2 Peter 1:4

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Peter 1:1-4

The apostle Peter, being moved by the Holy Ghost to write once more to those who from among the Jews were turned to faith in Christ, begins this second epistle with an introduction, wherein the same persons are described and the same blessings are desired that are in the preface to his former letter; but there are some additions or alterations which ought to be taken notice of, in all the three parts of the introduction. I. We have here a description of the person who wrote the epistle, by the... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 2 Peter 1:3-7

1:3-7 Since his divine power has bestowed upon us all things that are necessary for true life and true religion, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, and since through these gifts there have been bestowed upon us precious and very great promises, that through them we might escape the world's corruption caused by lust and become sharers in the divine nature--since still this is so, bend all your energy to the task of equipping your faith with courage,... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 2 Peter 1:3-7

Peter says that we must bend all our energies to equip ourselves with a series of great qualities. The word he uses for to equip is epichoregein ( Greek #2023 ) which he uses again in 2 Peter 1:11 when he speaks of us being richly gifted with the right of entry into the eternal kingdom. This is one of the many Greek words which have a pictorial background. The verb epichoregein ( Greek #2023 ) comes from the noun choregos ( Greek #5524 ), which literally means "the leader of a... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 2 Peter 1:3-7

Let us then look at the list of virtues which have to be added one to another. it is worth noting that in the ancient world such lists were common. It was a world in which books were not nearly so cheap and so readily available as they are today. Instruction, therefore, had for the most part to be carried in the pupil's head; and easily memorized lists were one of the commonest ways of inculcating instruction. One ingenious way of teaching the child the names of the virtues was by means of a... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 2 Peter 1:3-7

(iv) To this practical knowledge must be added self-control, or self-mastery. The word is egkrateia ( Greek #1466 ), and it means literally the ability, to take a grip of oneself. This is a virtue of which the great Greeks spoke and wrote and thought much. In regard to a man and his passions Aristotle distinguishes four states in life. There is sophrosune ( Greek #4997 ), in which passion has been entirely subjugated to reason; we might call it perfect temperance. There is akolasia,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Peter 1:4

Whereby are given unto us ,.... Or "by which", that is, glory and virtue; by the glorious power of Christ, or by the glorious and powerful Gospel of Christ; and so the Arabic version renders it, "by both of which"; or "by whom", as the Vulgate Latin version reads; that is, by Christ; for as in him are all the promises of God, so they are at his dispose, and by him are given unto the saints: exceeding great and precious promises ; meaning the promises of the new and everlasting covenant,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 1:4

Whereby are given unto us - By his own glorious power he hath freely given unto us exceeding great and invaluable promises. The Jews were distinguished in a very particular manner by the promises which they received from God; the promises to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and the prophets. God promised to be their God; to protect, support, and save them; to give them what was emphatically called the promised land; and to cause the Messiah to spring from their race. St. Peter intimates to... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 1:4

Verse 4 4.Whereby are given to us. It is doubtful whether he refers only to glory and power, or to the preceding things also. The whole difficulty arises from this, — that what is here said is not suitable to the glory and virtue which God confers on us; but if we read, “by his own glory and power,” there will be no ambiguity nor perplexity. For what things have been promised to us by God, ought to be properly and justly deemed to be the effects of his power and glory. (148) At the same time... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Peter 1:1-4

The address. I. ST . PETER 'S DESCRIPTION OF HIMSELF . 1 . His name. He wrote "Peter" simply in the First Epistle; he writes "Symeon Peter" now. Apparently he is writing to the same Churches as before; but it is a Second Epistle, he seems to know more of them—he gives his full name. That name contains the history of his soul: the first tells of his admission into the old covenant by circumcision; the second, of his admission into the new covenant through faith in Jesus... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Peter 1:3-4

The bounty of God. The lot of the primitive Christians whom the apostles addressed in their spoken and written utterances must, for the most part, have appeared to ordinary observers far from desirable. Not only were they drawn from the lowly and unconsidered classes of society, but they often had much to endure as a consequence of their reception of the gospel and their fidelity to Christ. Especially did they meet with the contempt of the great, on account of their adhesion to what the... read more

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