2PE 1:3-15

Partakers of the Divine Nature

3His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and excellence, [1:4] through which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of desire. [1:5] For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with excellence, and excellence with knowledge, [1:6] and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, [1:7] and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. [1:8] For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. [1:9] For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. [1:10] Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. [1:11] For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. [1:12] Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you now have. [1:13] It is right to think it proper, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by way of reminder, [1:14] since I know that the putting off of my tent will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. [1:15] And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

In the world it was spoken into

In the Greco-Roman world, the concept of 'divine nature' would have resonated deeply with both Jewish and pagan audiences. For Jews, it echoed the idea of humanity created in God’s image, while pagans familiar with Stoic and Platonic thought understood it as participation in the divine Logos or the eternal Forms. The term (virtue/excellence) was central to Greek moral philosophy, embodying the ideal of human flourishing. For Jewish listeners, it would align with Torah observance and righteous living. The call to 'partake' in divine nature implies a communal and participatory relationship, contrasting with the individualistic pursuit of virtue in Hellenistic philosophy. The mention of escaping 'decay' in the world through desire critiques the pervasive moral corruption of the age, a theme common in Jewish apocalyptic literature. The progression of virtues—faith, excellence, knowledge, self-control, endurance—reflects a structured path of moral transformation, akin to philosophical schools’ curricula but grounded in divine promises.

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How other translations render this

2PE 1:3

KJV: According 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:
BSB: His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
Koinōnos: His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and excellence,

2PE 1:4

KJV: Whereby 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.
BSB: Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
Koinōnos: through which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of desire.

2PE 1:5

KJV: And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
BSB: For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge;
Koinōnos: For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with excellence, and excellence with knowledge,

2PE 1:6

KJV: And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
BSB: and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;
Koinōnos: and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness,

2PE 1:7

KJV: And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
BSB: and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.
Koinōnos: and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.

2PE 1:8

KJV: For 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.
BSB: For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Koinōnos: For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2PE 1:9

KJV: But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
BSB: But whoever lacks these traits is nearsighted to the point of blindness, having forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
Koinōnos: For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

2PE 1:10

KJV: Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
BSB: Therefore, brothers, strive to make your calling and election sure. For if you practice these things you will never stumble,
Koinōnos: Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

2PE 1:11

KJV: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
BSB: and you will receive a lavish reception into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Koinōnos: For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

2PE 1:12

KJV: Wherefore 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.
BSB: Therefore I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are established in the truth you now have.
Koinōnos: Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you now have.

2PE 1:13

KJV: Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;
BSB: I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of my body,
Koinōnos: It is right to think it proper, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by way of reminder,

2PE 1:14

KJV: Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.
BSB: because I know that this tent will soon be laid aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.
Koinōnos: since I know that the putting off of my tent will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.

2PE 1:15

KJV: Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.
BSB: And I will make every effort to ensure that after my departure, you will be able to recall these things at all times.
Koinōnos: And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

2PE 1:3

godliness:The word translated 'godliness' here refers to a deep reverence and devotion towards God, often expressed through actions that align with divine will, rather than just a general sense of piety.
excellence,:The term translated 'excellence' carried a broad meaning of inherent goodness or virtue, often associated with fulfilling one's potential or purpose, not merely being superior in skill.

2PE 1:4

partakers:The word translated 'partakers' implies a deep, shared involvement or partnership, suggesting a common experience and destiny with the divine, not just a casual participation.
desire:The word translated 'desire' can refer to any strong longing, but in this context, it often implies an intense, sometimes uncontrolled, craving or passion, particularly for things that are worldly or sinful.