CHAPTER III Ver. 1. _This know,_ (It is scarcely worth while to advert to the plural reading of A, F, γινω ́ σκετε, strangely preferred by Lachmann and Huther; for γι ́ νωσκε has the support of א, C, D, K, L, Vulg., Syr., and Coptic versions.) _however, that in the last days grievous times shall set... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 2. _For men_ (οἱ ἄνθρωποι, men, not universally indeed, yet, as the article seems to indicate, in large numbers) _shall be selfish_ (φίλαυτοι, self-lovers, each seeking his own, comparatively regardless of another's good), _covetous, boastful, haughty_ (ὑπερήφανοι, carrying themselves with a lo... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 3. _Without natural affection_ (ἄστοργοι, wanting the instinctive sense of endearment which links together parents and children, στοργή), _implacable_ (ἄσπονδοι, not truce-breakers, as in the Authorized Version, but such as would not enter into a truce; _sine pace,_ as the Vulgate, or as Luthe... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 4. _Betrayers, headlong_ (προπετεῖς, ready to precipitate matters by hasty speech or action), _carried truth conceit_ (see at 1 Timothy 3:6), _lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God_ (φιλήδονοι, φιλόθεοι, both ἅπαξ λεγόμ., but quite natural compounds, and found in Philo; see Wetstein).... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 5. _Having a form_ (μόρφωσιν, an outward show or appearance) of godliness, _but denying the power thereof_ that is, by their immoral lives and wicked deeds belying their profession practically disowning that godliness was an actual power in their experience. It is a dreadful picture, and from t... [ Continue Reading ]
Vers. 6, 7. The apostle now not only presupposes the existence of parties to whom his description in a measure applied, but also points to a specific line of operations carried on by them. _For of these are they who creep into houses, and take captive silly women, laden with sins, led away by divers... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 8. _Now in the same manner_ (ὃν τρόπον δὲ) _that Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also withstand the truth._ The reference to these ancient magicians shows, as already stated, the class of corrupt opponents more immediately in the eye of the apostle. It appears that a very old tr... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 9. _But_ (such is the conclusion of the matter) _they shall not make progress_ (οὐ προκόψουσιν ἐπὶ πλεῖον, lit. shall not advance to more, or rise to a stronger position); _for their folly shall become manifest to all, as_ THEIRS _also came to be._ The triumph of truth over error, of reality ov... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 10. _Thou, however, hast closely followed_ (The received text has παρηκολουθηκα ́ ς, the perfect, with D, E, K, L, the great majority of cursives, Chrys., Theod., Damas.; but א, A, C read παρηκολούθησάς; also F, G, the simple verb ἠκολου ́ θησας. Tischendorf now adopts the second, as do also A... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 12. _Yea, and all_ (καὶ πάντες δὲ, or, and all too) _who are minded to live piously in Christ Jesus, shall be persecuted._ The apostle had spoken of his own persecutions, how he himself bore them, and how God delivered him out of them; but he now generalizes, in a manner, his own experience: ot... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 13. _But evil men and deceivers shall grow worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived._ We have here, by way of contrast to the life and experience of such as live piously in Christ, a return to the wretched characters formerly discoursed of the modern representatives of the Egyptian magici... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 14. _But do thou_ (σὺ δὲ emphatic, in contrast to the deceivers in the preceding verse) _continue in the things which thou didst learn_ (lit., in what things thou didst learn), _and wert assured of_ ἐπιστώθης not, were committed to thee, as the Latin and Gothic versions, which would have requir... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 15. _And that from a very child_ (ἀπὸ βρέφους, from an infant, the youngest period of childhood) _thou knowest the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation._ This is only a further specification and enhancement of the preceding statement, bringing out more distinctly the... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 16. _Every scripture_ [_is_] _given by inspiration of God, and_ [_is_] _profitable for teaching,_ etc.; or, _Every scripture, given by inspiration of God,_ [_is_] _also profitable for teaching,_ etc. It is now admitted by all competent scholars that either of these translations is grammatically... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 17. Then follows the practical aim and result of this profitableness, when turned to proper account: _in order that the man of God may be perfect_ (ἄρτιος, _aptus in officio,_ Bengel; every way complete), _thoroughly furnished for every good work._ This explains more fully what is meant by ἄρτι... [ Continue Reading ]