2 Peter 1:4

Whereby (di wn). Probably the "glory and virtue" just mentioned, though it is possible to take it with panta ta pro, etc., or with hmin (unto us, meaning "through whom"). He hath granted (dedwrhtai). Perfect middle indicative of dwrew, for which see verse 2 Peter 3 . His precious and exceeding great promises (ta timia kai megista epaggelmata). Epaggelma is an old word (from epaggellw) in place of the common epaggelia, in N.T. only here and 2 Peter 3:13 . Timio (precious, from timh, value), three times by Peter ( 1 Peter 1:7 of faith; 1 Peter 1:19 of the blood of Christ; 2 Peter 1:4 of Christ's promises). Megista is the elative superlative used along with a positive adjective (timia). That ye may become (ina genhsqe). Purpose clause with ina and second aorist middle subjunctive of ginomai. Through these (dia toutwn). The promises. Partakers (koinwnoi). Partners, sharers in, for which word see 1 Peter 5:1 . Of the divine nature (qeia pusew). This phrase, like to qeion in Acts 17:29 , "belongs rather to Hellenism than to the Bible" (Bigg). It is a Stoic phrase, but not with the Stoic meaning. Peter is referring to the new birth as 1 Peter 1:23 (anagegennhmenoi). The same phrase occurs in an inscription possibly under the influence of Mithraism (Moulton and Milligan's Vocabulary). Having escaped (apopugonte). Second aorist active participle of apopeugw, old compound verb, in N.T. only here and 1 Peter 2:18-20 , with the ablative here (pqora, old word from pqeirw, moral decay as in 1 Peter 2:12 ) and the accusative there. By lust (en epiqumiai). Caused by, consisting in, lust. "Man becomes either regenerate or degenerate" (Strachan).