2 Peter 1:4

Whereby. Or, “by means of which,” referring to the divine glory and excellence, which are themselves an earnest of the promises next mentioned.

Are given. Or, “have been bestowed.” The same verb and tense are used as in v. 3.

Exceeding great ...promises. Textual evidence may be cited (cf. p. 10) for the following word order: “the precious and exceedingly great promises.” The word for “promises” (epaggelmata), occurring only here and in ch. 3:13 in the NT, may be translated “promised blessings,” referring to the fulfillment of the promises rather than simply to the promises as such. It doubtless refers to all the divine assurances that are fulfilled in a man’s salvation. But, in view of Peter’s later usage (ch. 3:13), the word may have special reference to the second coming and its attendant glory, in which event all divine promises find satisfying fulfillment.

That by these. That is, by the promised spiritual gifts already received by the believer.

Partakers. Gr. koinonoi (see on 1 Peter 5:1).

Divine nature. For the word “divine” (theios) see on v. 3. Adam was created “in the image of God” (Gen. 1:27), but sin came, and the divine image was marred. Christ came to restore that which was lost, and the Christian may therefore expect to have the divine image restored in his soul (see on 2 Cor. 3:18; Heb. 3:14). This possibility should ever be before the believer’s eyes to stimulate him to perfect Christ-likeness. He will attain to this goal to the extent that he accepts and uses the powers latent in the spiritual gifts Christ has made available to him. The transformation begins at the new birth and continues until Christ’s appearing (see on 1 John 3:2).

Having escaped. Gr. apopheugo, “to flee away from,” implying, not a rescue in which the Christian is a passive object, but an active flight from evil. This stresses an important truth: the believer is not saved in sin, but is given power to turn from sin, to escape from its clutches and thus to live free from its corrupting influence (see on Matt. 1:21). The tense of the verb, “having fled away from,” shows that the sharing in the divine nature can come only after the Christian has fled from the corruption.

Corruption. Gr. phthora. “decay,” “ruin,” “destruction,” used here as a fit term for the wickedness that is in the world.

World. Gr. kosmos (see on 1 John 2:15).

Through lust. The expression may be interpreted “by lust,” making lust the source of the evil that is in the world, or, “in lust,” making lust the sphere in which the evil manifests itself. For comment on “lust” (epithumia) see on Rom. 7:7.