacketh these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For he that hath not these things with him, is blind, and groping, having forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

Darby Bible Translation
for he with whom these things are not present is blind, short-sighted, and has forgotten the purging of his former sins.

Young's Literal Translation
for he with whom these things are not present is blind, dim-sighted, having become forgetful of the cleansing of his old sins;

Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

1:1-11 Faith unites the weak believer to Christ, as really as it does the strong one, and purifies the heart of one as truly as of another; and every sincere believer is by his faith justified in the sight of God. Faith worketh godliness, and produces effects which no other grace in the soul can do. In Christ all fulness dwells, and pardon, peace, grace, and knowledge, and new principles, are thus given through the Holy Spirit. The promises to those who are partakers of a Divine nature, will cause us to inquire whether we are really renewed in the spirit of our minds; let us turn all these promises into prayers for the transforming and purifying grace of the Holy Spirit. The believer must add knowledge to his virtue, increasing acquaintance with the whole truth and will of God. We must add temperance to knowledge; moderation about worldly things; and add to temperance, patience, or cheerful submission to the will of God. Tribulation worketh patience, whereby we bear all calamities and crosses with silence and submission. To patience we must add godliness: this includes the holy affections and dispositions found in the true worshipper of God; with tender affection to all fellow Christians, who are children of the same Father, servants of the same Master, members of the same family, travellers to the same country, heirs of the same inheritance. Wherefore let Christians labour to attain assurance of their calling, and of their election, by believing and well-doing; and thus carefully to endeavour, is a firm argument of the grace and mercy of God, upholding them so that they shall not utterly fall. Those who are diligent in the work of religion, shall have a triumphant entrance into that everlasting kingdom where Christ reigns, and they shall reign with him for ever and ever; and it is in the practice of every good work that we are to expect entrance to heaven.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

9. But—Greek, "For." Confirming the need of these graces (2Pe 1:5-8) by the fatal consequences of the want of them.

he that lacketh—Greek, "he to whom these are not present."

blind—as to the spiritual realities of the unseen world.

and cannot see afar off—explanatory of "blind." He closes his eyes (Greek) as unable to see distant objects (namely, heavenly things), and fixes his gaze on present and earthly things which alone he can see. Perhaps a degree of wilfulness in the blindness is implied in the Greek, "closing the eyes," which constitutes its culpability; hating and rebelling against the light shining around him.

forgotten—Greek, "contracted forgetfulness," wilful and culpable obliviousness.

that he was purged—The continually present sense of one's sins having been once for all forgiven, is the strongest stimulus to every grace (Ps 130:4). This once-for-all accomplished cleansing of unbelievers at their new birth is taught symbolically by Christ, Joh 13:10, Greek, "He that has been bathed (once for all) needeth not save to wash his feet (of the soils contracted in the daily walk), but is clean every whit (in Christ our righteousness)." "Once purged (with Christ's blood), we should have no more consciousness of sin (as condemning us, Heb 10:2, because of God's promise)." Baptism is the sacramental pledge of this.