2 Peter 1:3 3With his divine power having granted to us all thing related to life and godliness, through the knowledge of the one who called us to his own glory and moral excellence
Peter begins the body of the letter describing his purpose for writing (verses 3-11). His primary goal was to see his readers live godly lives of moral excellence and focus on the essentials of faith. The letter begins with a strong assertion and reminder of an essential theological claim. Verse 3 gives the divine resource for the human response in verses 4-7. The participle having granted (dedōrēmenēs), bestowed, or given is perfect tense, suggesting that God began to give his power to the readers and continually gives it to sustain and grow them. The implied starting point is when a person opens himself or herself in faith to receive God’s offer of grace. The word emphasizes the generosity of the giver. God gives us what we need to live out his will because God is loving and gracious.
The plural all things indicates no exceptions. Believers have all they need to live the Christian life. Peter gives two important examples of these things. Life is more than the breath in our lungs or the blood coursing through our heart. God has put within each person a drive for life. Life is the experiences we share with others, the relationships and interactions that come in being human. The life Jesus gives is abundant and eternal (John 10:10). Godliness (eusebeian) expresses the ability to be in God’s presence. The word has two parts that mean “good worship.” Good worship begins with an attitude of reverence to God and is evidenced in a life that is pleasing to him. The godly person lives according to a standard different than the fleeting, empty way of life of the fallen and decaying world around us. Godliness is not merely talking “godly” but living in ways that please God and exemplify his presence in our life. God gives life and godliness not because somebody deserves it, but as a free gift.
We experience life and godliness through the knowledge of him. This knowledge (epignōseōs) is intimate and personal and more than intellect or awareness. The object and focus of our knowledge are the one who called us. All the educational degrees in the world cannot replace personal relationship with God. We can study all the facts about famous people, but unless we have met them and spent time with them, we really do not know them. This knowledge influences the depth of one’s spiritual life because it is resourced by worship.
The goal of our calling is to experience God’s own glory and moral excellence. God wants to remake us into his image of holiness and love so that we can be in full fellowship with him and experience his fullness in this world. This new life lifts us above the corruption of this world, resulting in the knowledge of God that has the purpose of glorifying him and not us. When God is glorified, we truly come to know and experience God’s love for us. Only when God is glorified do we find ourselves lifted up from the corruption of this world.