2 Peter - Verse-by-Verse Biblical Exegesis

We are believers through Him, not through ourselves. Faith is a gift, the universal
possession of all believers. (J. White) Someone once said to Charles Spurgeon, “God
foresaw that you would have faith, and therefore He loved you.” To which Spurgeion
replied: “What did He forsee about my faith? Did He forsee that I should get that faith
myself, and that I should believe on Him of myself? No; Christ could not foresee that,
because no Christian man will ever say that faith came of itself without the gift and
without the working of the Holy Spirit.” (T. Schreiner) The biblical solution is to admit
that for the natural man faith is impossible and to attribute it to the gift of God. This
creation of capacity is called regeneration. The biblical evidence that faith itself is a gift
is impressive and has often been repeated. It comes not of one’s own strength or virtue
but only to those who are chosen of God for its reception; hence, it is a gift. Because it is
thus obtained from God, thanks are to be returned to God for it. (J. Dillow)
This is a commendation of the grace which God had indiscriminately showed to all His
elect people; for it was no common gift, that they had all been called, to one and the same
faith, since faith is the special and chief good of man. (J. Calvin) Life is communicated
immediately by regeneration; but once life is imparted, the promises become a living
message to the new life. The mere words of a promise will not communicate Divine life
to men’s souls. Sanctification, rather than union with Christ, is emphasized in the first
part of 2 Peter 1. God calls His people to pursue glory as their object, thus gaining
victory over their enemies. Like precious faith will produce like precious practice. (W.
Best) If the author had intended to distinguish two persons, it is exceedingly doubtful
whether he could have omitted the article before Savior. (C. Bigg) That faith had been
received, which means not “handed down” but, as the Greek verb implies, a free gift, one
bestowed upon apostles and disciples similarly, whether they were Jews or Gentiles. As a
gift, it was solely the result of divine grace and not something that could be earned in any
way or due to privilege. (N. Hillyer)
2 Peter 1:1 Simeon Peter (Subj. Nom.), a bondslave (Nom.
Appos.) and (connective) an apostle (Nom. Appos.; admiral
of the fleet) of Jesus Christ (Poss. Gen.), to those (Dat.
Adv.; the elect of God) who have obtained by divine
appointment (lagca,nw, AAPtc.DMP, Constative, Substantival,
Articular; sovereign choice) equal (Acc. Measure; honor,
privilege, prestige) faith (Acc. Dir. Obj.; regenerating)
with us (Dat. Assoc.; the other apostles) through the just
and equitable method of operation (Instr. Manner, Means;
righteous modus operandi, salvation mechanics) of our (Gen.
Rel.) God (Abl. Source; deity of Christ) and (connective)
Savior (Abl. Source), Jesus Christ (Gen. Appos.).
BGT 2 Peter 1:1 Sumew.n Pe,troj dou/loj kai. avpo,stoloj VIhsou/ Cristou/ toi/j ivso,timon h`mi/n
lacou/sin pi,stin evn dikaiosu,nh| tou/ qeou/ h`mw/n kai. swth/roj VIhsou/ Cristou/(
VUL 2 Peter 1:1 Simon Petrus servus et apostolus Iesu Christi his qui coaequalem nobis sortiti
sunt fidem in iustitia Dei nostri et salvatoris Iesu Christi