2 Peter 1:5

For this very reason, ¹  make every effort ²  to add to your faith excellence, ³  to excellence, knowledge;

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;

Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge,

So make every effort to apply the benefits of these promises to your life. Then your faith will produce a life of moral excellence. A life of moral excellence leads to knowing God better.

So don't lose a minute in building on what you've been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding,

So, for this very cause, take every care; joining virtue to faith, and knowledge to virtue,

For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge,

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge,

For this very reason, ¹  make every effort ²  to add to your faith excellence, ³  to excellence, knowledge;

¹ tn The Greek text begins with “and,” a typical Semitism.

sn The reason given is all the provisions God has made for the believer, mentioned in vv. 3-4.

² tn The participle is either means (“by making every effort”) or attendant circumstance (“make every effort”). Although it fits the normal contours of attendant circumstance participles, the semantics are different. Normally, attendant circumstance is used of an action that is a necessary prelude to the action of the main verb. But “making every effort” is what energizes the main verb here. Hence it is best taken as means. However, for the sake of smoothness the translation has rendered it as a command with the main verb translated as an infinitive. This is in accord with English idiom.

³ tn Or “moral excellence,” “virtue”; this is the same word used in v. 3 (“the one who has called us by his own glory and excellence”).