2Peter 1:3-7 According as his divine power has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that has called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
‘Divine’ [Greek: theios] that which belongs to the Godhead. ‘Power’ [Greek: dunamis] inherent power; power to reproduce itself, like a dynamo.
‘All things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that has called us’ this divine power is capable of giving one all things of life and godliness through the proper knowledge. ‘To glory and virtue’ the object of Christian calling.
‘Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises’ by His glorious power (1:3). ‘By these you might be partakers of the divine nature’ seven blessings of the promises are given: Like precious faith (1:1; Rom. 10:17); righteousness (1:1; 1Cor. 1:30); grace and peace (1:2); all things that pertain to life and godliness (1:3; Tit. 2:11-12); glory and virtue (1:3); the divine nature (1:4); escape from corruption and lust (1:4).
‘Corruption’ [Greek: phthora] moral corruption, decay, ruin, depravity, wickedness (1:4; 2:12, 19; Rom. 8:21; 1Cor. 15:42, 50; Gal. 6:8). Also translated “perish” (Col. 2:22) and “be destroyed” (2:12).
‘Beside this’ along with this, or by the side of your obtaining precious faith (1:1). ‘Add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge’ there are seven steps in spiritual arithmetic: Add to faith virtue (Christian Virtues); add to virtue knowledge (1:5); add to knowledge temperance (Gal. 5:22); add to temperance patience; add to patience godliness (1Tim. 3:16); add to godliness brotherly kindness; add to brotherly kindness love (1Cor. 13:4).
Living the Word 