The essence or element of virtue is contained in faith as a seed.

[jidong xiao]

在五节彼得说，“正因这缘故，你们要分外殷勤，在你们的信上，充足的供应美德，在美德上供应知识。”“美德”是指三节所题的美德，那里彼得说到“那用祂自己的荣耀和美德呼召我们的”一位。不但如此，这美德与神的性情（4）有关；神的性情指神所是的丰富不同的方面。三节和五节的美德是经历神的性情，享受神的性情的结果。我们有分于神的性情，就是神所是之丰富的不同方面，这些丰富就成为我们的美德。例如，神是爱、光、圣、义和恩慈。这一切都是神的属性。每一种神的属性也是一种美德。我们享受神的所是，我们就享受祂的圣别。然后这圣别就成为我们身上并随着我们的美德。享受神其他的属性，原则也是一样。

美德的素质或元素包含在信这种子里。这种子实际上就是基督自己，而基督就是神在祂一切的所是里。因为神一切的所是都在基督里，基督就是神所是的具体化身。这位基督成了我们的产业。我们里面对这具体化身的响应或返照就是信。因此，信也是我们的产业。在信这种子里包括一切神的属性，一切神所是的丰富。因为我们有信这种子同神的性情，我们就必须往前发展这种子。在这发展里出来的第一样东西，就是美德。所以，美德是享受神性情的结果，是享受神所是的结果。

In verse 5 Peter says, "And for this very reason also, adding all diligence, supply bountifully in your faith virtue, and in virtue knowledge." The word "virtue" refers to the virtue mentioned in verse 3, where Peter speaks of the One who has "called us to His own glory and virtue." Furthermore, this virtue is related to the divine nature (v. 4), which denotes the different aspects of the riches of what God is. The virtue in verses 3 and 5 is the issue of the experience of the divine nature, the enjoyment of the divine nature, in verse 4. When we partake of the divine nature, the different aspects of the riches of what God is, these riches become our virtues. For example, God is love, light, holiness, righteousness, and kindness. All these are God's attributes. Each divine attribute is also a virtue. When we enjoy what God is, we enjoy His holiness. Then this holiness becomes a virtue in us and with us. The principle is the same with the enjoyment of other divine attributes. 

The essence or element of virtue is contained in faith as a seed. This seed is actually Christ Himself, and Christ is God in all that He is. Because all that God is, is in Christ, Christ is the embodiment of what God is. This Christ has become our inheritance. The response to, or reflection of, this embodiment within us is faith. Faith, then, is also our inheritance. Within faith as a seed are included all the divine attributes, all the riches of what God is. Because we have this seed of faith with the divine nature, we must go on to develop this seed. The first thing that comes forth in this development is virtue. Therefore, virtue is the result of enjoying the divine nature, the result of enjoying what God is.