2 Peter 1:1-4

¹ “Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: ² Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, ³ for His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. ⁴ Through these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world on account of lust.”

Verse 1: Peter begins by introducing himself as a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ. He wants the readers to understand that he is writing with authority as one who has been commissioned by Jesus himself. Peter then addresses the recipients of his letter, emphasizing that their faith is received through the righteousness of God and Savior Jesus Christ. This means that their faith is not based on their own efforts or works, but on the righteousness of Jesus. It is a faith that is equally precious and valuable as Peter’s own.

Verse 2: Peter extends his greeting of grace and peace to the believers. He wants them to understand that these blessings are not something they have to strive for or earn, but they are already theirs in abundance. This abundance of grace and peace comes through the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. It is through knowing and understanding the truth of what Jesus has accomplished that they can experience the fullness of these spiritual blessings.

Verse 3: Peter now highlights the divine power of God that has been given to believers. This power is not something they have to work up or achieve, but it is already given to them. It is through their knowledge of God, specifically the knowledge of the gospel, that they have access to everything they need for a godly life. This includes the power to live in a way that is pleasing to God and aligned with His purposes.

Verse 4: Peter emphasizes that through God’s great and precious promises, believers can participate in the divine nature. These promises are not empty words, but they carry the power to transform and shape their lives. Through these promises, believers can experience a participation in the very nature of God. This means that they have been made partakers of God’s own nature through their union with Christ. As a result, they have escaped the corruption and bondage of the world and its evil desires. This is not something they have to strive for or achieve on their own, but it is a result of their new identity in Christ.