What Does 2 Peter 3:18 Mean in the King James?

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

2 Peter 3:18 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

Maturity does not outgrow favor; it grows within favor as knowing Jesus, the Deliverer, deepens.

THE MEANING

You keep growing within favor, and your knowing of Jesus deepens alongside that growth. His name carries deliverance, and Christ names the Anointed One: the one you know is deliverance in the nature of the Anointed One. His weight is present now and extends through the ages.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The belief that maturity means becoming self-sufficient and no longer needing favor dissolves here: growth continues within favor.

THE ROOT

χάριτι

chariti

GROWS FROM

χαρι-

chari-

Favor freely given; gracious goodwill.

“grace” in this verse is chariti. The verse places growth inside favor, as though maturity deepens your capacity to receive and live within what is given. The same word family can describe both freely granting favor and the gift that comes from it.

ALSO GROWS

charizomai: Grant freely; show favor; forgive.

χαρίζομαι

Favor can take the form of releasing what is owed, joining growth with the letting go of accusation.

charisma: A gift freely given.

χάρισμα

The branch shows that favor is not a wage for growth; it is a gift within which growth unfolds.

γνώσει

gnōsei

GROWS FROM

γνω-

gnō-

Know, perceive.

“knowledge” in this verse is gnōsei. This is knowing the Lord, not merely collecting facts about him. Its word family keeps the emphasis on recognizing and knowing through encounter.

ALSO GROWS

ginōskō: Know, perceive.

γινώσκω

The related verb makes the verse’s knowledge active and relational: the Lord is known, not just described.

epignōsis: Knowledge, recognition.

ἐπίγνωσις

This related form appears where favor and peace are multiplied through knowing God and Jesus, connecting knowledge with a life that keeps expanding.

σωτῆρος

sōtēros

GROWS FROM

⁨σω-⁩/⁨σωτ-⁩ (sō-/sōt-)

Deliver, preserve, bring safely through.

“Saviour” in this verse is sōtēros. The title stands beside Jesus’ name, which carries the nature of deliverance, while Christ names the Anointed One. Knowing him is knowing the one whose nature is to bring out.

ALSO GROWS

sōtēria: Deliverance.

σωτηρία

This related noun names the movement toward freedom that the title Saviour holds.

sōzō: Deliver; bring out.

σῴζω

The verb shows deliverance as an action: the Saviour brings a person through and out.

THE PATTERN

Scripture presents growth as ongoing increase that remains relational: before God, with people, and into Christ.

And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men.

1 Samuel 2:26 · KJVSamuel’s growth remains joined to favor with God and people.

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

Luke 2:52 · KJVJesus’ increase in stature is held together with favor, showing growth as relational rather than self-contained.

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Ephesians 4:15 · KJVGrowth reaches toward Christ himself, just as this verse joins growth to knowing the Lord.

THE THREAD

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

2 Peter 1:2 · KJV

The same pairing appears here: favor and knowing God and Jesus belong together. The earlier verse describes favor multiplying through that knowing; this verse describes growth continuing within favor and knowledge of the Lord.

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