The next virtue that Peter mentions is godliness. Now we know that we cannot make ourselves godly so why does Peter tell us to add godliness? Godliness is being like God and we cannot be like Him unless He makes us godly. I think that is why Paul calls it the mystery of godliness. Right after his description and qualifications of elders and deacons he then gives almost a song about godliness.
"Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great:
He appeared in a body,
was vindicated by the Spirit,
was seen by angels,
was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
was taken up in glory." 1 Timothy 3:16
Then a few lines later he says "Train yourself to be godly." 1 Timothy 4:7
This is a mystery. We cannot make ourselves godly but we are to train ourselves to be godly. How does that work? Once again we are to work out what God has already worked in. I need to meditate on that.
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