2 Peter 1:4 (KJV)

Passage

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Nearby Context

2 Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

2 Peter 1:3 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:

2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

2 Peter 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

2 Peter 1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "world", "whereby", "given", "exceeding", "great", "precious", "promises", and "might". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "world" and "whereby", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 3's "According as his divine power hath given..." into verse 5's "And beside this giving all diligence add...", so "world" and "whereby" belong inside that flow. In 2 Peter context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "world" and "whereby" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.