2 Peter 1:8 (ASV)

Passage

For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful unto the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Nearby Context

2 Peter 1:6 and in [your] knowledge self-control; and in [your] self-control patience; and in [your] patience godliness;

2 Peter 1:7 and in [your] godliness brotherly kindness; and in [your] brotherly kindness love.

2 Peter 1:8 For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful unto the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:9 For he that lacketh these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins.

2 Peter 1:10 Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble:

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "things", "yours", "abound", "make", "idle", "unfruitful", "knowledge", and "lord". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "things" and "yours", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 7's "and in your godliness brotherly kindness and..." into verse 9's "For he that lacketh these things is...", so "things" and "yours" belong inside that flow. In 2 Peter context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "things" and "yours" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.