Lexical Summary epaggelma: Promise, profession Original Word: ἐπάγγελμα Strong's Exhaustive Concordance promise. From epaggello; a self-committal (by assurance of conferring some good) -- promise. see GREEK epaggello HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 1862 epággelma (a neuter noun) – promise. 1862 (epággelma) focuses on the result(s) of God's promise – note the -ma suffix. See 1860 (epaggelia). ["In Classical Greek, 1862 /epággelma ("promises") are "voluntarily or spontaneously made," as opposed to hypos NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom epaggellomai Definition a promise NASB Translation promise (1), promises (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1862: ἐπάγγελμαἐπάγγελμα, ἐπαγγελματος, τό (ἐπαγγέλλω), a promise: 2 Peter 1:4; 2 Peter 3:13. (Demosthenes, Isocrates, others.) Topical Lexicon Overview The Greek term translated “promise” in 2 Peter centers on the sure and gracious pledges of God that undergird Christian faith and practice. The word carries the sense of a public commitment made by one in authority and therefore emphasizes both the reliability of the Giver and the certainty of fulfillment. In Peter’s second epistle the term bookends the entire message: God has already granted magnificent promises that secure present transformation (2 Peter 1:4), and He will yet consummate His final promise of a righteous new creation (2 Peter 3:13). Occurrences in the New Testament • 2 Peter 1:4 – “Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” These two uses, one plural and one singular, frame the letter’s call to holy living amid eschatological expectation. Covenantal Perspective Peter’s language echoes the covenantal storyline of Scripture. God’s promises to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3), David (2 Samuel 7:12-16), and the prophets (Isaiah 65:17) find their ultimate expression in Christ and in the anticipated renewal of creation. In 2 Peter 1:4 the apostle unites the believer to that covenant by asserting that participation in the divine nature is both gift and goal. In 2 Peter 3:13 he draws upon Isaiah’s prophecy of “new heavens and a new earth” to assure readers that God’s covenant loyalty remains intact despite scoffers (2 Peter 3:3-4). Christological Fulfillment All divine promises culminate in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20). Peter’s “very great and precious promises” flow from “His own glory and excellence” (2 Peter 1:3), a Christ-centered statement that the Lord Himself is both the content and guarantor of every pledge. The cross secures forgiveness, the resurrection guarantees life, and the ascension ensures the believer’s participation in Christ’s exaltation. Because the promises are bound to the person and work of Christ, they possess unwavering certainty. Eschatological Hope Scoffers questioned the delay of the Second Coming (2 Peter 3:4), but Peter counters with the unbreakable promise of a new order “where righteousness dwells.” Far from speculative, this hope anchors ethical perseverance: believers are to “conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness as you anticipate the coming of the day of God” (2 Peter 3:11-12). Eschatology thus motivates sanctification rather than escapism. Transformative Power The promises do more than inform; they transform. By trusting them, believers “escape the corruption in the world” and “become partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). The phrase points to regeneration and progressive sanctification—an inward participation in God’s moral excellence that empowers outward obedience. The divine pledge is therefore the engine of moral renewal. Historical Setting and Early Church Reception Second-century writings (e.g., Polycarp, Justin Martyr) reflect ongoing reliance on God’s promises as an antidote to persecution and doctrinal error. The early church read Peter’s words against a backdrop of imperial hostility and growing skepticism about a literal return of Christ. The apostolic assertion of God’s promise preserved orthodoxy and fueled missionary courage. Pastoral and Ministry Implications 1. Assurance: Believers combat doubt by rehearsing the character of the Promiser. Application for Contemporary Discipleship • Memorize and meditate on specific biblical promises to fortify faith. Summary The term rendered “promise” in 2 Peter captures the heartbeat of apostolic faith: God’s incontrovertible word guarantees both present participation in His nature and future participation in His renewed world. Embracing these promises yields holiness, hope, and unwavering confidence in God’s redemptive plan. Forms and Transliterations επαγγελμα επάγγελμα ἐπάγγελμα επαγγελματα επαγγέλματα ἐπαγγέλματα epangelma epángelma epangelmata epangélmataLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Peter 1:4 N-NNPGRK: μέγιστα ἡμῖν ἐπαγγέλματα δεδώρηται ἵνα NAS: and magnificent promises, so KJV: and precious promises: that by INT: greatest to us promises he has given that 2 Peter 3:13 N-ANS Strong's Greek 1862 |
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