2 Peter 1:3
“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:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Context
Peter writes this letter near the end of his life (verse 14) to strengthen believers against false teachers and moral decay. Verses 3-4 form the theological foundation for the call to spiritual growth that follows.
What Does 2 Peter 1:3 Mean?
In short, 2 Peter 1:3 declares that God has already provided everything we need to live a godly life through knowing Christ. Peter opens the heart of his letter with a sweeping promise: God's "divine power" has given believers "all things that pertain unto life and godliness." This is not a partial supply or a starter kit -- it is the full provision of what a person needs in order to live well before God and to grow toward holiness.
The key that unlocks this provision is "the knowledge of him that hath called us." This is not abstract information but a personal, relational acquaintance with the One who has called us. Peter ties everything that follows in his ladder of virtues (verses 5-7) to this foundation. Because the power and the provision come first from God, the believer's effort is a grateful response rather than a desperate striving. The goal of the calling is striking: God has called us "to glory and virtue" -- to share in His own splendor and moral excellence. Peter sets the bar high, insisting that the Christian life aims not at mere survival but at genuine transformation, rooted entirely in what God has already supplied.
In the Original Language
The Greek "epignosis" (knowledge) denotes a full, deep, personal knowing rather than surface awareness. "Arete" (virtue) means moral excellence and was used of God's own praiseworthy character.
Cross References
“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:”
- 2 Corinthians 9:8
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
- Philippians 4:13
“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”
- John 17:3
Application
When you feel inadequate for the life God asks of you, remember that His power has already supplied all you need; your task is to draw on it through knowing Him more deeply.