What does 2 Peter say happens if these qualities are increasing?

Peter says if these qualities “are yours and are increasing,” they keep a person from being “ineffective or unfruitful” in knowing Jesus Christ. The result is fruitfulness tied to true knowledge of Christ. See 2 Peter 1:8.

Passage context

In 2 Peter 1:8–11 the writer explains what happens when the earlier-listed qualities are present and growing versus missing. If they are “yours” and increasing, they keep a person active and productive in knowing Jesus. If they are absent, the person’s perception shrinks and they forget past cleansing. This paragraph continues the argument that God has provided what is needed for a changed life, and therefore believers should actively add specific qualities to their lives (1:3–7). Verses 8–11 then give reasons: what those qualities produce when they grow, and what is revealed when they are missing.

Why it matters

These verses present a cause-and-effect picture of Christian growth. When “these things” (the qualities listed in 1:5–7) are truly present and increasing, they prevent a life that is spiritually inactive and unproductive (explicit in verse 8).

Read carefully

A careful answer keeps the immediate passage, the book's argument, and the whole-Bible storyline together, so the question is answered in context instead of as a detached idea.

Keep reading

Start with 2 Peter 1:8, then read the surrounding section so the answer stays connected to the passage's flow.