2 Peter1

Simon Peter greets believers, emphasizing their precious faith and the divine power that provides all things for life and godliness, enabling them to partake in the divine nature. He exhorts them to diligently add a series of virtues to their faith, such as knowledge, patience, and charity, to ensure fruitfulness and a sure entrance into God's kingdom. Peter affirms that his message is based on eyewitness testimony of Christ's majesty, not fables, and highlights the divine origin of prophecy as a reliable guide.

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Salutation and God's Provision

Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and the Saviour Jesus Christ:

Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;

seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue;

whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.

The Ladder of Christian Virtues

Yea, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply virtue; and in your virtue knowledge;

and in your knowledge self-control; and in your self-control patience; and in your patience godliness;

and in your godliness brotherly kindness; and in your brotherly kindness love.

For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful unto the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

For he that lacketh these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins.

Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble:

for thus shall be richly supplied unto you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Peter's Purpose and Impending Death

Wherefore I shall be ready always to put you in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and are established in the truth which is with you.

And I think it right, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;

knowing that the putting off of my tabernacle cometh swiftly, even as our Lord Jesus Christ signified unto me.

Yea, I will give diligence that at every time ye may be able after my decease to call these things to remembrance.

The Surety of Apostolic Testimony

For we did not follow cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there was borne such a voice to him by the Majestic Glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased:

and this voice we ourselves heard borne out of heaven, when we were with him in the holy mount.

And we have the word of prophecy made more sure; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts:

knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of private interpretation.

For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit.

Study Notes for 2 Peter 1

Verse 1

Peter identifies himself as both a servant (*doulos*) and an apostle, emphasizing his authority and humility. The phrase “like precious faith” stresses the equality of all believers in their standing before God, attained through Christ’s righteousness.

Verse 3

God's “divine power” has already provided everything necessary for Christian living (“life and godliness”). This emphasizes the sufficiency of God's initial calling and provision through the saving knowledge of Christ.

Verse 4

To be “partakers of the divine nature” does not mean becoming deity, but sharing in God’s moral attributes (holiness, love, truth), providing the power necessary to escape worldly corruption.

Verse 5

Peter introduces a progressive list of virtues, often called the “Christian ladder,” urging diligent effort to build upon the foundation of faith. This list emphasizes active human responsibility in spiritual growth.

Verse 7

The progression culminates in *agape* ('charity' or divine love), the selfless, comprehensive love that binds all the preceding virtues together and is the ultimate expression of Christian maturity.

Verse 9

The one who fails to grow in these virtues is described as spiritually 'blind' (myopic), having lost sight of the profound cleansing and forgiveness received when first called to Christ.

Verse 10

To 'make your calling and election sure' refers not to securing God’s choice, but to demonstrating the reality of that choice through persistent spiritual maturity and fruitful living.

Verse 12

Peter explains his urgency in writing, emphasizing that while his readers are already established in truth, they need constant reminders to ensure perseverance against false teaching.

Verse 13

The term “tabernacle” is a common biblical metaphor for the human body, indicating that Peter views his earthly life as a temporary dwelling.

Verse 14

Peter acknowledges his imminent death, likely referencing the prophecy Jesus made concerning his martyrdom (John 21:18-19).

Verse 16

Peter defends the apostolic message against accusations that it is based on mythology ('cunningly devised fables'), asserting that their teaching is grounded in verifiable, historical reality, particularly Christ's power and future return.

Verse 17

This account refers directly to the Transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-8), where Peter, James, and John were witnesses to Christ’s inherent majesty and divine affirmation from the Father.

Verse 19

The 'more sure word of prophecy' confirms the eyewitness accounts, acting as a reliable light in a dark world until the full revelation of Christ ('day star') occurs at His return or in the believer's heart.

Verse 20

This verse establishes the principle of divine inspiration: prophetic Scripture cannot be interpreted according to the private opinion of the prophet or the reader, but must be understood in its divine context.

Verse 21

The ultimate source of Scripture is the Holy Spirit, not human intention ('will of man'). This affirms the supernatural authority and reliability of the prophetic writings.

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2 Peter1

Salutation and God's Provision

The Ladder of Christian Virtues

Peter's Purpose and Impending Death

The Surety of Apostolic Testimony

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