“Yes, for this very reason, by your contributing in response all earnest effort, supply to your faith virtue, to your virtue knowledge,

2 Peter 1:5

²⁶ Through his Son, Jehovah God has given us the capacity for faith. Hence, in response to, or as a consequence of, what has been done in our behalf, we should want to develop other fine qualities that give evidence of our having genuine faith. This we do by letting God’s Word and his spirit exert their full force in our lives. (2 Peter 1:1-4) The apostle Peter admonished that we ‘contribute all earnest effort,’ exerting ourselves diligently with all the strength that we have, in cooperating with the work our heavenly Father is doing in making us complete Christians.​—Compare 1 Corinthians 3:6, 7; James 1:2-4.

27. What is meant by adding virtue to our faith?

²⁷ Our adding virtue to faith means striving to be persons of moral excellence in imitation of our Exemplar, Christ. Such virtue or moral excellence is a positive quality. Its possessor not only refrains from doing bad or causing injury to his fellowmen but also seeks to do good, responding positively to the spiritual, physical and emotional needs of others.

28. Why is it important to grow in knowledge?

²⁸ Moral excellence cannot exist apart from knowledge. We need knowledge to distinguish right from wrong. (Hebrews 5:14) It is also essential for evaluating just how positive good is to be expressed in a given situation. (Philippians 1:9, 10) Unlike credulity, which makes light of or even resists knowledge, solidly based faith rests on and always benefits from knowledge. Hence, our being diligent in applying the Holy Scriptures will strengthen our faith as we continue to grow in knowledge of Jehovah God and his Son.

29. (a) Why is knowledge essential in cultivating self-control? (b) What is the relationship between self-control and endurance?

²⁹ This knowledge serves to restrain us from giving in to sinful passions, becoming immoderate and unbridled in conduct, or in other ways becoming guilty of a serious failure to reflect the divine image in attitude, word and action. Knowledge contributes to our having self-control, the ability to bridle one’s person, actions and speech. By continuing to exercise self-control, we will have the essential quality of endurance. The inner strength that endurance produces can also help us to resist giving in to sinful passions, compromising when suffering persecution or becoming preoccupied with daily cares, pleasures or material possessions. This endurance stems from relying on the Most High for strength and guidance.​—Compare Philippians 4:12, 13; James 1:5.