2 PETER CHAPTER 1 2 PETER 1:1 The apostle, saluting the Christians, admonisheth them of the gifts and promises of the gospel, and their tendency to promote a godly life. 2 PETER 1:5 He exhorteth them to add to their faith such virtues as would make it fruitful, 2 PETER 1:10,11 and thereby to m... [ Continue Reading ]
THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD; or acknowledgment, i.e. faith, whereby we are made partakers of all the saving graces of the Spirit; and whereby being justified, we are at peace with God, ROMANS 5:1. AND OF JESUS OUR LORD; there being no saving knowledge of God, or faith in him, but by Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
OLBGrk; ACCORDING AS; this may refer either: 1. To what goes before: _Grace and peace be multiplied unto you, _ & c., _according as his divine power hath given unto us, _ &c.; and then in these words the apostle shows what reason there was to hope, that grace and peace should be multiplied to them... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREBY: this word may be rendered, in that, for that, inasmuch as, and then this is an explication of the things that pertain to life and godliness, to glory and virtue, all those things being contained in the promises; or _whereby_ may be understood of the glory and virtue last mentioned, taking t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BESIDE THIS, GIVING ALL DILIGENCE: here the apostle begins his exhortation, that since God had done so much for them, 2 PETER 1:3,4, they would likewise do their duty; and that their care and diligence in improving the grace they had received, might be added to his bounty in giving it them. ADD... [ Continue Reading ]
TEMPERANCE; a grace which represseth, and curbs in, not only sensual lusts, but all inordinate appetites, GALATIANS 5:22 TITUS 1:8. PATIENCE; that Christian fortitude whereby we hear afflictions and injuries, so as to persevere in our duty without being moved by the evils that attend us in the doing... [ Continue Reading ]
BROTHERLY KINDNESS; a love to those that are of the household of faith. This is joined to _godliness, _ to show that it is in vain to pretend to true religion and yet be destitute of brotherly love. CHARITY; this is more general than the former, and relates to all men, even our enemies themselves.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IF THESE THINGS BE IN YOU, AND ABOUND; if ye not only have these graces in you, but abound or grow in them, both as to the inward degree and outward exercise of them. THEY MAKE YOU; either they make you, or declare you, not to be barren, or both; they will be both the causes and evidences of you... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE THAT LACKETH THESE THINGS; he that doth not live in the exercise of the forementioned graces. IS BLIND; spiritually blind, as being destitute of saving knowledge. AND CANNOT SEE AFAR OFF: the Greek word is variously translated; the most probable account of it is either: 1. That it signifies... [ Continue Reading ]
GIVE DILIGENCE; viz. in the exercise of the forementioned graces. TO MAKE YOUR CALLING, your effectual calling to the faith of Christ, AND ELECTION, your eternal election to grace and glory, SURE, not in respect of God, whose counsel is in itself sure and stable, ROMANS 11:29 2 TIMOTHY 2:19; but in... [ Continue Reading ]
ABUNDANTLY; or richly: while ye minister, or add one grace to another, one good work to another, 2 PETER 1:5, &c., God likewise will minister, (the same word is here used as 2 PETER 1:5), or add largely or richly, the supplies of the Spirit, in grace, and strength, and consolation, and whatsoever is... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL NOT BE NEGLIGENT; i.e. I will be diligent and careful. THOUGH YE KNOW THEM: he prevents an objection; q.d. Though ye know these things already, yet being things of great moment, and you being beset with temptations, encompassed about with infirmities, and, while you are on the earth, being in... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THIS TABERNACLE; in the body; q.d. Having not long to live, I would live to the best purpose, and so as I may do the most good. He calls his body a tabernacle both in respect of its short continuance, its mean structure, and his laborious life in it. TO STIR YOU UP; to awaken and rouse you up, as... [ Continue Reading ]
I MUST PUT OFF; a metaphor taken from garments; the soul, while in the body, is clothed with flesh, and death to the godly is but the putting off their clothes, and going to bed, ISAIAH 57:2. THIS MY TABERNACLE: see 2 CORINTHIANS 5:1. EVEN AS OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST HATH SHOWED ME: 1 THESSALONIANS 21:... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE THINGS; the doctrine before delivered concerning faith in Christ, the practice of good works, and their continuance in both. ALWAYS; this may be joined either to ENDEAVOUR, and so relate to the apostle himself; he would always be diligent, and do his part, that they might have these things in... [ Continue Reading ]
CUNNINGLY DEVISED FABLES; human figments artificially contrived, either to please and gratify men's fancies, or to deceive and pervert their judgment: q.d. The things we have preached unto you (the sum of which is the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ) are the true sayings of God, not the fi... [ Continue Reading ]
Either HONOUR AND GLORY for glorious honour; or GLORY may relate to that lustre which appeared in the body of Christ at his transfiguration, MATTHEW 17:2, and HONOUR to the voice which came to him from his Father, and the honourable testimony thereby given him. FROM THE EXCELLENT GLORY; either from... [ Continue Reading ]
WE; I, and James, and John. HEARD: the apostle avoucheth himself to have been an ear-witness, as well as eye-witness, of Christ's glory, hereby intimating that there was as much certainty of the gospel, even in a human way, as could possibly be obtained of any thing that is done in the world, seeing... [ Continue Reading ]
Peter having proved the certainty of the evangelical doctrine, by their testimony that had seen Christ's glory in his transfiguration, and heard the Father's testimony of him, now proves the same by the testimony of the prophets under the Old Testament, and calls the WORD OF PROPHECY A MORE SURE WOR... [ Continue Reading ]
KNOWING THIS FIRST; either, principally and above other things, as being most worthy to be known; or, knowing this as the first principle of faith, or the first thing to be believed. THAT NO PROPHECY OF THE SCRIPTURE IS OF ANY PRIVATE INTERPRETATION: the Greek word here used may be rendered, either:... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PROPHECY; the prophetical writings, or word of prophecy, 2 PETER 1:19. CAME NOT IN OLD TIME BY THE WILL OF MAN; the prophets spake not of themselves what and when they pleased. BUT HOLY MEN OF GOD; prophets, called men of God, 1 SAMUEL 2:27, 1 SAMUEL 9:6 1 KINGS 17:18, and elsewhere. They are he... [ Continue Reading ]