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The Need for Diligence
January 11, 2020

Beginning with 2020, we have started a close look at what Peter wrote in 2 Peter 1:1-10, and last week considered faith as the foundation for who we are spiritually. Verse 5 begins with, “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith…” If we are going to add to our faith, we must consider diligence and what it means. In verse ten of the same passage we are told, “…brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure…” If we are going to make our calling and election sure, we need to understand diligence from the Biblical perspective.

The English word diligence in verse five comes from the Greek word which is transliterated as spoude. Spoude means done with speed, with eagerness, with haste, with diligence. A variation of spoude is used for the word diligence in verse ten, spoudazo, and again this word implies to use speed or make effort.

Diligence is not the only word translated from spoude or spoudazo. When Paul wrote his second letter to Timothy and wrote what is recorded for us in 2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God…,” Paul used the word spoudazo which was translated as study. Paul was warning Timothy of the need to study, and one way that we can spoudazo or study is to study the Bible and in the letter to Timothy to study so we will not be deceived by false teachings.

Spoude is translated as carefulness in 2 Corinthians 7:11, and even though we are to be diligent, diligence does not mean we are ever reckless; we must be careful with our faith. In Romans 12:11, spoude is translated as business, what we do must be done with diligence.

When Paul wrote to the Ephesians in Ephesians 4:3, he wrote, “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” The word endeavoring is translated from spoudazo. It takes endeavoring, diligence put into action, “to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” It takes work to keep the peace even with brethren, and we can find that spoudazo was translated as labor, or work, in Hebrews 4:11, “Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.”

In Jude’s letter, a book with only one chapter, spoude is used when Jude, “…gave all diligence…,” and Jude gave all diligence because already at that time people were changing the gospel with ideas such as sinning as much as you want because Jesus died for you. He went on to show how wrong this idea is and how similar thoughts cost the adults of the children of Israel who left Egypt during the exodus the right to enter the promised land. Jude also showed how bad logic and false belief caused the demons their place with God, and how the people of Sodom and Gomorrah used incorrect logic to justify their sexual sins. By having diligence, we can avoid these problems.

Jude 1:3-10
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

In his second letter, Peter tells us that Jesus will return at an unexpected time and that at some point after that time everything that is physical will be destroyed, which is why we look to the hope of a new heaven and a new earth. Peter reminds us because we have this hope in verse fourteen to “…be diligent…” translated from spoudazo. It is with diligence and careful consideration that we take a look at this future time of the new heavens and the new earth, the New Jerusalem, when God will be here on earth, this future time of incredible happiness.

2 Peter 3:10-16
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

As Christians, we know that faith is the bedrock of our relationship with Jesus Christ, that it is what nurtures and feeds the Holy Spirit, as we add to our faith virtue and knowledge and temperance and patience and godliness and brotherly kindness and charity. We know that as we grow it must be done with diligence. That means it’s something we do with speed, with eagerness, with incredible effort. It’s also something we do with careful consideration. That’s why in Hebrew, we are reminded to be diligent in our faith. We are told we can’t allow ourselves to fall away from the faith to return later.

Hebrews 6:4-12
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Growing in faith and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ requires diligence, but it does not require this risk-taking that could cost us our salvation. Everything is done with careful consideration. Everything is done through study that is done diligently so that we are not deceived or duped by people who either through evil intent or their own stupidity might take our salvation away from us. Diligence is an essential part of our salvation and relationship with Jesus and God the Father.

All verses are from the King James Version.
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