But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. Ver. 1. _Who privily shall bring in_] παρεισαξουσιν, or, fraudulen... [ Continue Reading ]
And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. Ver. 2. _The way of truth shall be, &c._] The ancient Christians were generally hated and hooted at by the heathens for the heretics' sake, who were also a kind of Christians, as Augustine compl... [ Continue Reading ]
And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. Ver. 3. _With feigned words_] Covetousness is never without a cloak and flattering words 1Th 2:5 for a colour; as, what wool is so coa... [ Continue Reading ]
For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast _them_ down to hell, and delivered _them_ into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; Ver. 4. _If God spared not the angels_] Though but for one sin only, and that in thought only. It sprang from the admiration of their own gifts, it... [ Continue Reading ]
And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth _person_, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; Ver. 5. _Bringing in the flood_] And so burying them all in one universal grave of waters. In this universal deluge God swept away all: as if he had bl... [ Continue Reading ]
And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned _them_ with an overthrow, making _them_ an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; Ver. 6. _And turning the cities_] Burying them likewise in the Dead Sea, after that he had rained down hell from heaven upon them. _See Tr... [ Continue Reading ]
And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: Ver. 7. _Vexed_] Gr. καταπονουμενοι, labouring under it, as under a heavy burden, and as much tortured as if he had been set upon a rack, as it is 2 Peter 2:8 .... [ Continue Reading ]
(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed _his_ righteous soul from day to day with _their_ unlawful deeds;) Ver. 8. _In seeing and hearing_] Every sinful Sodomite was a Hazael to his eyes, a Hadadrimmon to his heart. _ Vexed his righteous soul_] Guilt or grief is a... [ Continue Reading ]
The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: Ver. 9. _The Lord knoweth how_] He hath ways of his own, and commonly goeth a way by himself, such as we think not of; helping them that are forsaken of their hopes. Pete... [ Continue Reading ]
But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous _are they_, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. Ver. 10. _But chiefly_] _See Trapp on "_ Heb 13:4 _"_ That walk after the flesh] That is, the harlot; as filthy dogs f... [ Continue Reading ]
Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. Ver. 11. _Which are greater in power_] viz. Than the mightiest monarch, Daniel 10:20, and are therefore called principalities and powers, 1 Peter 3:22. Mighty ones, Isaiah 10:34. See 2 T... [ Continue Reading ]
But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; Ver. 12. _As natural brute beasts_] Some men put off all manhood, fall beneath the stirrup of reason, and are bestialized, yea, sa... [ Continue Reading ]
And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, _as_ they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots _they are_ and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; Ver. 13. _To riot in the day time_] _See Trapp on "_ 1Th 5:7 _"_ The word here rendered... [ Continue Reading ]
Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: Ver. 14. _Having eyes full of adultery_] Gr. Of the adulteress, as if she were seen sitting in the eyes of the adulterer. The wanton Greek w... [ Continue Reading ]
Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam _the son_ of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; Ver. 15. _The wages of unrighteousness_] The mammon of unrighteousness, wages of wickedness. " _Lucra iniusta putes iustis aequalia damnis._ Dum peritura... [ Continue Reading ]
But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet. Ver. 16. _The dumb ass speaking_] The angel (some think) spake in the ass, as the devil had done in the serpent. Who now can complain of his own inability and rudeness to reply in a good caus... [ Continue Reading ]
These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. Ver. 17. _These are wells, &c._] Not fitted nor filled with wholesome doctrine, but as the brooks of Tema, Job 6:17, in a moisture they swell, in a drought they fail. The river... [ Continue Reading ]
For when they speak great swelling _words_ of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, _through much_ wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. Ver. 18. _Great swelling words_] Gr. υπερογκα, bubbles of words, full of wind, big swollen fancies, _sesquipedalia... [ Continue Reading ]
While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. Ver. 19. _Promise them liberty_] As Mahometism, and Popery, which is an alluring, tempting, bewitching religion. Sir Walter Raleigh knew what he said... [ Continue Reading ]
For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. Ver. 20. _Again entangled_] As a bird in a gin, as a beast in a snare. _Saepe... [ Continue Reading ]
For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known _it_, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. Ver. 21. _It had been better_] _Nocuit sane Iudae fuisse apostolum, et Iuliano Christianum._ To begin well and not to proceed is but t... [ Continue Reading ]
But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog _is_ turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. Ver. 22. _The dog is turned_] _Proverbia haec sunt Canonica, quae Christiano nauseam commoverent._ God will spew out apostates for ever,... [ Continue Reading ]