“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness... For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith VIRTUE (goodness)…” 2 Peter 1:3, 5

In a time when virtue was usually exchanged for expedience, Polycarp remained an example for all times of the power of a virtuous life.  In life he lived as a man of honesty and integrity, the kind of man who makes a good friend and citizen.  In death, he gave us an example of a noble courage rarely found among men.  Hauled before an angry mob during a time of intense persecution of Christians, Polycarp had only to hail Caesar as lord and offer a tiny pinch of incense at his altar to escape a tortuous death.  Instead, he steadfastly declared, “Eighty-six years I have served Christ, and He never did me any wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?"

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness... For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith…” 2 Peter 1:3, 5

In ancient Greece the great plays of men like Sophocles and Euripides required enormous and very expensive choruses for their productions.  Among those most highly respected in the theatre were men who lavishly gave their financial resources and their time to organized, train, supply and maintain these choruses.  They were called “choregoi”, a word which eventually was used to describe anyone who, with lavish generosity, would supply what was necessary to accomplish a task.

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness... For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith…” 2 Peter 1:3, 5

The idea of “adding” something to faith seems out of line with the fundamental Christian doctrine of “faith alone.”  Yet, there is no contradiction when we properly understand the context of Peter’s teaching concerning faith’s additives.