5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.

2 Peter 1:5-7

Each of these builds on each other. The foundational quality is faith, for without faith, everything else is meaningless.

Faith leads us to moral goodness. With that moral goodness we can have a deeper understanding or knowledge of God.

On top of those three is self-control. Not being able to control ourselves is hazardous to us and to those around us. But having sustained self control points us to perseverance. and then to godliness, as the beginning of this book points out.

Lastly, mutual affection and love are paramount in the believer’s life. To circle back, faith in Christ ultimately leads to loving people. Each step and quality is merely a stepping stone to loving God and loving people.