and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
In these words the apostle comes to the chief thing intended in this epistle - to excite and engage them to advance in grace and holiness, they having already obtained precious faith, and been made partakers of the divine nature. This is a very good beginning, but it is not to be rested in, as if we were already perfect.
Commenting on 2 Peter 1:5-11
Without which, godliness, or external worship, or a profession of religion, is a vain show; for this is both the evidence of regeneration, and of the truth and power of real godliness; and also the beauty, comfort, and security of Christian society and worship, and without which they cannot be maintained with peace, profit, and honour: and to brotherly kindness, charity: or "love"; that is...
Verse 7. And to godliness brotherly kindness. Love to Christians as such. ; . And to brotherly kindness charity. Love to all mankind. There is to be a peculiar affection for Christians as of the same family; there is to be a true and warm love, however, for all the race. , seq. (f) "kindness" (g) "brotherly kindness" (+) "charity" "Love"