2 Peter 1:4
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Through God's great and precious promises, believers come to share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that fills the world.
What Does 2 Peter 1:4 Mean?
Building on the gifts of verse 3, Peter names how they reach us: through "exceeding great and precious promises." These promises are the instrument by which God works His purpose in His people. The verse sets two destinies side by side — the corruption of the world, driven by disordered desire, and the divine nature, which believers are brought to share.
Through these promises believers "might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." The same word for sharing describes deep participation, not distant observation. As one truly takes part in what is divine, the grip of the world's decay is broken. This is the high calling Peter holds before every reader: not merely forgiveness, but transformation into something that genuinely partakes of God, leaving the rot of sin behind. It is the hope that makes the whole pursuit of godliness worthwhile.
In the Original Language
koinonos (κοινωνός), 'partakers' — sharers, partners who genuinely participate in something together.