8. Exceeding Great and Precious Promises

2 Peter 1:1-4 — 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.

Exegesis (vs. 1-4)

• A LETTER FROM: Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ,
• A LETTER TO: them that have obtained[received] like precious[of equal value or honor] faith [persuasion, moral conviction, reliance upon Christ] with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
• Grace, peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
• According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life [zoe] and godliness [holiness], through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
• Whereby [the channel of an act => the knowledge of Christ] are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises:
• that by these [promises] ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Word Study (vs. 4)

• exceeding great: superlative, greatest or very great [only here but root that is superlative of: Matthew 2:10; 22:36; John 11:43]
• precious: had in reputation, valuable, honored, dear [Acts 5:34; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 1:7]
• promises: a self-committal, assurance of conferring some good "I WILL..." [2 Pe 3:13]
• partakers: a sharer, fellowship, partner [Luke 5:10; 1Co 10:20]
• divine nature: theios/godlike | native, sort, kind, constitution [Romans 1:26; Romans 2:14; Romans 11:21; 1 Corinthians 11:14; Ephesians 2:3; James 3:7]
• corruption: decay [Galatians 6:8]

Galatians 6:8 — For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

1. The Channel: "The Knowledge of God", v. 2

• What could we know of God without Him revealing it, sharing it?

John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

ADAM CLARKE: Those who know Christ; and do not acknowledge him before men, can get no multiplication of grace and peace

2. The Source: "The Power of God", v.3

• endowed us with supernatural gifts

Ephesians 1:3 ¶ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

• but not merely impersonal "gifts" or "force" but a Comforter --- the Person of the Holy Ghost HE

Ac 10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

John 14:26 — But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

3. The Gift: "Exceeding Great and Precious Promises" v.3,4

• HAS CALLED US to glory (the end) and virtue/courage/perfection of the divine nature (through his own infinite goodness)
• Grace & Peace multiplied
• all things that pertain unto life and Godliness
• Great
• and Precious --- Distinguised by the Promises
• Abraham, Isaac, Jacob , Moses, prophets are distinguished by the promises given to them.

**BY THE GIFT OF THE PROMISES, TO THE END **

Ge 1:26 ¶ And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

• Partakers of the Divine Nature

1Co 6:9 ¶ Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Col 1:12 — Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;