Bible Commentary (1871–1879 Edition)
rite Apostle Confinus the Brethren 2 PETER I. 171 the Hope of nn Increase of Orcuse.
of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; how that they told you tliere should be mockers in the last lime, v ho should }vnlK after their own ungodly lusts." Jude, therefore, must have written after 2 Peter, to wliicli lie jiliiiuly refers; not before, as Alfobd thinks. No less than eleven passages of Jude rest on similar statements of 'J Peter. JuJe 2, ct. eh. 1.2; Jude 4, cf. ch. 2. 1; Jude 6, cf. ch. 2. 4; Jude 7, cf. ch. 2. 6; Jude 8, cf. ch. 2. 10; Jude 9, cf. ch. 2. 11; Jude 11, el. ch. 2. l.">; Jude 12, cf. ch. 2. 17; Jude 16, cf. ch. 2. 18; Jude 18, cf. ch. 2. 1 and 3. 3. Just in the same way Mieali cli. 4. I-l leans on the somewhat earlier prophecy of Isaiah, wliose inspiration he tliereby confirms. Alfoud reasons that because Jude, in many of tlie passages akin to 2 Peter, is fuller than 2 Peter, lie must be prior. This by no means follows. It is at least as likely, if not more so, that the briefer is the earlier, rather than the fuller. The dignity and energj' of the style is quite consonant to what we should expect from the prompt and ardent foreman of the apostles. The difference of style between 1 and 2 Peter accords with the distinctness of the subjects and objects.
The date, from what has been said, would be about 68 or 69 a. n., about a year after the first, and shortl.v before the destruction of Jerusalem, the typical precursor of the world's end, to which ch. 3. so solemnly calls attention, after Paul's ministry had closed (cf. Greek aorist, "wrote," past time, cli. 3. 15), just before Peter's own death. It was written to include the same persons, and perhaps in, or about the same place, as the first. Being witliout salutations of individuals, and entrusted to the care of no one Cluirch, or particular churches as the first is, but directed generally "to them that have obtained like precious faith witli us," it took a longer time in being recognized as canonical. Had Rome been the place of Us composition or publication, it could hardly have failed to have had an early acceptance—an incidental argument against the tradition of Peter's martyrdom at Rome. The remote scene of its composition in Babylon, or else in some of the contiguous regions beyond the borders of the Roman empire, and of its circulation in Cappadocla, Pontus, &c., will additionally account for its tardy but at last universal acceptance in the catholic Church. The former Epistle, through its more definite address, was earlier in its general acceptance. Object.—In ch. 3. 17, 18 the twofold design of the Kpistle'is set forth, riz., to guard his readers against " the error" of false teachers, and to exhort them to grow in experimental "knowledge of our Lord and Saviour." The ground on which this knowledge rests is stated, ch. 1. 12-21, i'(2., the inspired testimony of apostles and prophets. The danger now, as of old, was about to arise from false teachers, who soon were to come among them, as Paul also (to whom reference is made, cli. 3. 15, 16) testified in tlie same region. Tlie grand antidote is " the full knowledge ol oar Lord and Saviour," througli which we know God the Father, partake ot His nature, escape from the pollutions of the world, and ha ve entrance into Christ's kingdom. The aspect of Christ presented is not so much that of the past suffering, as of tlie future reigning. Saviour, His present power, and future new kingdom. This aspect is taken as best fitted to counteract the theories uf the false teachers who should "deny" His iords/iip and His coming again, the two very points which, as au apostle and eye-witness, Peter attests (His " power" and His "coming"); also, to counteract their evil example in practice, blaspheming the way of truth, despising governments, slaves to covetousuess and filthy lusts of the flesh, whilst boasting of Christian freedom, and, worst of all, apostates from the truth. The knowledge of C/"-i«<, as being the knowledge of *' the way of righteousness," " the right way," is the antidote of their bad practice. Hence "the preacher of righteousness," Noah, and "righteous Lot," are instanced as escaping the destruction which overtook the "unjust"' or " unrighteous ;" and Balaam is instanced as exemplify ing the awful result of " utirighteousness" such as characterized the false teachers. Thus the Epistle forms one connected whole, the parts being closely bound together by mutual relation, and the end corresponding with the beginning; cf. ch. 3. 14, 18 with ch. 1. 2, in both "grace" and " peace" being connected with " the knowledge" of our Saviour; cf. also ch. 3. 17 with 1. 4, 10, 12; and ch. 3. 18, "grow in grace and knowledge," with the fuller ch. 1. .5-8 ; and ch. 2. 21 ; and oh. 3. 13, " righteousness," with ch, 1. 1 ; and ch.
