New Testament · Letter

2 Peter 1

True Knowledge

Peter's final letter — a warning against false teachers and a reminder that the day of the Lord is coming, even if it seems delayed.

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1Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

2Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

3According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

4Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

5And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

6And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

7And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

8For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

10Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

11For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

12Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

13Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;

14Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.

15Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.

16For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

17For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

18And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

19We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

20Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

21For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Understand This

2 Peter 1, explained

What 2 Peter 1 is saying

Peter grounds his readers in the sufficiency of divine provision: God's power has granted everything needed for life and godliness through knowledge (epignosis) of Christ, who called believers by His own glory and excellence. The 'great and precious promises' enable participation in the divine nature (theias koinōnoi physeōs). A virtue ladder (faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, affection, love) describes the progressive character of spiritual maturity. Peter authenticates his authority by appealing to his eyewitness experience of Christ's transfiguration on the 'holy mountain.'

The background behind it

The 'divine nature' language (theias physeōs) employs Hellenistic philosophical vocabulary, likely familiar to the audience from Stoic and Middle Platonic discourse, but redefines it within a covenantal-relational framework rather than an ontological fusion. The transfiguration account (cf. Mark 9:2-8) serves as apostolic credentials against the false teachers addressed in chapter 2.

Themes running underneath

The theosis-like language of 'partaking in the divine nature' has been foundational for Eastern Orthodox theology, though the epistle frames this participation as escaping corruption rather than achieving apotheosis. The virtue ladder's culmination in love (agape) reveals that moral formation is ultimately relational. Prophetic Scripture's origin 'from God' through the Holy Spirit establishes the doctrine of inspiration.

Why it still matters

Peter's progression from faith to love provides a practical roadmap for spiritual growth that resists both passivity and legalism. The appeal to eyewitness testimony and prophetic Scripture together establish a dual foundation for confidence in the face of doubt and deception.

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Scripture text: King James Version — public domain.