Sermon Tone Analysis

GODLINESS

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness

through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence

by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises

so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature

having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

(ESV)

God’s power

has given us everything we need for life and godliness ().

Everything

“through”

-- A knowledge of God is the pathway of godliness ().

“by”, “whereby”

Because God is glorious and excellent, he has given us “precious and very great promises” ().

“so that”

God’s promises are the means of our becoming like God ().

SO THAT WE MAY BE GODLY

God’s promises make us more like God by combatting sinful desires in the world ().

Source—Divine Power

Goal—life and godliness

This will come through Knowledge

knowledge of Him—God—

who calls

ellence How—

How—.

by “which”(plural) he has granted to us precious and great promises—so we can enjoy glory and excellence of God

so that through them (promises)-we become partakers of the divine nature (godliness)

to become godly—having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

Power of God—leads to the knowledge of our calling to glory and excellence—leads to precious and great promises—leads to escape from sinful desire-(sharing in divine godliness)

SOURCE—Power of God- his divine power

Power of God leads to the knowledge of our calling to glory and excellence.

leads to precious and great promises.

leads to sharing in divine nature and escape from sinful desire.

SOURCE OF GODLINESS

—Power of God- his divine power

“divine”— having the nature of God, what is uniquely God’s and proceeds from Him.

“power”- dynamis- power, might, force, capability, ability—to be able.

God’s power will destroy hostile forces and bring the world to perfection ( and 12:10.

As the power of God, preaching continues Christ’s saving work and the apostles, representing Christ, are endowed with his power.

Over and over, we see in scripture the power of God manifested in the disciples:

-equipped when he sends them out

-This power overmatched demonic power

-This power overmatched demonic power ()

)

-A special endowment of power at Pentecost, leading to healing-

As believers, we are a community of believers, depending on “divine power”:

As believers, we are a community of believers, depending on “divine power”:

-enjoy the greatness of Gods power-

-enjoy the greatness of Gods power- Eph 1:191 Peter 1:5)

1 Peter 1:5)

-enjoy the greatness of Gods power-

-Strengthened with all power—

“all things”

“life and godliness”—

Life—Deity provides for eternal life and daily Christlikeness (i.e.

eusebeia).

“godliness” This compound word (i.e.

eusebia) comes from “well” and “worship.”

It has the connotation of daily living acceptable to God.

Peter repeatedly emphasizes the need for godliness because of the false teachers’ neglect of personal ethics and morality.

“godliness” This compound word (i.e.

eusebia) comes from “well” and “worship.”

It has the connotation of daily living acceptable to God.

Peter repeatedly emphasizes the need for godliness because of the false teachers’ neglect of personal ethics and morality.

In other words, there is no excuse for not living a godly life, for believers have already received everything that is necessary to do so.

POWER OF KNOWLEDGE

This power is released to believers “through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and excellence.”

True knowledge is faith in Jesus Christ that impacts daily living.

Now it is certainly true that in the NT (including ; ) God is normally said to be the one calling us.

On the other hand, in later early Christian literature there was no problem in referring calling to Jesus, 5:1 [“do the will of him who called us”]; 9:5), nor is the idea entirely absent in the NT (, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners,”

Furthermore, “knowledge” or “acknowledgment” in 2 Peter usually has Jesus as its personal object (; ; cf.

3:18, which expresses the same idea using a slightly different term).

Thus the knowledge of Jesus (i.e., coming to understand and acknowledge his significance), which was the basis of the reception of the equally honorable faith, is the means by which he, by his divine power, gives one all that is needed for a godly life.

This “knowledge” of Jesus did not come through their personal investigation, but because Jesus himself “called us.”

He took the initiative.

And this call came “by his own glory and goodness.”

“Glory” is closely related to “honor”.

In this word pair in 2 Peter it indicates that Jesus’ own glorious or honorable achievement or excellence led to their calling.

That raises the question whether this action was done by his glorious excellence or for his glorious excellence (or glorious praise).

The grammatical construction (Greek dative) could bear either meaning.

led to their calling.

That raises the question whether this action was done by his glorious excellence or for his glorious excellence (or glorious praise).

The grammatical construction (Greek dative) could bear either meaning.

That is, through or by means of these virtues he has given us promises, so very likely the thought in v. 3 is already that they are the basis of our calling.

That is, the achievement in our calling was all Jesus’ doing.

On the other hand, a person who was excellent would naturally act accordingly, so it would also make sense to say that Jesus called us by his own (“his own” being emphatic in contrast to “us”) glorious excellence or glorious achievement.

Since both interpretations make sense, it is difficult to decide which is more likely correct.

However, the following verse tips the balance toward the latter interpretation.

That is, through or by means of these virtues he has given us promises, so very likely the thought in v. 3 is already that they are the basis of our calling.

That is, the achievement in our calling was all Jesus’ doing.

We were called into our knowledge of him; it was not really our discovery.

And this calling came on the basis of his achievement and excellence, his honorable nature, not ours.

Yet because of the honor of Jesus, we have been called into an honorable status.

PRECIOUS AND GREAT PROMISES

It is through his glory and honor (“these”) that Jesus has given “us very great and precious promises.”

The term “very great” is found only here in the NT, but it is the normal superlative of “great.”

As frequently happens in 2 Peter, our author has paired two words, “very great” and “precious”.

“Very great” (which in Greek is actually the second term) serves to underline and heighten the effect of “precious” or “valuable.”

What is so valuable in the “promises” Jesus has made.

The term “promise” itself is unusual, for this word for “promise,” appears in the NT only here and in 3:13.

Thus it stands out and neatly brackets the whole letter.