Or if you are so inclined, it's like a 'build it' manual that needs to be followed to produce the finished product. This one still needs some help with translation.
That was my first take on Second Peter, when in chapter one starting at verse 5, there seemed to be a maze to work our way through. Remember, Peter was not writing a novel for the world to read – just some instructions for believers. The list seemed to be all intertwined – step 1, then 2, etc.
Each step produces something that can be joined to or used in the next step. This was one super list. A sentence almost without end.[more]
But it ended good – "get or do love." Sounds like a repeat of First Peter in some ways. To a programmer, it is the conclusion of an "IF" statement. If you build up all that goes before in the list (work on it diligently), it will produce love toward and for your brothers and sisters.
The point that grabs the mind of people is that "these are works, and Jesus is all about faith." Taking that approach misses what Peter, Paul and Jesus had to say – our faith will produce some kind of change in our lives. If it does not, then we have not caught the message – we have not/are not living out what they taught. We are not becoming the people they want us to be.
More next time – just be different!