Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

2 Peter 1:12

Διό. Seeing the great issues which hang upon all this.

μελλήσω�. “I shall be about to remind you always” is undoubtedly a very awkward phrase. The R.V. gives “I shall be ready always to put you in remembrance,” but from the context one would judge that the writer is speaking of something which he means to do forthwith. The only parallel in N.T. is Matthew 24:6 μελλήσετε� … ὁρᾶτε, μὴ θροεῖσθε, where the sense seems to be “you must be prepared to hear of wars.” The difficulty was felt by some authorities (the late uncials KL and the late Syriac versions) which give οὐκ� (adopted by the A.V. “I will not be negligent”): two Latin authorities have the equivalent of οὐ μελλήσω. There is no old authority for the reading which really seems preferable, namely μελήσω, suggested by Dr Field of Norwich: but it is possible that the Greek lexicographer Suidas (or his source) had this passage in mind when he wrote μελήσω, σπουδάσω, φροντίσω. Two other lexicographers, Hesychius and Photius, give the same interpretation of μελλήσω, which is undoubtedly a mistake, whether of their own, or of the scribes who copied out their works.

In other places of the N.T. where ἔμελεν or μέλει occur (John 12:6; 1 Peter 5:7; Matthew 22:16), many MSS. write ἔμελλεν, μέλλει.

ἐστηριγμένους ἐν τῇ παρούσῃ�. παρούσῃ is not easy to interpret satisfactorily. We may render “the truth which has come to you” as in Colossians 1:5-6 τοῦ εὐαγγελίου τοῦ παρόντος εἰς ὑμᾶς: but εἰς ὑμᾶς is needed: or “the truth which is within your reach,” cf. Deut. “The word is very nigh unto thee.” An interesting suggestion is that of Spitta, which would emend the word to παραδοθείσῃ, comparing Jude 1:3 τῇ ἅπαξ παραδοθείσῃ τοῖς ἁγίοις πίστει.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

2 Peter 1:12

Old Testament

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