For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self- control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 1

“Supplement … virtue with knowledge."

A. Not simply by learning 3

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self- control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 4

For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 5

A. Not simply by learning B. Must love the truth A. Not simply by learning B. Must love the truth 6

The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 7

A. Not simply by learning B. Must love the truth C. Must seek to know the truth A. Not simply by learning B. Must love the truth C. Must seek to know the truth 8

The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men. The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men. 9

A. Not simply by learning B. Must love the truth C. Must seek to know the truth D. Must desire to obey the truth A. Not simply by learning B. Must love the truth C. Must seek to know the truth D. Must desire to obey the truth 10

About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching. The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.” About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching. The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.” 11

A. Not simply by learning B. Must love the truth C. Must seek to know the truth D. Must desire to obey the truth E. Must have an investigative spirit - "perspiration not inspiration" A. Not simply by learning B. Must love the truth C. Must seek to know the truth D. Must desire to obey the truth E. Must have an investigative spirit - "perspiration not inspiration" 12

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 13

And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 14

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. 15

Tools, such as the following, will be helpful. 1. Cross-references and marginal notes in your current Bible 2. A good study Bible without a denominational slant* 3. Word studies 4. Bible dictionary 5. Commentaries 6. Debates Tools, such as the following, will be helpful. 1. Cross-references and marginal notes in your current Bible 2. A good study Bible without a denominational slant* 3. Word studies 4. Bible dictionary 5. Commentaries 6. Debates 16

A. Not simply by learning B. Must love the truth C. Must seek to know the truth D. Must desire to obey the truth E. Must have an investigative spirit - "perspiration not inspiration" F. Must meditate [exercise mental industry] A. Not simply by learning B. Must love the truth C. Must seek to know the truth D. Must desire to obey the truth E. Must have an investigative spirit - "perspiration not inspiration" F. Must meditate [exercise mental industry] 17

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 18

 Do you appreciate the importance of knowledge?  Do you want the benefits of knowledge?  Do you want to supplement virtue with it?  It is not difficult but it does require making every effort.  Do you appreciate the importance of knowledge?  Do you want the benefits of knowledge?  Do you want to supplement virtue with it?  It is not difficult but it does require making every effort. 19