2 Peter 1:3–4, King James Version
Italic words were supplied in the English translation for clarity.
2 Peter 1:3–4
Divine Power Gives Life, Godliness, Promises, and Escape
Gift first: life and godliness, not a catalog of extras
Divine power has already given what pertains to life and godliness through knowledge of the One who called us. The great and precious promises aim at participation in the divine nature and at escape from the corruption that desire breeds in the world. Effort will come in the next unit. Provision comes first.
'All things' does not promise wealth, health, safety, expertise, or instant relief from every material need. Participation is real sharing in God's life and holiness, not fusion with God or a technique for becoming divine. Escape is from ruinous craving, not from bodies, sexuality, creation, or ordinary pleasure. The earth is not the enemy.
How this should shape us
Name both the gift and the help still required. Pray and keep the appointment: food, medicine, counseling, safety, a bill that needs paying. Do not let 'he has given us all things' become a reason to withhold practical care or to despise the life you still have to live.
Teach it back
Explain 2 Peter 1:3–4 in your own words. Include its place in 2 Peter's movement, the unit's logic, one material uncertainty, and one use the context rules out.
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Go deeper
The explanation above is meant to stand on its own. Open these notes only if you want language, history, disagreements, or source locations.
Where careful interpreters disagreeThe strongest options and their difficulties
Where do careful interpreters disagree?
Best judgment: Interpreters differ over the precise scope of life and godliness, the call's grammar, and how theological traditions should describe participation. The textual center is strong: divine gift and promise produce holy participation and escape from corrupting desire.
How certain? probableResearch trail and exact locationsThe source record behind this section
Supports: Exact reader-facing Scripture wording, paragraph markers, supplied-word markup, and complete verse coverage.
2 Peter 1:3–4, pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus
Supports: Greek wording, clause relationships, repeated terms, and the base text used for original-language discussion.
SBLGNT official text file 2Pet.txt, 1:3–4
Supports: Verse-level Greek, syntax, KJV-era wording, textual variants, and interpretive alternatives.
NET Bible 2 Peter PDF, 1:3–4 translation and attached translator, study, and textual notes
Supports: Historical-critical orientation, genre, authorship and date alternatives, audience limits, whole-letter movement, and theological themes.
Enter the Bible 2 Peter course, Summary, Outline, Background, Introductory Issues, and Theological Themes; applied to 2 Peter 1:3–4
Supports: Pro-Petrine authorship case, literary flow, Greek observations, theological synthesis, and verse-level interpretation.
Harmon and Sloat, 2 Peter, section 1:3–4, with Author and Recipients, Theology, Purpose, outline, bibliography, and endnotes
Supports: Independent morphology, form, and lexical-range cross-check for material Greek claims.
STEP Bible Data repository, Greek morphology and lexical records for 2 Peter 1:3–4
Sources for This Section
These records identify the source, the claim it supports, and the exact location used. A source remains evidence to evaluate; it does not replace the biblical text.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Exact reader-facing Scripture wording, paragraph markers, supplied-word markup, and complete verse coverage.
Exact location: 2 Peter 1:3–4, pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus
Open source ↗Greek textual evidence
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition
Michael W. Holmes, editor; Society of Biblical Literature and Logos
Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, 2010
Supports: Greek wording, clause relationships, repeated terms, and the base text used for original-language discussion.
Exact location: SBLGNT official text file 2Pet.txt, 1:3–4
Open the 2 Peter Greek text file ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible — 2 Peter with translators' and textual notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, 2005–2026 online edition
Supports: Verse-level Greek, syntax, KJV-era wording, textual variants, and interpretive alternatives.
Exact location: NET Bible 2 Peter PDF, 1:3–4 translation and attached translator, study, and textual notes
Open the official NET 2 Peter PDF ↗modern scholarly book introduction
2 Peter course: summary, outline, background, introductory issues, and theological themes
David Stewart; revised by Matthew L. Skinner
Enter the Bible, Luther Seminary, 2023 revision
Supports: Historical-critical orientation, genre, authorship and date alternatives, audience limits, whole-letter movement, and theological themes.
Exact location: Enter the Bible 2 Peter course, Summary, Outline, Background, Introductory Issues, and Theological Themes; applied to 2 Peter 1:3–4
Open source ↗modern open commentary
2 Peter
Matthew Harmon and John Sloat
The Gospel Coalition Bible Commentary, 2023
Supports: Pro-Petrine authorship case, literary flow, Greek observations, theological synthesis, and verse-level interpretation.
Exact location: Harmon and Sloat, 2 Peter, section 1:3–4, with Author and Recipients, Theology, Purpose, outline, bibliography, and endnotes
Open source ↗Lexical and grammatical evidence
STEP Bible Data
Tyndale House Cambridge
Tyndale House Cambridge, repository snapshot verified 2026
Supports: Independent morphology, form, and lexical-range cross-check for material Greek claims.
Exact location: STEP Bible Data repository, Greek morphology and lexical records for 2 Peter 1:3–4
Open source ↗