King James Version

What Does 2 Peter 1:3 Mean?

2 Peter 1:3 in the King James Version says “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge ...” — study this verse from 2 Peter chapter 1 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“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: to: or, by”

2 Peter 1:3 · KJV

Context

1

Simon 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: Simon: or, Symeon God: Gr. of our God and Saviour

2

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

3

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: to: or, by

4

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.

5

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

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
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. Peter declares that God's "divine power" (theia dynamis, θεία δύναμις) has already "given" (dedōrēmenēs, δεδωρημένης, perfect tense indicating completed action with ongoing results) believers everything necessary for "life and godliness" (zōēn kai eusebian, ζωήν καὶ εὐσέβειαν). This comprehensive provision demolishes any claim that additional secret knowledge, special experiences, or supplementary teachings are needed for Christian living.

"Life" (zōē) denotes spiritual life—the new birth and resurrection life believers possess in Christ. "Godliness" (eusebeia, used ten times in the Pastoral Epistles and four times in 2 Peter) encompasses reverent devotion, practical righteousness, and Christlike character. God has provided complete resources for both justification and sanctification through His divine power, not through human effort or achievement.

This provision comes "through the knowledge" (epignōseōs) "of him that hath called us to glory and virtue." The calling is God's sovereign initiative, and its goal is both "glory" (doxa, δόξα)—sharing in God's radiant presence—and "virtue" (aretē, ἀρετή), meaning moral excellence or virtue. God calls believers not merely to forgiveness but to transformation into Christlikeness, providing all necessary power through knowing Him. This knowledge is personal and relational, not merely propositional.

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Historical & Cultural Context

In the first-century Greco-Roman world, various philosophical schools (Stoicism, Epicureanism, Cynicism) and mystery religions promised paths to virtue, enlightenment, or divine favor through human striving, secret rituals, or philosophical discipline. Judaism emphasized Torah obedience as the path to righteousness. Against this background, Peter's declaration that God has already given everything needed for life and godliness through knowing Christ was revolutionary.

Early Gnostic teaching claimed that material existence trapped the divine spark within humans, requiring secret knowledge to escape. This led to either asceticism (punishing the body) or libertinism (indulging the flesh as irrelevant to spiritual status). Peter counters that God's power enables godly living in the body, making holiness both possible and necessary. The sufficiency of divine provision also addresses Jewish-Christian disputes about the necessity of Mosaic law observance, affirming that knowing Christ provides complete resources for righteousness apart from ceremonial law-keeping.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does believing God has already provided everything necessary change your approach to spiritual growth and struggles with sin?
  2. What 'missing pieces' do you seek in Christian living that might indicate failure to trust divine sufficiency?
  3. How should the church's teaching ministry reflect confidence in the sufficiency of knowing God in Christ?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 23 words
Ὡς1 of 23

“According as”

G5613

which how, i.e., in that manner (very variously used, as follows)

πάντα2 of 23

“all things”

G3956

all, any, every, the whole

ἡμῖν3 of 23

“unto us”

G2254

to (or for, with, by) us

τῆς4 of 23
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

θείας5 of 23

“divine”

G2304

godlike (neuter as noun, divinity)

δυνάμεως6 of 23

“power”

G1411

force (literally or figuratively); specially, miraculous power (usually by implication, a miracle itself)

αὐτοῦ7 of 23

“his”

G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

τὰ8 of 23
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

πρὸς9 of 23

“that pertain unto”

G4314

a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e., toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e., pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of,

ζωὴν10 of 23

“life”

G2222

life (literally or figuratively)

καὶ11 of 23

“and”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

εὐσέβειαν12 of 23

“godliness”

G2150

piety; specially, the gospel scheme

δεδωρημένης13 of 23

“hath given”

G1433

to bestow gratuitously

διὰ14 of 23

“through”

G1223

through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)

τῆς15 of 23
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ἐπιγνώσεως16 of 23

“the knowledge”

G1922

recognition, i.e., (by implication) full discernment, acknowledgement

τοῦ17 of 23
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

καλέσαντος18 of 23

“of him that hath called”

G2564

to "call" (properly, aloud, but used in a variety of applications, directly or otherwise)

ἡμᾶς19 of 23

“us”

G2248

us

διὰ20 of 23

“through”

G1223

through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)

δόξης21 of 23

“glory”

G1391

glory (as very apparent), in a wide application (literal or figurative, objective or subjective)

καὶ22 of 23

“and”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

ἀρετῆς·23 of 23

“virtue”

G703

properly, manliness (valor), i.e., excellence (intrinsic or attributed)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 2 Peter. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

2 Peter 1:3 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 2 Peter 1:3 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

1 Peter 5:102 Timothy 1:9Romans 8:28-301 Corinthians 3:21-23Psalms 84:11Romans 8:32

Test Your Knowledge

2 Peter 1 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapter2 Peter Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

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