Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

2 Peter 1:15

σπουδάσω. The form is used by Polybius and later writers for the classical σπουδάσομαι. ἑκάστοτε goes with ἔχειν = “on each occasion when you have need”. The word is found apparently in the same sense in P. Gen. 31 3 f. (ii. A.D.), ἑκάστοτέ σοι κατʼ ἐπιδημίαν παρενοχλῶν (“causing you annoyance on each occasion when you are at home”). τὴν τούτων μνήμην ποιεῖσθαι. What is the reference in τούτων ? It must have the same reference as in 2 Peter 1:12, viz. to the practice of the Christian graces, and the larger reference must be to some systematic body of instruction. This might easily take the form of reminiscences of the example of Jesus Himself, and the allusion may be to the Petrine reminiscences contained in the Gospel of St. Mark (cf. μετὰ δὲ τὴν τούτων (Peter and Paul) ἔξοδον Μᾶρκος τὰ ὑπὸ Πέτρου κηρυσσόμενα ἐγγράφως ἡμῖν παραδέδωκεν Iren. iii. 1. 1.). “He has already referred to Christ (2 Peter 1:3), as having called them ἰδίᾳ δόξῃ καὶ ἀρετῇ ”; surely nothing could be more appropriate, more helpful to a godly life, than that Peter should leave behind the picture of this δόξα καὶ ἀρετή drawn from his own recollection. And the following words, οὐ γὰρ σεσοφισμένος κ. τ. λ. (2 Peter 1:16) seem to imply a statement of facts” (Mayor, 143., where see whole discussion against Zahn. Introd. II. pp. 199 ff.). ἔξοδον. The same word is used in Luke 9:31 of the death of Christ. It seems to include the thought of subsequent glory (cf. Expositor, vi. ii. pp. 73 f. Smith, Days of His Flesh, pp. 274 f.) The meaning “death” is found in B.G.U. 168. (ii. iii. A.D.). ἐπιγνοῦσα τὴν (το) ῦ Εὐδαίμονος ἔξοδον.

τὴν τούτων μνήμην ποιεῖσθαι : “refer to”; always in Greek writers, from Herodotus down = “mentionem facere, “make mention of” (cf. Grimm-Thayer under μνήμη). The sense here seems much the same. The document “referred to” would be an authentic source of information. Cf. P. Fay, 19 (ii. A.D.) [ἀκριβ] εστάτην μνήμην ποιούμενος.

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Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

2 Peter 1:15

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