2 Peter 1:3 Meaning and Explanation
“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 →God has already given us everything we need to truly live, and it comes through knowing Him.
The Context of 2 Peter 1:3
Peter writes near the end of his life (he speaks in this letter of putting off his tent soon, 1:14), wanting to leave the churches with words that will hold after he is gone. He opens not with a list of demands but with a gift already given.
What Does 2 Peter 1:3 Mean?
Peter begins with what God has already done. By His own power, God has handed us all things that pertain to life and godliness. The picture is of a generous provision, a storehouse opened to us before we ask, so that the resources for a whole new way of living are already in hand. And the way in is knowledge: knowing the One who called us, the kind of knowing that comes from being drawn near, a living acquaintance of a Person rather than a collection of facts.
The One who calls us calls us to glory and virtue, His own goodness shared out with us. This is the heart of the gospel: God comes near rather than standing at a distance asking us to climb. He gives His own power and invites us into His own life through knowing Christ. Everything we lack, He has already supplied in Him. The Christian life begins as a gift received before it ever becomes a road walked.
2 Peter 1:3 in the Original Language
epignosis (ἐπίγνωσις), 'knowledge' -- a full, deep, personal knowing, more than information.
How to Apply 2 Peter 1:3 Today
When we feel we lack what it takes to follow God, this verse turns us back to what has already been given. The power for life and godliness is not something we must manufacture; it is His, handed to us in Christ. We grow by drawing nearer to the One we already know.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Peter 1:3
What does 2 Peter 1:3 mean?
God has already given us everything we need to truly live, and it comes through knowing Him.
What is the context of 2 Peter 1:3?
Peter writes near the end of his life (he speaks in this letter of putting off his tent soon, 1:14), wanting to leave the churches with words that will hold after he is gone. He opens not with a list of demands but with a gift already given.
How can I apply 2 Peter 1:3 today?
When we feel we lack what it takes to follow God, this verse turns us back to what has already been given. The power for life and godliness is not something we must manufacture; it is His, handed to us in Christ. We grow by drawing nearer to the One we already know.