In 2 Peter 1:4-11 there is a record of the divine nature and its development. The development of the divine nature is the growth of the divine nature. The divine nature has been given to us for us to partake of and enjoy. Through the promises of God we can enjoy the divine nature, and by this the divine nature develops and grows from one state to another. While we are enjoying God’s nature, we are being constituted with it.*

The development in 2 Peter 1 has its base in what God has given us, to which we add our diligence (v. 5). It progresses through eight steps: faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, endurance godliness, brotherly love, love.

For more about these eight, you can order a free study New Testament with many explanatory footnotes from biblesforamerica.org (E, Sp), biblesforcanada.org (E, Fr), biblesforeurope.org (E, Fr, Ge, Pol, Port, Sp), biblesfornewzealand.org.nz, www.biblesforaustralia.org.au.

The promise in 2 Peter 1:8 is “For these [eight] things, existing in you and abounding, constitute you neither idle nor unfruitful unto the full knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Verse 10 again encourages our diligence. Verse 11 has another wonderful promise, “the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly and bountifully supplied to you.”

The growth of the divine nature constitutes New Jerusalem into us. This brings us into the reality of “the eternal kingdom” not in a meager way but “richly and bountifully supplied.”

* From chapter 40, Witness Lee, God’s New Testament Economy, published by Living Stream Ministry, © Witness Lee, 1986.