3. 1 with ch. 1. 13;' and ch. 3. 2 with ch. 1. 19. The germs of Carpocratian and Gnostic heresies already existed, but the actual manifestation of these heresies is spoken of as future (ch. 2. 1,2, &c.): another proof that this Epistle was written, as it professes, in the apostolic age, before the development of tlie Gnostic lieresies in tlie end of tlie first and the beginning of tlie second centuries. The description is too general to identify tlie heresies with any particular one of the subsequent forms of heresy, but applies generally to them all.
Though altogether distinct in aim from the First Eiiistle, yet a connection may be traced. The neglect of the warnings to circumspection In the walk, led to the evils foretold in the Second Epistle. Cf. the warning against the abuse of Christian freedom, 1 Peter 2. 16 with ch. "2. 19, " While they promise them liberty, they tliemselves are the servants of corruption ;" also the caution against pride, 1 Peter 5. o, 6 with ch. 2. 18, " they speak great swelling words Of vanity."
CHAPTER I. which is cast forth, like precious— " equally precious" to all: to those who believe, tliouh not having seen
Christ, as well as to Peter and those who have seen Hiin. For it lays hold of the same " exceeding great and precioua promises," and the same "righteousness of (iod our Saviour." "The common salvation . . . the faltli once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3). with us—apostles and eye-witnesses {i\ 18). Though putting forward his Ver. 1-21. Adduess: Exhoutation to ai.i. Ghaces, as God has Give.n us, in the Knowi-kixje of Ciiuist, all, Things Peutainino to Life: Confik.mkd hv the Testimony OF Apostles, and also Pitoi'iiicrs, to the Power and Coming of Cubist. 1. Simon—the Greek form: In oldest MSS., "Symeon" {//^'^ccic, i'. e., hearing), a/iostlrship to enforce his exhoi talioii, lu' with true humility puts himself, as to " the lailli," on a level with all other believers. The degree of faith varies in ditlerent believers ; but in respect to its objects, present justification, as in Acts 15. 11. His mention of his original name, accords with the design of this Second F.pislle, which is to warn against the coming false teachers, by setting fortli the true " knowledge" of Christ on the testimony of the original apustolic eye-iritnessrs like lilmself. This was not reciuired in tlie l''lrst Fiilstle. m-rvaiit—" slave :" saiiclineatloii, and future glorification, 11 is common alike to all. Christ Is to all believers " made of God wisdom, righteousness, saiictllleatlon, aiiil redeiiipllon." tUrawfiU— Greek, "IN." Translate, ns the one article to both nouns reijulres, " the righteousness of Uim who is (at once) our God and (our) Saviour." I'i'ter, conrlrmlng
KO Paul, Romans 1. 1. l€» llx'iii, Ac— He addresses a Wider ranges of renders ((dl believers) than In the First
Epistle, eh. 1., but mi'ans to include esi>eei(dly those addressed in till! First Epistle, iis (•li.3. 1 proves, obtnliird— by grace. Appllcil by Peter tit the receiving of the iipostlenMp, lU., l/y alliitmcnt: as the G'rrr/,- is, I, like I.I); .lolin
Paul's testimony to the same churches, adopts Paul's Insjilred phraseology. The (tospcl plan sets forth God'i rii/hleuusnt \s, which Is Chilsl's righteousness. In tn«» brightest light. Faith has Its sphere in 11 us its peculiar
19. U. They did not n< i|iilriIt lor I liciiisi l vcs ; llie lllvine OJccUon Is an iiuleperident of man's control, us the lot