Limitless Word
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
2 Peter 1:3 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB seeing that his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and virtue;
  • KJV 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:
  • NKJV as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
  • NASB for His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
  • NLT By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

God's divine power has already given believers everything needed for life and godliness through knowing Christ, who called us by his glory and goodness. It matters because we lack no spiritual resource for living a godly life.

Overview

Peter grounds Christian growth in what God has already provided rather than in human effort alone. Through the knowledge of Christ, believers have been granted all they need for both spiritual life and practical godliness. The effectual call comes through God's own 'glory and virtue,' showing that salvation and sanctification originate in his gracious initiative.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 33

  • 1 Pet 5:10And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish you.
  • 2 Tim 1:9He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.
  • Rom 8:28–30And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
  • 1 Cor 3:21–23Therefore, stop boasting in men. All things are yours,
  • Ps 84:11For the LORD God is a sun and a shield; the LORD gives grace and glory; He withholds no good thing from those who walk with integrity.
  • Rom 8:32He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things?
  • Eph 1:19–21and the surpassing greatness of His power to us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength,
  • 2 Cor 12:9But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.
  • 1 Pet 2:21For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps:
  • 1 Pet 2:9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
  • 2 Th 2:14To this He called you through our gospel, so that you may share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
  • 1 Th 2:12encouraging you, comforting you, and urging you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
  • 1 Th 4:7For God has not called us to impurity, but to holiness.
  • 1 Cor 1:9God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
  • Eph 4:1As a prisoner in the Lord, then, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received:
  • 1 Pet 1:15But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do,
  • 2 Pet 1:2Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
  • 2 Pet 1:5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge;
  • John 17:2–3For You granted Him authority over all people, so that He may give eternal life to all those You have given Him.
  • 1 Pet 3:9Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
  • Col 1:16For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him.
  • 1 Tim 4:8For physical exercise is of limited value, but godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for the present life and for the one to come.
  • Matt 28:18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
  • Eph 4:4There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;
  • Phil 4:8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.
  • Ps 110:3Your people shall be willing on Your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, from the womb of the dawn, to You belongs the dew of Your youth.
  • Heb 1:3The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
  • Rom 9:24including us, whom He has called not only from the Jews, but also from the Gentiles?
  • 1 Pet 1:5who through faith are shielded by God’s power for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
  • Ruth 3:11And now do not be afraid, my daughter. I will do for you whatever you request, since all my fellow townspeople know that you are a woman of noble character.
  • Prov 12:4A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but she who causes shame is like decay in his bones.
  • Prov 31:29“Many daughters have done noble things, but you surpass them all!”
  • Prov 31:10A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (8)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — 2 Peter videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on 2 Peter 1:3YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on 2 PeterMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

The sure word of the prophets and the promise of the coming day of the Lord anchor the believer in the knowledge of 'our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.'

How 2 Peter 1:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.