Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
Whereby, etc.—By His glory and virtue: His glory making the "promises" to be exceeding great; His virtue making them "precious" [BENGEL]. Precious promises are the object of precious faith.
given—The promises themselves are a gift: for God's promises are as sure as if they were fulfilled.
by these—promises. They are the object of faith, and even now have a sanctifying effect on the believer, assimilating him to God. Still more so, when they shall be fulfilled.
might, etc.—Greek, "that ye MAY become partakers of the divine nature," even now in part; hereafter perfectly; I John 3:2, "We shall be like Him."
the divine nature—not God's essence, but His holiness, including His "glory" and "virtue," II Peter 1:3; the opposite to "corruption through lust." Sanctification is the imparting to us of God Himself by the Holy Spirit in the soul. We by faith partake also of the material nature of Jesus (Ephesians 5:30). The "divine power" enables us to be partakers of "the divine nature."
escaped the corruption—which involves in, and with itself, destruction at last of soul and body; on "escaped" as from a condemned cell, compare II Peter 2:18-20; Genesis 19:17; Colossians 1:13.
through—Greek, "in." "The corruption in the world" has its seat, not so much in the surrounding elements, as in the "lust" or concupiscence of men's hearts.
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing 2 Peter 1:4:
1 Corinthians 6:17
Ephesians 1:5
Ephesians 6:24
Colossians 2:9
1 Thessalonians 4:8
Hebrews 12:9
Hebrews 12:10
2 Peter 1:3
2 Peter 1:3
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