Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 2 Peter 1:4

"whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in that world by lust." — 2 Peter 1:4 (ASV)

“Through these” refers to God’s “glory and goodness” or more generally to his salvation mediated through the Incarnation. So when Jesus Christ came in his first advent, God made certain promises (“very great and precious”) of the new Messianic Age (cf. 3:9, 13) to be brought in when Christ returned. These promises enable Christians to “participate in the divine nature.” How does this participation come about? In at least two ways. (1) The promises themselves have a purifying effect on the believer’s life (cf. 1Jn 3:3). (2) Conversion entails a definite break with “the corruption... caused by evil desires.” In coming to know God through Christ, believers escape the corruption of sin; and Christ renews and restores the image of God in them.