Partakers of the Divine

2 Peter 1:3-4

³ 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, ⁴ 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.

I notice that I do a great deal of messing around on the days when the passage is difficult. Today was one of those days. Research took a long time, and then I had to really ponder what to say about the text that wouldn’t just add to the confusion. That is why it’s only 2 verses this time. They’re big verses. The only answer here is to go slowly and think it through. Although I’ve read this passage numerous times, it takes a desire to dig deep and to spend the time needed to gain some new understanding. Below you will find plenty of help from a solid commentary.

With that said, let’s just get into these words from Peter and let them lead us into more depth. First of all, we come to only time the words “divine power” are used together in the New Testament. This does not refer to Christ’s omnipotence, but specifically to His power to save and sanctify because of His work on the cross and His resurrection. In a Christian’s life, this power does not necessarily exhibit itself in success, but often in suffering, difficulty and even death. Martin Luther defined this divine power as that “with which we are blessed to do and good and live eternally.” Martin Luther  AE 30:153.

The most confusing statement in these two verses comes from a phrase that has confounded many over the centuries and led to some rather wild interpretations. “… so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature …” While that may sound like we become part of the god-head, that is a completely incorrect understanding of those words.

Participation in the divine nature was a contemporary Greek concept that involved people taking on divinity or having their supposedly divine soul freed from the material hindrance. Peter borrows the concept and brings it into line with clear Christian doctrine. We do not become “divine”. Only God holds that role. But we participate in the divine by enjoying the benefits of our salvation and sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.

The Gospel brings one into a new, restored relationship with God. This takes place by God crediting the righteousness of Christ to a person, that is, by forensic justification, which confers all the benefits earned by Christ’s saving work on our behalf.

Giese, C. P. ©2012. 2 Peter and Jude. (pp. 66–67). Saint Louis, MO: CPH.

In Christ we have all good things that God is and God has, that is, the Word of salvation, of our life. Through the Word which is proclaimed to us, we hold fellowship with Christ. He [the apostle John] names the Son expressly because he writes in this epistle that the Father and the Son have life, truth, and eternal salvation. On our side are nothing but sins. We share in his good things, and he shares in our wretchedness. I believe in Christ; therefore, my sin is in Christ.

WA 20.611. 1–2, 30–34 (cf. AE 30:225).

Perhaps I am the only one for whom these words were a struggle. But I’m always glad for a little research and a deeper understanding of what God would have me know.